Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport

CYOW / YOW

Ottawa, CA

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF CYOW 141740Z 1418/1524 32010KT P6SM BKN040 TEMPO 1418/1421 SCT040 FM142100 33010KT P6SM FEW040 BECMG 1500/1502 01006KT FM150800 03007KT P6SM FEW008 PROB30 1508/1513 2SM BR FM151500 05005KT P6SM SKC RMK NXT FCST BY 142100Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sun
18:00Z
+-1h
Sun
19:00Z
+0h
Sun
20:00Z
+1h
Sun
21:00Z
+2h
Sun
22:00Z
+3h
Sun
23:00Z
+4h
Mon
00:00Z
+5h
Mon
01:00Z
+6h
Mon
02:00Z
+7h
Mon
03:00Z
+8h
Mon
04:00Z
+9h
Mon
05:00Z
+10h
Mon
06:00Z
+11h
Mon
07:00Z
+12h
Mon
08:00Z
+13h
Mon
09:00Z
+14h
Mon
10:00Z
+15h
Mon
11:00Z
+16h
Mon
12:00Z
+17h
Mon
13:00Z
+18h
Mon
14:00Z
+19h
Mon
15:00Z
+20h
Mon
16:00Z
+21h
Mon
17:00Z
+22h
Mon
18:00Z
+23h
Mon
19:00Z
+24h
Mon
20:00Z
+25h
Mon
21:00Z
+26h
Mon
22:00Z
+27h
Wind Dir
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
330°
NW
330°
NW
330°
NW
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
Wind Speed
10kt
10kt
10kt
10kt
10kt
10kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
2SM
2SM
2SM
2SM
2SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
30%
Mist
BR
30%
Mist
BR
30%
Mist
BR
30%
Mist
BR
30%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
BKN040
BKN040
BKN040
FEW040
FEW040
FEW040
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
Ceiling
4000ft
AGL
4000ft
AGL
4000ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌇 18:11
🌙
Night
🌇 18:11
🌙
Night
🌇 18:11
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:50
🌙
Night
🌅 05:50
🌙
Night
🌅 05:50
☀️
Day
🌅 05:50
☀️
Day
🌅 05:50
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:09
☀️
Day
🌇 18:09
☀️
Day
🌇 18:09
🌙
Night
🌇 18:09
🌙
Night
🌇 18:09
🌙
Night
🌙
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
VFR
Wind
320° at 10 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Northwest (320°) at 10kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 2025-10-14 18:00:00 - 2025-09-14 21:00:00
VFR
Clouds
SCT040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Scattered clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM142100 2025-09-14 21:00:00 - 2025-09-15 03:00:00
VFR
Wind
330° at 10 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northwest (330°) at 10kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 2025-09-15 00:00:00 - 2025-09-15 02:00:00
VFR
Wind
10° at 6 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the North (10°) at 6kt. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM150800 2025-09-15 08:00:00 - 2025-09-15 14:00:00
VFR
Wind
30° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW008
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northeast (30°) at 7kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 800 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 2025-09-15 08:00:00 - 2025-09-15 13:00:00
IFR
Visibility
2SM
Weather
Mist
📖 Plain English Explanation:

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

FM151500 2025-09-15 15:00:00 - 2025-09-15 21:00:00
VFR
Wind
50° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Weather
FCST
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northeast (50°) at 5kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Weather conditions: FCST. Skies will be clear. 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.