What is described by the notation '32A WSA 20K+ RWY 090 24'??

• A. a wind shear alert
• B. a weather observation
• C. a NOTAM
• D. a radar mosaic

Answer: (A)

Wind shear alerts warn of rapid changes in wind that can affect takeoff and landing performance. The tag in this notation is WSA, which stands for Wind Shear Alert. The part that says RWY 090 points to the runway orientation affected, meaning operations on that runway should anticipate wind-shear conditions along the approach or departure path aligned with 090 degrees. The 20K+ conveys the hazard’s magnitude—20 knots or more of wind change or gusts tied to the shear that could impact control. The trailing 24 indicates the time window or validity of the alert, typically a 24-hour period. This isn’t a weather observation, NOTAM, or radar mosaic—those would use different formats and lack the explicit Wind Shear Alert tag. The presence of WSA is what makes this notation clearly identify a wind shear alert.