Sault Ste Marie Airport

CYAM / YAM

Sault Ste Marie, CA

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF CYAM 150740Z 1508/1520 13005KT P6SM BKN160 BECMG 1510/1512 11012KT FM151200 10012G22KT P6SM FEW020 OVC050 TEMPO 1512/1513 5SM -SN BKN020 OVC050 FM151300 09015G25KT 3/4SM -SN BLSN VV006 TEMPO 1513/1515 2SM -SN OVC010 FM151500 09018G28KT 1/2SM -SN BLSN VV006 TEMPO 1515/1520 1/4SM SN BLSN VV004 BECMG 1515/1517 09020G35KT RMK NXT FCST BY 151400Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sun
11:00Z
+-1h
Sun
12:00Z
+0h
Sun
13:00Z
+1h
Sun
14:00Z
+2h
Sun
15:00Z
+3h
Sun
16:00Z
+4h
Sun
17:00Z
+5h
Sun
18:00Z
+6h
Wind Dir
130°
SE
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
Wind Speed
5 kt
12 kt
G35 kt
12 kt
G35 kt
12 kt
G35 kt
12 kt
G35 kt
12 kt
G35 kt
12 kt
G35 kt
12 kt
G35 kt
Visibility
>6SM
5SM
2SM
2SM
1/4SM
1/4SM
1/4SM
1/4SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
Light Snow
-SN
Light Snow
-SN
Light Snow
-SN
Snow, Blowing Snow
SN BLSN
Snow, Blowing Snow
SN BLSN
Snow, Blowing Snow
SN BLSN
Snow, Blowing Snow
SN BLSN
Clouds
BKN160
BKN020
OVC050
OVC010
OVC010
VV004
VV004
VV004
VV004
Ceiling
16,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
400 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
400 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
400 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
400 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
Flight Rules VFR MVFR IFR IFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:48Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:48Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:48Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:48Z
Flight Rules
VFR: Visual Flight Rules
MVFR: Marginal VFR
IFR: Instrument Flight Rules
LIFR: Low IFR
Ceiling Colors
Red: < 500ft
Amber: 500-1000ft
Blue: 1000-3000ft
Green: > 3000ft
⛈️ TCU: Towering Cumulus
🌩️ CB: Cumulonimbus
+Nh: Hours from now%: Probability of occurrenceAGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
130° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN160
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Southeast (130°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 16000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 10:00Z - 12:00Z
VFR
Wind
110° at 12 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the East-Southeast (110°) at 12 kt. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM151200 12:00Z - 18:00Z
VFR
Wind
100° at 12 kt
Gusts: 22 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW020 OVC050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East (100°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 22 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 2000 feet, Overcast skies at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 12:00Z - 13:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
5SM
Weather
Light Snow
Clouds
BKN020 OVC050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be good at 5SM. Weather conditions: Light Snow. Broken clouds at 2000 feet, Overcast skies at 5000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM151300 13:00Z - 19:00Z
IFR
Wind
90° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
3/4SM
Weather
Light Snow, Blowing Snow
Clouds
VV006
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East (90°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 3/4SM. Weather conditions: Light Snow, Blowing Snow. Vertical visibility at 600 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

TEMPO 13:00Z - 15:00Z
IFR
Visibility
2SM
Weather
Light Snow
Clouds
OVC010
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be moderate at 2SM. Weather conditions: Light Snow. Overcast skies at 1000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM151500 15:00Z - 21:00Z
IFR
Wind
90° at 18 kt
Gusts: 28 kt
Visibility
1/2SM
Weather
Light Snow, Blowing Snow
Clouds
VV006
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East (90°) at 18 kt. Gusts up to 28 kt are expected. Visibility will be moderate at 1/2SM. Weather conditions: Light Snow, Blowing Snow. Vertical visibility at 600 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

TEMPO 15:00Z - 20:00Z
LIFR
Visibility
1/4SM
Weather
Snow, Blowing Snow
Clouds
VV004
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be moderate at 1/4SM. Weather conditions: Snow, Blowing Snow. Vertical visibility at 400 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

BECMG 15:00Z - 17:00Z
VFR
Wind
90° at 20 kt
Gusts: 35 kt
Weather
FCST
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the East (90°) at 20 kt. Gusts up to 35 kt are expected. Weather conditions: FCST. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

📚 Understanding TAF Forecasts

Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) provides detailed weather forecasts specifically for aviation operations. Our system translates complex meteorological codes into plain English to help pilots of all experience levels understand forecasted conditions.

What TAF Includes:

  • • Wind direction, speed, and gusts
  • • Visibility in statute miles or kilometers
  • • Weather phenomena (rain, snow, fog, thunderstorms)
  • • Cloud coverage types and altitudes
  • • Forecast changes with timing
  • • Flight rules categories (VFR/IFR)

Change Indicators Explained:

  • BASE - Main forecast conditions
  • FM - Permanent change from specific time
  • BECMG - Gradual change over 2-4 hours
  • TEMPO - Temporary changes (less than 1 hour)
  • PROB30/40 - 30% or 40% probability

🛩️ Flight Rules Categories

VFR

Visual Flight Rules

  • • Ceiling ≥ 3000 ft
  • • Visibility ≥ 5 miles
  • • Good for visual flying

MVFR

Marginal VFR

  • • Ceiling 1000-3000 ft
  • • Visibility 3-5 miles
  • • Caution for VFR

IFR

Instrument Flight Rules

  • • Ceiling 500-1000 ft
  • • Visibility 1-3 miles
  • • Instruments required

LIFR

Low IFR

  • • Ceiling < 500 ft
  • • Visibility < 1 mile
  • • Challenging conditions

💡 TAF Reading Tips

For Student Pilots:

  • • Focus on the plain English explanations above
  • • Pay attention to flight rules categories
  • • Look for wind direction relative to runway headings
  • • Check for temporary conditions (TEMPO)

For Experienced Pilots:

  • • Cross-reference with raw TAF for precise timing
  • • Consider probability forecasts for alternate planning
  • • Monitor BECMG periods for gradual changes
  • • Always check current METAR vs TAF forecast

Important: TAF forecasts should always be supplemented with current METAR observations, PIREPs, and other weather information for complete situational awareness. Weather can change rapidly, and forecasts have inherent limitations.