Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) Decoding

Question 1

KOKC 051130Z 051212 14008KT 5SM BR BKN030 TEMPO 1316 1 1/2SM BR

Answer 1

ICAO Station Identifier: ie. (KOKC)
Date and Time of Origin: ie. (051130Z)
Valid Period Date and Time: ie. (051212);
Wind: ie. (14008KT)
Visibility: ie. (5SM)
Weather: ie. (BR)
Sky Condition: ie. (BKN030)
Probability Forecast: ie. (PROB40 0006)

Question 2

How Many types of TAFs?

Answer 2

a routine forecast, TAF, and an amended forecast, TAF AMD. An amended TAF is issued when the current TAF no longer

Question 3

How many times TAFs are scheduled? What are the times?

Answer 3

TAFs are scheduled for issuance foure times daily at 0000Z, 0600Z, 1200Z, and 1800Z.

Question 4

What is NIL on a TAFs?

Answer 4

Where an airport or terminal operates on a part-time basis (less than 24 hours/day) the TAFs issued for those locations will have the abbreviated statement NIL AMD SKED AFT (closing time)Z, added to the end of the forecast.

Question 5

What are the validity of the following TAFs?
091212
110024
010524

Answer 5

091212 - Forecast valid from the ninth at 1200Z til the tenth at 1200Z.
110024 - Forecast valid from the eleventh at 0000Z till the twelfth at 0000Z.
010524 - Amended forecast valid from the first at 0500Z till the second at 0000Z.
Forecast Meteorological Conditions

Question 6

This is the body of the TAF. The basic format is:

Answer 6

Wind - Visibility - Weather - Sky Condition - Optional Data (Wind Shear)

Question 7

Explain the following: 
18010KT 
35012G20KT 
00000KT - 
VRB16G28KT -

Answer 7

18010KT - Wind one eight zero at one zero knots
35012G20KT - Wind three five zero at one two gust two zero knots
00000KT - Wind calm
VRB16G28KT - Wind variable at one six gust two eight knots

Question 8

Explain the following: 
1/2SM
2 1/4SM
5SM 
P6SM

Answer 8

1/2SM - Visibility one-half statute mile
2 1/4SM - Visibility two and one-quarter statute miles
5SM - Visibility five statute miles
P6SM - Visibility more than six statute miles
Weather: ie. (BR)

Question 9

Qualifiers of Intensity or Proximity

- + VC

Answer 9

• Light
  Moderate (no qualifier)
  + Heavy or well-developed
  VC in the Vicinity

Question 10

What are the following?

SH, TS, FZ, RA, SN,PL,FG,FU,HZ

Answer 10

SH Showers
TS Thunderstorm
FZ Freezing
RA Rain
SN Snow
PL Ice Pellets
FG Fog (visibility 5/8 statute mile or less)

Question 11

What is NSW? No Significant Weather?

Answer 11

NSW is only included in the BECMG or TEMPO groups.

Question 12

Explain the following:
SKC
SCT005 BKN025CB BKN250
VV008

Answer 12

SKC - Sky clear
SCT005 BKN025CB BKN250 - Five hundred scattered, ceiling two thousand five hundred broken cumulonimbus clouds, two five thousand broken.
VV008 - Indefinite ceiling eight hundred

Question 13

Explain the following
PROB40 2102 1/2SM +TSRA -
PROB40 1014 1SM RASN
PROB40 2024 2SM FZRA

Answer 13

PROB40 2102 1/2SM +TSRA - Chance between 2100Z and 0200Z of visibility one-half thunderstorm, heavy rain.
PROB40 1014 1SM RASN - Chance between 1000Z and 1400Z of visibility one rain and snow.
PROB40 2024 2SM FZRA - Chance between 2000Z and 0000Z of visibility two freezing rain

Question 14

The FM group is used

Answer 14

The FM group is used when a rapid change, usually occuring in less than one hour, in prevailing conditions is expected.

Question 15

Explain the following
FM0100 SKC
FM1430 OVC020

Answer 15

FM0100 SKC - After 0100Z sky clear

FM1430 OVC020 - After 1430Z ceiling two thousand overcast

Question 16

BECOMING Group: ie. (BECMG 2224)

.

Answer 16

The BECMG group is used when a gradual change in conditions is expected over a longer time period, usually two hours.

Question 17

Explain the following

BECMG 1416 BKN020

Answer 17

BECMG 1416 BKN020 - Ceiling one thousand two hundred overcast. Then a gradual change to ceiling two thousand broken between 1400Z and 1600Z

Question 18

TEMPORARY Group: ie. (TEMPO 1316)

Answer 18

The TEMPO group is used for any conditions in wind, visibility, weather, or sky condition which are expected to last for generally less than an hour at a time (occasional), and are expected to occur during less than half the time period.

Question 19

Explain the following:
SCT030 TEMPO 1923 BKN030 -
4SM HZ TEMPO 0006 2SM BR HZ

Answer 19

SCT030 TEMPO 1923 BKN030 - Three thousand scattered with occasional ceilings three thousand broken between 1900Z and 2300Z.
4SM HZ TEMPO 0006 2SM BR HZ - Visibility four in haze with occasional visibility two in mist and haze between 0000Z and 0600Z.