What is a critical feature of SPECI observations?

SPECI observations serve a specific purpose in meteorological reporting by providing updates that are directly linked to significant changes in weather conditions. These observations are issued to inform pilots and other users about new or important weather phenomena that could impact safety and operations at airports. Such phenomena might include changes in visibility, wind shifts, or the onset of precipitation, among others.

The critical feature of SPECI is that they are generated in real-time in response to these specific weather changes, ensuring that the information given is timely and relevant to immediate operational needs. This contrasts with routine reports, which do not account for sudden changes, and with standardized reports that may not address real-time hazard situations. By focusing on the immediate updates related to weather changes, SPECI observations play an essential role in aviation safety and operational planning.