Sample of Aerodrome Forecast
in Code Form and in Abbreviated Plain Language
|
TAF |
Example: |
VMMC 152200Z 160024 17025G40KT 1000 TSRA SCT010CB BKN020 TEMPO 0812 13018KT 9000 BKN020= |
|
Meaning: |
Aerodrome forecast for Macau International Airport issued on the 15th of the month at 2200 UTC valid from 0000 UTC to 2400 UTC on the 16th of the month; surface wind direction 170 degrees; wind speed 25 knots gusting to 40 knots; visibility 1000 metres in a moderate thunderstorm with shower, scattered cumulonimbus cloud at 1000ft and broken cloud at 2000ft; temporarily between 0800 UTC and 1200 UTC surface wind direction 130 degrees; wind speed 18 knots; visibility 9 kilometres, broken cloud at 2000ft. |
Decoding TAF
|
CONTENTS OF REPORT |
EXAMPLE |
EXPLANATION |
|
Identification of the type of the report |
TAF |
Aerodrome Forecast. |
|
Location indicator |
VMMC |
Four-letter location indicator assigned by States and are supervised by ICAO for geographical locations throughout the world. |
|
Date and time of origin of forecast |
152200Z |
For each individual forecast to report the date and time of the origin of forecast. |
|
Date and period of validity of forecast |
160024 |
The forecast shall cover the period within the validity time. |
|
Surface wind |
17025G40KT |
When it is forecast that the maximum wind speed will exceed the mean speed by 10 knots or more, the maximum wind gust speed shall be reported. |
|
Visibility or CAVOK |
1000 |
Horizontal visibility, when reach to 10 km and above shows 9999. CAVOK - Visibility: 10 km or more; No cloud below 1500 metres (5000ft) or below the highest minimum sector altitude, whichever is greater, and no Cumulonimbus; No precipitation, thunderstorm, sandstorm, duststorm, shallow fog or low drifting dust, sand or snow. |
|
Weather |
TSRA |
Intensity or proximity: - = light, + = heavy, VC = vicinity; Descriptor: MI = shallow, BC = patches, PR = partial, SHRA = showers, TS = thunderstorms; Precipitation: DZ = drizzle, RA = rain; Obscuration: BR = mist, FG = fog, HZ = haze. |
|
Cloud |
SCT010CB BKN020 |
Cloud amount given in eighths of sky (oktas) covered followed by height of cloud base of each layer in hundreds of feet where FEW = 1 to 2 oktas; SCT = 3 to 4 oktas; BKN = 5 to 7 oktas; OVC = 8 oktas and SKC = sky clear. |
|
Expected significant changes to one or more of these element during the period of validity |
TEMPO 0812 13018KT 9000 BKN020 |
TEMPO= temporary; BECMG = becoming; FM=from; PROB = probability. |