Williams Lake Airport

CYWL / YWL

Williams Lake, CA

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF CYWL 041240Z 0413/0501 VRB03KT P6SM -RA SCT020 BKN040 TEMPO 0413/0417 1SM -RA BR BKN020 OVC040 PROB30 0413/0417 1/2SM FG VV002 FM041700 28008KT P6SM SCT040 BKN070 TEMPO 0417/0501 VRB15G25KT 6SM -SHRA VCTS BKN040CB RMK NXT FCST BY 041900Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
13:00Z
+-1h
Sat
14:00Z
+0h
Sat
15:00Z
+1h
Sat
16:00Z
+2h
Sat
17:00Z
+3h
Sat
18:00Z
+4h
Sat
19:00Z
+5h
Sat
20:00Z
+6h
Sat
21:00Z
+7h
Sat
22:00Z
+8h
Sat
23:00Z
+9h
Wind Dir
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
Weather
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
Light Showers Rain, FCST
-SHRA FCST
Light Showers Rain, FCST
-SHRA FCST
Light Showers Rain, FCST
-SHRA FCST
Light Showers Rain, FCST
-SHRA FCST
Light Showers Rain, FCST
-SHRA FCST
Light Showers Rain, FCST
-SHRA FCST
Light Showers Rain, FCST
-SHRA FCST
Clouds
SCT020
BKN040
SCT020
BKN040
SCT020
BKN040
SCT020
BKN040
BKN040CB
BKN040CB
BKN040CB
BKN040CB
BKN040CB
BKN040CB
BKN040CB
Ceiling
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:32Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:32Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:32Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 19:32Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:32Z
🌙
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 occurrence • AGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Weather
Light Rain
Clouds
SCT020 BKN040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Rain. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet, Broken clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 13:00Z - 17:00Z
IFR
Visibility
1SM
Weather
Light Rain, Mist
Clouds
BKN020 OVC040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be moderate at 1SM. Weather conditions: Light Rain, Mist. Broken clouds at 2000 feet, Overcast skies at 4000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

PROB30 13:00Z - 17:00Z
LIFR
Visibility
1/2SM
Weather
Fog
Clouds
VV002
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be moderate at 1/2SM. Weather conditions: Fog. Vertical visibility at 200 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

FM041700 17:00Z - 23:00Z
VFR
Wind
280° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT040 BKN070
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (280°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet, Broken clouds at 7000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 17:00Z - 01:00Z
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain, FCST
Clouds
BKN040CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds will be variable in direction at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain, FCST. Broken clouds at 4000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

📚 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.