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Weather theoryQuestion 355 of 934

How can a thunderstorm affect an altimeter?

  1. The altimeter reading may be more than 100 feet in error
  2. The altimeter error stays below 10 feet during a storm
  3. The altimeter freezes at its last reading for 20 minutes
  4. The altimeter always reads the true altitude in a storm
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Correct answer: The altimeter reading may be more than 100 feet in error

Pressure falls, rises sharply with the first gust, then returns to normal in about 15 minutes.

Source: Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25C), Chapter 12: Weather Theory — Thunderstorms, page 309

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Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026