Bram Fischer International Airport

FABL / BFN

Bloemfontain, ZA

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF COR FABL 041750Z 0418/0518 VRB03KT CAVOK TX26/0512Z TN14/0503Z TEMPO 0506/0508 BKN015 FM050900 34010KT 9999 BKN020 PROB40 TEMPO 0512/0518 -TSRA BKN015 FEW040CB

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
20:00Z
+-1h
Wed
21:00Z
+0h
Wed
22:00Z
+1h
Wed
23:00Z
+2h
Thu
00:00Z
+3h
Thu
01:00Z
+4h
Thu
02:00Z
+5h
Thu
03:00Z
+6h
Thu
04:00Z
+7h
Thu
05:00Z
+8h
Thu
06:00Z
+9h
Thu
07:00Z
+10h
Thu
08:00Z
+11h
Thu
09:00Z
+12h
Thu
10:00Z
+13h
Thu
11:00Z
+14h
Thu
12:00Z
+15h
Thu
13:00Z
+16h
Thu
14:00Z
+17h
Thu
15:00Z
+18h
Thu
16:00Z
+19h
Wind Dir
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
Visibility
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
40%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
40%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
40%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
40%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
40%
Clouds
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
BKN015
BKN015
☀️ CLR
BKN020
BKN020
BKN020
BKN015
FEW040CB
BKN015
FEW040CB
BKN015
FEW040CB
BKN015
FEW040CB
BKN015
FEW040CB
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌇 18:18Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:42Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:42Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:42Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:42Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:42Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:17Z
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
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>10km
📖 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 10km. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 06:00Z - 08:00Z
MVFR
Clouds
BKN015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Broken clouds at 1500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM050900 09:00Z - 15:00Z
MVFR
Wind
340° at 10 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northwest (340°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 2000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

PROB40 TEMPO 12:00Z - 18:00Z
MVFR
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN015 FEW040CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 40% probability of: Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 1500 feet, Few 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.