Sandnessjøen Airport, Stokka

ENST / SSJ

Alstahaug, NO

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF AMD ENST 041531Z 0415/0423 26012KT 9999 -SHRA FEW015 SCT025 BKN040 TEMPO 0415/0421 4500 SHRA FEW008 FEW012CB BKN025 BECMG 0416/0418 20008KT

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
21:00Z
+-1h
Wind Dir
260°
W
Wind Speed
12 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Clouds
FEW015
SCT025
Ceiling
4,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR
Day/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
260° at 12 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
FEW015 SCT025 BKN040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West (260°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Few clouds at 1500 feet, Scattered clouds at 2500 feet, Broken clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 15:00Z - 21:00Z
IFR
Visibility
4.5 km
Weather
Showers Rain
Clouds
FEW008 FEW012CB BKN025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be moderate at 4.5 km. Weather conditions: Showers Rain. Few clouds at 800 feet, Few clouds at 1200 feet, Broken clouds at 2500 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 16:00Z - 18:00Z
VFR
Wind
200° at 8 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 8 kt. 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.