What is a SIGMET?

A SIGMET, or Significant Meteorological Information, is a crucial aspect of aviation weather reporting. It provides information about weather phenomena that can significantly affect the safety of all aircraft, not just large ones. This includes severe conditions such as thunderstorms, icing, turbulence, and volcanic ash. The importance of SIGMETs lies in their role in alerting pilots to hazardous situations that may not be visible from the ground or reported through other means.

The inclusion of severe conditions makes SIGMETs particularly important for flight planning and in-flight decision-making, ensuring that pilots are well-informed about potentially dangerous weather. This universal relevance distinguishes SIGMETs from other weather reports that may apply only to specific types of aircraft or not address critical safety issues.