Definition
In a METAR, FEW is a sky cover contraction indicating that clouds cover more than zero but no more than two-eighths (2/8) of the sky at the reported layer. It is reported with a three-digit height in hundreds of feet above the station (e.g., FEW040 means a few clouds at 4,000 feet AGL).
Plain English
A small amount of cloud at that altitude — covering up to a quarter of the sky, but not none.
Context Anchor
Seen in METAR reports in the sky condition section, such as FEW030.
Derivation
FEW is the plain English word 'few,' kept as a three-letter contraction so it fits the standardized METAR format. The threshold (1/8 to 2/8 sky cover) is set by international weather reporting standards rather than the everyday sense of the word.
Why Pilots Care
FEW means the layer is not a ceiling, so it doesn't limit VFR operations the way BKN or OVC can. But knowing the height still matters for spotting building cumulus, planning cruise altitudes, and anticipating how a layer might thicken later in the day.
Grounding Statement
Picture dividing the sky into eight equal parts; FEW means clouds cover only one or two of those parts.
Intuition Check
FEW does not just mean “a small number” in a casual way. In a METAR, FEW has a specific meaning: 1/8 to 2/8 of the sky is covered by clouds.
Example Sentence 1
The METAR reported FEW035, so the pilot expected a thin layer of cloud bases around 3,500 feet but no ceiling.
Example Sentence 2
With FEW clouds reported, visibility remained good enough for a visual approach.