Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport

CYOW / YOW

Ottawa, CA

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF CYOW 102040Z 1021/1124 18006KT P6SM -SHRA FEW005 BKN015 OVC040 TEMPO 1021/1102 P6SM NSW SCT015 OVC040 PROB30 1100/1102 1SM BR BKN005 OVC015 FM110200 18006KT 3SM -SHRA BR BKN006 OVC025 TEMPO 1102/1106 P6SM NSW SCT006 OVC025 PROB30 1102/1106 2SM TSRA BR BKN006 OVC025CB FM110600 24006KT 6SM BR SCT015 FM111200 25006KT P6SM FEW015 FM111700 26006KT P6SM BKN025 FM112000 27006KT P6SM -SHRA BKN030 PROB30 1120/1122 3SM TSRA BR BKN015 OVC030CB FM112200 26005KT P6SM SCT030 RMK NXT FCST BY 110000Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
22:00Z
+-1h
Wed
23:00Z
+0h
Thu
00:00Z
+1h
Thu
01:00Z
+2h
Thu
02:00Z
+3h
Thu
03:00Z
+4h
Thu
04:00Z
+5h
Thu
05:00Z
+6h
Thu
06:00Z
+7h
Thu
07:00Z
+8h
Thu
08:00Z
+9h
Thu
09:00Z
+10h
Thu
10:00Z
+11h
Thu
11:00Z
+12h
Thu
12:00Z
+13h
Thu
13:00Z
+14h
Thu
14:00Z
+15h
Thu
15:00Z
+16h
Thu
16:00Z
+17h
Thu
17:00Z
+18h
Thu
18:00Z
+19h
Thu
19:00Z
+20h
Thu
20:00Z
+21h
Thu
21:00Z
+22h
Thu
22:00Z
+23h
Wind Dir
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
180°
S
180°
S
260°
W
Wind Speed
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
1SM
1SM
2SM
2SM
2SM
2SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
3SM
3SM
>6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Mist
BR
30%
Mist
BR
30%
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
TSRA BR
30%
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
TSRA BR
30%
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
TSRA BR
30%
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
TSRA BR
30%
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
TSRA BR
30%
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
TSRA BR
30%
FCST
FCST
Clouds
FEW005
BKN015
FEW005
BKN015
BKN005
OVC015
BKN005
OVC015
BKN006
OVC025CB
BKN006
OVC025CB
BKN006
OVC025CB
BKN006
OVC025CB
SCT015
SCT015
SCT015
SCT015
SCT015
SCT015
FEW015
FEW015
FEW015
FEW015
FEW015
BKN025
BKN025
BKN025
BKN015
OVC030CB
BKN015
OVC030CB
SCT030
Ceiling
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules MVFR MVFR IFR IFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:36Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:36Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:36Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:36Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:36Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:23Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:23Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:23Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:23Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:23Z
🌙
Night
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
MVFR
Wind
180° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
FEW005 BKN015 OVC040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South (180°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Few clouds at 500 feet, Broken clouds at 1500 feet, Overcast skies at 4000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 21:00Z - 02:00Z
VFR
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT015 OVC040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 1500 feet, Overcast skies at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 00:00Z - 02:00Z
IFR
Visibility
1SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN005 OVC015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be moderate at 1SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 500 feet, Overcast skies at 1500 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM110200 02:00Z - 08:00Z
IFR
Wind
180° at 6 kt
Visibility
3SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain, Mist
Clouds
BKN006 OVC025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (180°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be good at 3SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain, Mist. Broken clouds at 600 feet, Overcast skies at 2500 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

TEMPO 02:00Z - 06:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT006 OVC025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 600 feet, Overcast skies at 2500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

PROB30 02:00Z - 06:00Z
LIFR
Visibility
2SM
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
Clouds
BKN006 OVC025CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be moderate at 2SM. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain, Mist. Broken clouds at 600 feet, Overcast skies at 2500 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

FM110600 06:00Z - 12:00Z
VFR
Wind
240° at 6 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
SCT015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Southwest (240°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Scattered clouds at 1500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM111200 12:00Z - 18:00Z
VFR
Wind
250° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 1500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM111700 17:00Z - 23:00Z
MVFR
Wind
260° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (260°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 2500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM112000 20:00Z - 02:00Z
VFR
Wind
270° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (270°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 3000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 20:00Z - 22:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
3SM
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
Clouds
BKN015 OVC030CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be good at 3SM. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain, Mist. Broken clouds at 1500 feet, Overcast skies at 3000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM112200 22:00Z - 04:00Z
VFR
Wind
260° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Weather
FCST
Clouds
SCT030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (260°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Weather conditions: FCST. Scattered clouds at 3000 feet. 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.