Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts
TAFs are very similar to METARs in the sense that they use the same coding abbreviations and a very similar structure. Obviously the main difference between a METAR and a TAF is that the TAF is a forecast while the METAR is just a quick snapshot in time, and is instantly old the moment it is taken, and continues to get older until the new one is issued approximately an hour later.
Facts about TAFs:
- Issued every 6 hours (4 times a day)
- Valid for 24-30 hours
- Covers an area with a 5nm radius from the center of the airport
Check out the video above, and then see how you do decoding the examples below. The decoded versions are also below.
Example 1:
KTPA 222320Z 2300/2324 12006KT P6SM FEW040 SCT060 OVC250
FM231500 15011KT P6SM VCSH SCT025 OVC050
FM231900 19011G16KT P6SM VCTS SCT030CB OVC060
FM232100 21010G15KT 6SM SHRA VCTS SCT030CB OVC050
Example 2:
KCLT 222331Z 2300/2324 10005KT P6SM BKN050 OVC250
FM230700 12006KT P6SM OVC025
FM230900 12007KT P6SM VCSH SCT008 OVC015
FM231200 12010KT 5SM -SHRA BR OVC008
FM231600 14011KT 3SM SHRA OVC004
FM231900 15012KT 3SM SHRA SCT004 OVC008
PROB30 2319/2324 2SM TSRA BR OVC004CB
Decoded Example 1:
| TAF for: | KTPA (Tampa Intl Arpt, FL, US) issued at 2320 UTC 22 Oct 2017 |
| Text: | KTPA 222320Z 2300/2324 12006KT P6SM FEW040 SCT060 OVC250 |
| Forecast period: | 0000 to 1500 UTC 23 October 2017 |
| Forecast type: | FROM: standard forecast or significant change |
| Winds: | from the ESE (120 degrees) at 7 MPH (6 knots; 3.1 m/s) |
| Visibility: | 6 or more sm (10+ km) |
| Ceiling: | 25000 feet AGL |
| Clouds: | few clouds at 4000 feet AGL, scattered clouds at 6000 feet AGL, overcast cloud deck at 25000 feet AGL |
| Text: | FM231500 15011KT P6SM VCSH SCT025 OVC050 |
| Forecast period: | 1500 to 1900 UTC 23 October 2017 |
| Forecast type: | FROM: standard forecast or significant change |
| Winds: | from the SSE (150 degrees) at 13 MPH (11 knots; 5.7 m/s) |
| Visibility: | 6 or more sm (10+ km) |
| Ceiling: | 5000 feet AGL |
| Clouds: | scattered clouds at 2500 feet AGL, overcast cloud deck at 5000 feet AGL |
| Weather: | VCSH (showers in vicinity) |
| Text: | FM231900 19011G16KT P6SM VCTS SCT030CB OVC060 |
| Forecast period: | 1900 to 2100 UTC 23 October 2017 |
| Forecast type: | FROM: standard forecast or significant change |
| Winds: | from the S (190 degrees) at 13 MPH (11 knots; 5.7 m/s) gusting to 18 MPH (16 knots; 8.2 m/s) |
| Visibility: | 6 or more sm (10+ km) |
| Ceiling: | 6000 feet AGL |
| Clouds: | scattered clouds at 3000 feet AGL, overcast cloud deck at 6000 feet AGL |
| Weather: | VCTS (thunderstorm in vicinity) |
| Text: | FM232100 21010G15KT 6SM SHRA VCTS SCT030CB OVC050 |
| Forecast period: | 2100 UTC 23 October 2017 to 0000 UTC 24 October 2017 |
| Forecast type: | FROM: standard forecast or significant change |
| Winds: | from the SSW (210 degrees) at 12 MPH (10 knots; 5.1 m/s) gusting to 17 MPH (15 knots; 7.7 m/s) |
| Visibility: | 6 sm ( 10 km) |
| Ceiling: | 5000 feet AGL |
| Clouds: | scattered clouds at 3000 feet AGL, overcast cloud deck at 5000 feet AGL |
| Weather: | SHRA VCTS (rain showers, thunderstorm in vicinity) |
Decoded Example 2:
| TAF for: | KCLT (Charlotte/Douglas In, NC, US) issued at 2331 UTC 22 Oct 2017 |
| Text: | KCLT 222331Z 2300/2324 10005KT P6SM BKN050 OVC250 |
| Forecast period: | 0000 to 0700 UTC 23 October 2017 |
| Forecast type: | FROM: standard forecast or significant change |
| Winds: | from the E (100 degrees) at 6 MPH (5 knots; 2.6 m/s) |
| Visibility: | 6 or more sm (10+ km) |
| Ceiling: | 5000 feet AGL |
| Clouds: | broken clouds at 5000 feet AGL, overcast cloud deck at 25000 feet AGL |
| Text: | FM230700 12006KT P6SM OVC025 |
| Forecast period: | 0700 to 0900 UTC 23 October 2017 |
| Forecast type: | FROM: standard forecast or significant change |
| Winds: | from the ESE (120 degrees) at 7 MPH (6 knots; 3.1 m/s) |
| Visibility: | 6 or more sm (10+ km) |
| Ceiling: | 2500 feet AGL |
| Clouds: | overcast cloud deck at 2500 feet AGL |
| Text: | FM230900 12007KT P6SM VCSH SCT008 OVC015 |
| Forecast period: | 0900 to 1200 UTC 23 October 2017 |
| Forecast type: | FROM: standard forecast or significant change |
| Winds: | from the ESE (120 degrees) at 8 MPH (7 knots; 3.6 m/s) |
| Visibility: | 6 or more sm (10+ km) |
| Ceiling: | 1500 feet AGL |
| Clouds: | scattered clouds at 800 feet AGL, overcast cloud deck at 1500 feet AGL |
| Weather: | VCSH (showers in vicinity) |
| Text: | FM231200 12010KT 5SM -SHRA BR OVC008 |
| Forecast period: | 1200 to 1600 UTC 23 October 2017 |
| Forecast type: | FROM: standard forecast or significant change |
| Winds: | from the ESE (120 degrees) at 12 MPH (10 knots; 5.1 m/s) |
| Visibility: | 5 sm ( 8 km) |
| Ceiling: | 800 feet AGL |
| Clouds: | overcast cloud deck at 800 feet AGL |
| Weather: | -SHRA BR (light rain showers, mist) |
| Text: | FM231600 14011KT 3SM SHRA OVC004 |
| Forecast period: | 1600 to 1900 UTC 23 October 2017 |
| Forecast type: | FROM: standard forecast or significant change |
| Winds: | from the SE (140 degrees) at 13 MPH (11 knots; 5.7 m/s) |
| Visibility: | 3 sm ( 5 km) |
| Ceiling: | 400 feet AGL |
| Clouds: | overcast cloud deck at 400 feet AGL |
| Weather: | SHRA (rain showers) |
| Text: | FM231900 15012KT 3SM SHRA SCT004 OVC008 |
| Forecast period: | 1900 UTC 23 October 2017 to 0000 UTC 24 October 2017 |
| Forecast type: | FROM: standard forecast or significant change |
| Winds: | from the SSE (150 degrees) at 14 MPH (12 knots; 6.2 m/s) |
| Visibility: | 3 sm ( 5 km) |
| Ceiling: | 800 feet AGL |
| Clouds: | scattered clouds at 400 feet AGL, overcast cloud deck at 800 feet AGL |
| Weather: | SHRA (rain showers) |
| Text: | PROB30 2319/2324 2SM TSRA BR OVC004CB |
| Forecast period: | 1900 UTC 23 October 2017 to 0000 UTC 24 October 2017 |
| Forecast type: | PROBABLE: 30 percent likelihood of the following during this time |
| Visibility: | 2.00 sm ( 3.22 km) |
| Ceiling: | 400 feet AGL |
| Clouds: | overcast cloud deck at 400 feet AGL |
| Weather: | TSRA BR (rain associated with thunderstorm(s), mist) |