Definition
A remarks-section indicator used in METAR and SPECI weather reports to introduce wind variability information, typically reporting the variation in wind direction over the past ten minutes when the variation is 60 degrees or greater and the wind speed is greater than 6 knots.
Plain English
A small code in a weather report that flags wind direction information, usually showing how much the wind has been shifting around recently.
Context Anchor
Seen when decoding a TAF that includes low-level wind shear information.
Derivation
The slash is a separator used in coded weather reports to introduce a data group. 'WV' is short for 'wind variability' (or wind vector in some legacy uses). The slash-letter format flags the start of a specific data element.
Why Pilots Care
Accurate wind information at altitude directly affects route planning, fuel calculations, and turbulence avoidance.
Grounding Statement
Picture one wind near the runway and a different wind a short distance above it; /WV points to the wind direction and speed for that higher layer.
Intuition Check
Do not read /WV as a word to say on the radio. It is a coded forecast marker showing where the wind direction and speed go.
Example Sentence 1
Reviewing the METAR remarks, the pilot saw the /WV entry and noted the wind had been shifting between 030 and 110 degrees.
Example Sentence 2
Reviewing the /WV data helped the pilot anticipate a significant tailwind on the return leg.