Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) : Aviation Weather Products
Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) : Aviation Weather Products
TAF or
TAF AMD or Location Issue Time Validity CNL
TAF COR
VIS WX CLD
or VV
Validity Wind
CAVOK
CLD
VIS WX
significant or VV
changes FM or Time Wind
to mean BECMG
conditions
CAVOK
significant
variations INTER or Start Finish CLD
A TAF is a coded from mean TEMPO Time Time
Wind VIS WX
or VV
conditions
statement of not used
for fog
meteorological CLD
TS
conditions expected probability PROB% INTER or Start Finish
or VV
of TS or poor VIS
at an aerodrome and visibility
(30 or 40%) TEMPO Time Time
Fog, Mist,Dust, CLD
only used
within a radius of five for TS
Smoke or Sand or VV
aerodrome reference
significant Start MOD TURB or
point. low level FM
Time SEV TURB
BLW.............FT TL Finish
Time
turbulence
TEMP QNH
The following lines will only
be included as required
Finish
TAF3 VALID TL Indicates elements which may
Time
or may not be inluded in line
Code Cloud Type Cloud type is identified only for CB and TCU, e.g. FEW030CB.
CB Cumulonimbus CAVOK
TCU Towering cumulus The abbreviation CAVOK (Cloud And Visibility and weather OK) is used when the
following conditions are forecast simultaneously:
• Visibility is 10 kilometres or more
• No cloud below 5,000 feet or below the highest 25 nautical mile minimum sector
altitude whichever is the higher; and no cumulonimbus at any height
• No weather of significance, i.e. none of the weather listed in the weather table
The term FM is used when one set of prevailing weather conditions is expected to
rapidly change to a different set of prevailing weather conditions. The indicator is the
beginning of a self-contained forecast, with the new conditions applying until the end
period of the forecast or until the commencement time of another FM or BECMG
group.
The term BECMG is used when one set of prevailing weather conditions is expected
to change, during the given period, to a different set of prevailing weather conditions.
The indicator is the beginning of a self-contained forecast, with the new conditions
applying until the end period of the forecast, or until the commencement time of
another BECMG or FM group.
Following any change group (FM or BECMG) there will be information on wind,
visibility, weather and cloud; except when CAVOK is given or when fog is forecast.
When CAVOK is not given and there is nil significant weather expected, the
abbreviation NSW is used. When CAVOK is not given and nil significant cloud is
expected, the abbreviation NSC will be used.
The terms TEMPO and INTER are used to indicate significant temporary or
intermittent variations from the prevailing conditions previously given in the TAF.
TEMPO is used for periods of 30 minutes or more but less than 60 minutes. INTER is
used for periods less than 30 minutes.
PROB
The term PROB is used in a TAF if the estimated probability of occurrence is 30 or
40% (probabilities of less than 30% are not given), and is only used with reference to
thunderstorms or poor visibility (less than the alternate minimum) resulting from fog,
mist, dust, smoke or sand. If the estimated probability of occurrence is equal to or
greater than 50%, then reference to PROB is not included. When using PROB with
thunderstorms, INTER and TEMPO are also included whenever appropriate to indicate
the probable duration. Where PROB is used without one of these, the likely period of
occurrence will be deemed to be one hour or more. For example:
RMK
RMK (remarks) precedes information on Turbulence (if forecast), Temperatures, QNH
and TAF3 (when applicable).
Turbulence
Special reference is made in TAF to hazardous turbulence, other than that associated
with CB and TCU, that may endanger aircraft or adversely affect their safe or efficient
operation. The TAF contains information on commencement time (FMddhhmm), the
expected intensity (moderate [MOD] or severe [SEV]) and the vertical extent (BLW....
FT). TILddhhmm is used to indicate the cessation of the turbulence when this is
expected before the end of the TAF validity.
Air Temperature
Air temperature, preceded by the letter T, is given in whole degrees celsius using two
figures. If the temperature is below zero, the value is prefixed by the letter M (minus).
Forecasts of air temperature are given at three-hourly intervals, for a maximum of nine
hours, from the time of commencement of validity of the forecast. They are given for
the times HH, HH+3, HH+6 and HH+9, where HH is the time of the commencement
of the TAF validity. They are point forecasts for these times, and users should use
linear interpolation to determine the forecast value between these points.
QNH
QNH, preceded by the letter Q, is given in whole hectopascals using four figures.
Forecasts of QNH are given at three-hourly intervals, for a maximum of nine hours,
from the time of commencement of validity of the forecast. They are given for the
times HH, HH+3, HH+6 and HH+9, where HH is the time of the commencement of
the TAF validity. They are point forecasts for these times, and users should use linear
interpolation to determine the forecast value between these points.
TAF3
The inclusion of TAF3, following the forecast QNH readings in the RMK section of
the TAF, indicates the presence of a TAF3 service. It may also be followed by a VALID
TL (till) and time stamp indicating the cessation of the TAF3 service at aerodromes
offering a limited service, i.e. TAF3 VALID TL 150600. Refer to the TAF3 brochure for
more information.
TAF Examples
TAF YMAY 022230Z 0300/0312 35010KT CAVOK
FM030800 31018KT 9999 SHRA BKN025 OVC100
INTER 0308/0312 31020G40KT 3000 +TSRA BKN010 SCT040CB
RMK FM030600 MOD TURB BLW 5000FT
T 23 24 28 33 Q 1012 1013 1014 1009
FORECAST DECODE
TA F TA F
STAR T FINISH
Note that there will be intermittent variations to the new mean conditions
(refer INTER below)
31018KT Wind will be from the northwest (310 degrees True) at 18 knots
9999 Visibility will be 10 kilometres or more
SHRA Weather will be moderate showers of rain
BKN025 Cloud will be broken (5 to 7 oktas) with base at 2,500 feet above the
aerodrome
OVC100 There will also be overcast cloud (8 oktas) with base at 10,000 feet
INTER There will be intermittent (periods of less than 30 minutes) variations
0308/0312 to the previously given mean conditions. Period of INTER is 0800 to
1200 on the 3rd UTC INTER ST AR T
TA F <30 <30 TA F
STAR T Mins Mins FINISH
31020G40KT Intermittently the wind will be from the northwest (310 degrees True)
at 20 knots gusting to 40 knots
3000 Visibility will be 3,000 metres
+TSRA Weather will be thunderstorms with heavy rain
BKN010 Cloud will be broken (5 to 7 oktas) with base at 1,000 feet above the
aerodrome
SCT040CB There will also be 3 to 4 oktas of cumulonimbus cloud with base at
4,000 feet
RMK Remarks section follows
FM030600 From 0600 on the 3rd UTC, expect moderate turbulence below
TURB BLW 5,000 feet
5000FT
T 23 24 28 33 Forecast air temperatures at 00, 03, 06 and 09UTC are 23, 24, 28
and 33°
Q 1012 1013 Forecast QNH at 00, 03, 06 and 09 UTC are 1012, 1013, 1014 and
1014 1009 1009hPa.
TAF COR YMLT 212240Z 2200/2218 31015G28KT 6000 -RA BKN010 OVC100
TEMPO 2209/2218 2000 +TSRA BKN005 SCT040CB
RMK
T 25 21 18 15 Q 1014 1013 1013 1011
TAF DECODE
TAF DECODE
Melbourne Airport. Image courtesy of
TAF Aerodrome Forecast
Creative Commons.
AMD This TAF amends the previously issued TAF
YMML Location indicator for Melbourne Airport
292230Z TAF issued at 2230 on the 29th day of the month UTC
3000/3106 Validity period of TAF is from 0000 on the 30th until 0600 on the 31st
UTC
14008KT Mean wind is expected to be from the southeast (140 degrees True)
at 8 knots
9999 Visibility will be 10 kilometres or more
(nil significant weather is expected, therefore weather group not included)
SCT030 Cloud will be scattered (3 to 4 oktas), with base at 3000 feet above
the aerodrome
FM301100 Significant new mean conditions are expected from 1100 on the 30th
UTC
14003KT Mean wind is expected to be from 150 degrees True at 3 knots
3000 Visibility will be 3 kilometres
HZ Weather will be haze
BKN009 Cloud will be broken (5 to 7 oktas), with base at 900 feet above the
aerodrome
PROB40 There is a 40% probability of conditions being the following during
the 3017/3023 period 1700 to 2300 on the 30th
0400 Visibility of 400 metres
FG Fog
RMK Remarks section follows
T 14 15 17 14 Forecast air temperatures at 00, 03, 06 and 09UTC are 14, 15, 17
and 14°C
Q 1016 1014 Forecast QNH at 00, 03, 06 and 09UTC are 1016, 1014, 1013 and
1013 1014 1014hPa
TAF3 TAF3 service provided
Airservices Australia is the official distributor of aviation forecasts, warnings and observations
issued by the Bureau of Meteorology. Airservices’ flight briefing services are available at
www.airservicesaustralia.com. Telephone contact details for elaborative briefings are contained
in Airservices’ Aeronautical Information Publication Australia (AIP), which is available online
through their website.
Other brochures produced by the Bureau of Meteorology’s aviation meteorological services
program can be found at www.bom.gov.au/aviation/knowledge-centre.
A vertical line in the margin indicates a text amendment since last update.