Does prevailing visibility need to be continuous?

Prevailing visibility does not need to be continuous because it is defined as the maximum visibility encountered along a particular azimuth, which means that it can be affected by various weather conditions that fluctuate. For instance, visibility can change due to factors such as fog, rain, snow, or dust, and these conditions often vary in intensity and coverage.

The concept of prevailing visibility emphasizes that it is the most significant visibility condition affecting operational safety at a given time. As such, it can represent prevailing conditions that may not hold steady over time. Therefore, while observations are important for pilots and meteorologists to assess current conditions, the nature of weather means it can change quickly and doesn’t require a consistent measurement throughout a given period. This flexibility is essential in understanding and responding to varying weather conditions.