Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport

CYOW / YOW

Ottawa, CA

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF CYOW 220540Z 2206/2312 10005KT P6SM BKN080 FM221200 08005KT P6SM FEW060 FM221600 08007KT P6SM SCT030 BKN060 FM222100 35007KT P6SM SKC RMK NXT FCST BY 220900Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
08:00Z
+-1h
Wed
09:00Z
+0h
Wed
10:00Z
+1h
Wed
11:00Z
+2h
Wed
12:00Z
+3h
Wed
13:00Z
+4h
Wed
14:00Z
+5h
Wed
15:00Z
+6h
Wed
16:00Z
+7h
Wed
17:00Z
+8h
Wed
18:00Z
+9h
Wed
19:00Z
+10h
Wed
20:00Z
+11h
Wed
21:00Z
+12h
Wed
22:00Z
+13h
Wed
23:00Z
+14h
Thu
00:00Z
+15h
Thu
01:00Z
+16h
Thu
02:00Z
+17h
Thu
03:00Z
+18h
Thu
04:00Z
+19h
Thu
05:00Z
+20h
Thu
06:00Z
+21h
Thu
07:00Z
+22h
Thu
08:00Z
+23h
Thu
09:00Z
+24h
Thu
10:00Z
+25h
Wind Dir
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
Wind Speed
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 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
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
FCST
FCST
FCST
FCST
FCST
FCST
FCST
FCST
FCST
FCST
FCST
FCST
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
FEW060
FEW060
FEW060
FEW060
SCT030
BKN060
SCT030
BKN060
SCT030
BKN060
SCT030
BKN060
SCT030
BKN060
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
Ceiling
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:42Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:42Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:42Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:42Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:42Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:16Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:16Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:16Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:16Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:16Z
☀️
Day
☀️
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 occurrenceAGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
100° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East (100°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 8000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM221200 12:00Z - 18:00Z
VFR
Wind
80° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW060
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East (80°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 6000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM221600 16:00Z - 22:00Z
VFR
Wind
80° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT030 BKN060
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East (80°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 3000 feet, Broken clouds at 6000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM222100 21:00Z - 03:00Z
VFR
Wind
350° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Weather
FCST
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (350°) at 7 kt. 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.