What is the primary role of weather forecasting in flight dispatching?

The primary role of weather forecasting in flight dispatching is to assess the safety and efficiency of the planned route. Weather conditions greatly influence flight operations, including takeoff and landing capabilities, in-flight turbulence, winds, visibility, and potential for severe weather phenomena such as thunderstorms or icing. By understanding the forecasted weather along the planned route, dispatchers can make informed decisions about the flight's safety, provide necessary recommendations to pilots, and adjust routes, altitudes, or departure times as needed to optimize the flight's efficiency and ensure the safety of all personnel involved.

In contrast, assessing the pilot's performance, analyzing fuel consumption, and determining passenger capacity, while important in their own right, do not directly relate to the immediate operational impacts of weather conditions on a flight. Only by prioritizing weather evaluations can dispatchers ensure their decisions reinforce the overall safety and operational effectiveness of the flight.