Which units are commonly used for wind speed in TAFs?

In Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs), wind speed is commonly reported in knots. This unit of measurement is standard in aviation because it correlates closely with nautical miles, which are used to navigate airways and sea routes. One knot is equivalent to one nautical mile per hour and provides a consistent basis for pilots to calculate travel time over distances relevant to their flight paths.

Using knots also aids in maintaining uniformity across various aviation-related communications, including TAFs, METARs (Meteorological Aerodrome Reports), and other meteorological data, ensuring that all aviation personnel are familiar with and can effectively interpret the information provided. Other units, such as miles per hour, kilometers per hour, or feet per second, may be used in different contexts but are not standard in aviation weather reports.