TAF Decoder
Paste a Terminal Aerodrome Forecast and get a plain-English breakdown of every forecast period — wind, visibility, sky condition, and change groups.
EXAMPLES:
How to read a TAF
A TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast) predicts weather conditions at an airport for a 24 to 30 hour period, issued four times a day. Unlike a METAR which reports current conditions, a TAF forecasts what's expected — including how conditions will change over time.
TAF structure
Header
TAF KSEA
Forecast for Seattle-Tacoma
Issue time
291730Z
Issued day 29, 17:30 UTC
Valid period
2918/3018
Valid from day 29 18:00Z to day 30 18:00Z
Initial conditions
32010KT P6SM FEW040
Wind, visibility, sky at start of period
Change group
FM300600
From day 30, 06:00 UTC, conditions change to:
Temporary
TEMPO 2920/2924
Temporary conditions, day 29 20:00–24:00 UTC
Change group indicators
FMFROMRapid, significant change at a specific time. Replaces all prior conditions.
BECMGBECOMINGGradual change expected within the given time window.
TEMPOTEMPORARYTemporary fluctuations expected, each lasting less than an hour.
Probability and trend codes
PROB3030% probability of the described conditions occurring
PROB4040% probability of the described conditions occurring
P6SMVisibility greater than 6 statute miles (TAF-specific notation)