Svalbard Airport, Longyear

ENSB / LYR

Longyearbyen, NO

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF ENSB 041700Z 0418/0518 12009KT 9999 FEW030 TEMPO 0421/0513 13015G25KT BECMG 0511/0514 12025KT DRSN TEMPO 0513/0518 13028G38KT

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
Wind Dir
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
Wind Speed
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
25 kt
25 kt
28 kt
G38 kt
28 kt
G38 kt
28 kt
G38 kt
28 kt
G38 kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Drifting Snow
DRSN
Drifting Snow
DRSN
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
Ceiling
🌤️ 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 VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:35Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:35Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:35Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:35Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:35Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:24Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:24Z
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
120° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East-Southeast (120°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 3000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 21:00Z - 13:00Z
VFR
Wind
130° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the Southeast (130°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 11:00Z - 14:00Z
VFR
Wind
120° at 25 kt
Weather
Drifting Snow
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the East-Southeast (120°) at 25 kt. Weather conditions: Drifting Snow. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 13:00Z - 18:00Z
VFR
Wind
130° at 28 kt
Gusts: 38 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the Southeast (130°) at 28 kt. Gusts up to 38 kt are expected. 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.