Under what weather conditions would a pilot typically resort to instrument flight rules (IFR)?

Pilots typically resort to instrument flight rules (IFR) during low visibility or foul weather conditions. IFR is designed for situations where pilots cannot navigate and control the aircraft effectively by visual reference. This includes circumstances such as heavy rain, fog, snow, or cloud cover that obscures the ground or makes it difficult to see other aircraft.

When operating under IFR, pilots rely on instruments to provide information about the aircraft's position, altitude, speed, and other critical data necessary for safe navigation. This is crucial for maintaining safety in adverse weather conditions that would hinder visual flight rules (VFR), which depend on clear visibility and visual references for flight.

Clear skies would typically allow for VFR, where pilots can see and navigate visually. Moderate turbulence and high altitude winds are considerations for flight safety but do not inherently necessitate the use of IFR as they do not directly impact visibility in the same way that low visibility or foul weather does. Therefore, the presence of low visibility or adverse weather is the primary reason for transitioning to IFR.