Decoding a
Terminal Area Forecast (TAF)

A Terminal Area Forecast (TAF) is a weather forecast that applies to an area within 5 nm of an aerodrome.

The TAF consists of the following information:
· Message identification (ie TAF)
· Location identifier
· Time of origin (UTC)
· Validity period
· Forecast surface wind
· Forecast visibility
· Forecast significant weather
· Forecast cloud amount and height
· Forecast significant changes and variations
· Possibility of poor visibility
· Statement of turbulence
· Forecast temperatures and QNH

TAF means that this is a Terminal Area Forecast.

AMD means that the TAF has been amended since it's original issue time.

YSBK is the location (Bankstown in this case)

241854Z is the issue date and time - 24th day of the month, 1854Z (for Bankstown - add 10 h to this to get local time, or add 11 h during Daylight Savings)

2008 is the validity period 2000Z to 0800Z.

02010KT is the wind direction in degrees from True North (020 deg True) and speed (10 kts)

CAVOK and 9999 SCT040 BKN100 is the current weather
CAVOK means Ceiling and Visibility OK (Visibility greater than 10 km, no cloud below 5000 ft, no cumulonimbus, no precipitation, thunderstorms, shallow fog, low drifting snow, or dust devils).

9999 is the visibility in metres (9999 means greater than 10 km)

SCT040 BKN100 are the cloud amounts and heights above the aerodrome (in 100's of feet)
Cloud amount is expressed as SKC, FEW, SCT, BKN or OVC
· SKC (sky clear) is nil cloud,
· FEW (few) is 1-2 OKTAS (eights),
· SCT (scattered) is 3-4 OKTAS,
· BKN (broken) is 5-7 OKTAS,
· OVC (overcast) is 8 OKTAS.

The cloud types of Cumulonimbus and Towering Cumulus will be indicated with abbreviations CB and TCU respectively (eg SCT040CB is scattered Cumulonimbus cloud base 4000 ft).

In this case 3-4 OKTAS with a base of 4000 ft, 5-7 OKTAS with a base of 10 000 ft.

FM23 means the conditions following will apply from 2300Z, in this case the wind picking up, and some mid level cloud moving in.

PROB30 2023 2000 MIST means that between 2000Z and 2300Z there is a 30% probability of the visibility dropping to 2000 m in mist.

INTER 0608 7000 LIGHT SHOWERS OF RAIN BKN020 The forecast indicates that rain showers are due from 0600Z to the end of the forecast. For periods up to 30 minutes (INTER or intermittent) the visibility is expected to reduce to 7000 m and the cloud lowering to 5-7 OKTAS at 2000 ft. A temporary deterioration (TEMPO) would be for up to 60 min.

T 17 21 19 15 Q 1016 1014 1013 1013 represent the Temperature and QNH in 3 hourly intervals from the start of the forecast period. In this case at 2000Z the temperature is forecast to be 17 deg C and QNH 1016 hPa, at 0500Z the forecast temperature is 15deg C and QHN 1013 hPa.

Decoding a METAR/SPECI

A METAR is a statement of actual weather conditions at an airport. METAR information if normally supplied from an automated weather station, and may have some information appended to it from an ATC control tower.

A METAR contains
· Message identification (ie METAR or SPECI)
· Location identifier
· Time of origin
· Surface wind with gusts if appropriate
· Visibility including sector variations
· Present weather
· Cloud amount and height above aerodrome
· Temperature and Dew Point temperature
· QNH
· Supplementary information

A SPECI is a METAR that is issued at other than the scheduled routine times.

METAR says this is a METAR

YSBK is the location

0230Z is the time the observation was taken.

31008KT is the wind with reference to degrees from True north (310 deg T at 8 kts)

//// means this part of the METAR is not available (ie cloud and visibility not available from the automated weather station)

19/04 is the temperature (19 deg C) and dewpoint (4 deg C). Temperature and dew point can be used to calculate relative humidity.

Q1015 is the QNH.

RMK precedes any remarks appended to the METAR.

RF00.1/012.0 is the rainfall in mm. The first number is rainfall in the last 10 minutes (0.1 mm), and the second the rainfall since 9 am local time (12.0 mm).

CLD:SCT025 VIS:9999 this is added by the Bankstown Tower, and is their observation of the cloud and visibility (scattered cloud base 2500 ft and visibility greater than 10 km)