A METAR reads: "27015KT". What does this mean?

Why →METAR wind groups are formatted as: direction (3 digits, true bearing FROM which wind is blowing) followed by speed in knots (KT). "27015KT" = wind from 270 degrees (due west) at 15 knots. If gusts are present, they appear as "27015G25KT" (15 knots gusting to 25).

The trap →Two real traps here: knots vs. mph ("KT" always means knots, never mph), and the direction convention. 270° is where the wind is coming FROM. Blowing eastward, not the direction it's heading toward. Getting the direction backwards is the most common METAR wind reading error.

Field note →For drone operations, 15 knots (≈17 mph) is approaching the practical limit for most consumer drones. At 15 knots, crosswind hovering becomes noticeably more difficult and battery drain accelerates.