Thunder Bay Airport

CYQT / YQT

Thunder Bay, CA

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF CYQT 050740Z 0508/0520 06010G20KT 6SM -SN SCT005 OVC012 TEMPO 0508/0518 2SM -FZDZ -SN BR BKN005 OVC012 FM051800 08008KT P6SM SCT008 OVC015 TEMPO 0518/0520 3SM -FZDZ -SN BR BKN008 OVC015 RMK NXT FCST BY 051400Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
11:00Z
+-1h
Thu
12:00Z
+0h
Thu
13:00Z
+1h
Thu
14:00Z
+2h
Thu
15:00Z
+3h
Thu
16:00Z
+4h
Thu
17:00Z
+5h
Thu
18:00Z
+6h
Wind Dir
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
Wind Speed
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
Visibility
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
3SM
Weather
Light Snow
-SN
Light Snow
-SN
Light Snow
-SN
Light Snow
-SN
Light Snow
-SN
Light Snow
-SN
Light Snow
-SN
Light Freezing Drizzle, Light Snow, Mist, FCST
-FZDZ -SN BR FCST
Clouds
SCT005
OVC012
SCT005
OVC012
SCT005
OVC012
SCT005
OVC012
SCT005
OVC012
SCT005
OVC012
SCT005
OVC012
BKN008
OVC015
Ceiling
1,200 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
Flight Rules IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:32Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:32Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:32Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:32Z
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
IFR
Wind
60° at 10 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Snow
Clouds
SCT005 OVC012
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East-Northeast (60°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Snow. Scattered clouds at 500 feet, Overcast skies at 1200 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

TEMPO 08:00Z - 18:00Z
IFR
Visibility
2SM
Weather
Light Freezing Drizzle, Light Snow, Mist
Clouds
BKN005 OVC012
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be moderate at 2SM. Weather conditions: Light Freezing Drizzle, Light Snow, Mist. Broken clouds at 500 feet, Overcast skies at 1200 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM051800 18:00Z - 00:00Z
MVFR
Wind
80° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT008 OVC015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East (80°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 800 feet, Overcast skies at 1500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 18:00Z - 20:00Z
IFR
Visibility
3SM
Weather
Light Freezing Drizzle, Light Snow, Mist, FCST
Clouds
BKN008 OVC015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be good at 3SM. Weather conditions: Light Freezing Drizzle, Light Snow, Mist, FCST. Broken clouds at 800 feet, Overcast skies at 1500 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.