Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport

CYOW / YOW

Ottawa, CA

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF CYOW 040540Z 0406/0512 24005KT P6SM SCT012 SCT040 TEMPO 0406/0411 BKN012 BKN040 PROB30 0406/0411 2SM BR SCT005 FM041100 24005KT P6SM SCT020 BKN030 TEMPO 0411/0414 BKN020 BKN030 FM041400 26008KT P6SM FEW025 SCT180 BECMG 0420/0422 18005KT FM050000 18005KT P6SM BKN200 BECMG 0504/0506 VRB03KT FM050700 VRB03KT P6SM BKN030 BKN200 FM051000 02005KT P6SM SCT006 BKN012 BKN030 PROB30 0510/0512 2SM BR BKN005 RMK NXT FCST BY 040900Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
06:00Z
+-1h
Wed
07:00Z
+0h
Wed
08:00Z
+1h
Wed
09:00Z
+2h
Wed
10:00Z
+3h
Wed
11:00Z
+4h
Wed
12:00Z
+5h
Wed
13:00Z
+6h
Wed
14:00Z
+7h
Wed
15:00Z
+8h
Wed
16:00Z
+9h
Wed
17:00Z
+10h
Wed
18:00Z
+11h
Wed
19:00Z
+12h
Wed
20:00Z
+13h
Wed
21:00Z
+14h
Wed
22:00Z
+15h
Wed
23:00Z
+16h
Thu
00:00Z
+17h
Thu
01:00Z
+18h
Thu
02:00Z
+19h
Thu
03:00Z
+20h
Thu
04:00Z
+21h
Thu
05:00Z
+22h
Thu
06:00Z
+23h
Thu
07:00Z
+24h
Thu
08:00Z
+25h
Thu
09:00Z
+26h
Thu
10:00Z
+27h
Wind Dir
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
VRB
VRB
VRB
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
2SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Mist, FCST
BR FCST
30%
Clouds
SCT012
SCT040
SCT012
SCT040
SCT012
SCT040
SCT012
SCT040
SCT012
SCT040
BKN020
BKN030
BKN020
BKN030
BKN020
BKN030
FEW025
SCT180
FEW025
SCT180
FEW025
SCT180
FEW025
SCT180
FEW025
SCT180
FEW025
SCT180
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
BKN005
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
500 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR
Day/Night
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:27Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:27Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:27Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:32Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:32Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:32Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:32Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:32Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:26Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:26Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:26Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:26Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:26Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
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 occurrence • AGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
240° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT012 SCT040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West-Southwest (240°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 1200 feet, Scattered clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 06:00Z - 11:00Z
MVFR
Clouds
BKN012 BKN040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Broken clouds at 1200 feet, Broken clouds at 4000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

PROB30 06:00Z - 11:00Z
IFR
Visibility
2SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
SCT005
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be moderate at 2SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Scattered clouds at 500 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM041100 11:00Z - 17:00Z
VFR
Wind
240° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT020 BKN030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Southwest (240°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet, Broken clouds at 3000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 11:00Z - 14:00Z
MVFR
Clouds
BKN020 BKN030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Broken clouds at 2000 feet, Broken clouds at 3000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM041400 14:00Z - 20:00Z
VFR
Wind
260° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW025 SCT180
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (260°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 2500 feet, Scattered clouds at 18000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 20:00Z - 22:00Z
VFR
Wind
180° at 5 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South (180°) at 5 kt. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050000 00:00Z - 06:00Z
VFR
Wind
180° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (180°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 04:00Z - 06:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050700 07:00Z - 13:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN030 BKN200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 3000 feet, Broken clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM051000 10:00Z - 16:00Z
MVFR
Wind
20° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT006 BKN012 BKN030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northeast (20°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 600 feet, Broken clouds at 1200 feet, Broken clouds at 3000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

PROB30 10:00Z - 12:00Z
IFR
Visibility
2SM
Weather
Mist, FCST
Clouds
BKN005
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be moderate at 2SM. Weather conditions: Mist, FCST. Broken clouds at 500 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

📚 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.