Plain English Meaning
A short look-ahead at what the weather is expected to do after the main forecast period ends. It's a quick heads-up, not a detailed prediction.
Full Definition
A section of an aviation weather forecast that provides a general view of expected weather conditions beyond the main forecast period, typically covering the 6 hours after the detailed forecast ends. The outlook is less specific than the main forecast and gives only a broad indication of whether conditions will remain VFR, become MVFR, or deteriorate to IFR.
Context Anchor
Seen in text aviation weather forecasts, especially older Area Forecasts, near the end of the forecast after the main clouds-and-weather section.
Derivation
From the everyday English word 'outlook,' meaning a view of what is to come. The aviation use keeps that same idea — a glance further ahead than the detailed forecast covers.
Why Pilots Care
The outlook helps pilots anticipate weather changes that may affect later legs of a flight or require schedule adjustments.
Intuition Check
Outlook here does not mean a personal attitude or opinion. It means a short aviation weather forecast for a later time period.
Example Sentence 1
The TAF's main forecast ended at 1800Z, but the OTLK indicated VFR conditions continuing through the evening.
Example Sentence 2
Review the OTLK section to see weather expected beyond the six-hour forecast window.