RAF Ascension Island

FHAW / ASI

Cat Hill, SH

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF COR FHAW 160849Z 1609/1703 14014KT 9999 FEW020 SCT040 TEMPO 1609/1610 SCT020 PROB30 TEMPO 1610/1624 SCT024 TEMPO 1700/1703 6000 -SHRA SCT018

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Tue
09:00Z
+-1h
Tue
10:00Z
+0h
Tue
11:00Z
+1h
Tue
12:00Z
+2h
Tue
13:00Z
+3h
Tue
14:00Z
+4h
Tue
15:00Z
+5h
Tue
16:00Z
+6h
Tue
17:00Z
+7h
Tue
18:00Z
+8h
Tue
19:00Z
+9h
Tue
20:00Z
+10h
Tue
21:00Z
+11h
Tue
22:00Z
+12h
Tue
23:00Z
+13h
Wed
00:00Z
+14h
Wed
01:00Z
+15h
Wind Dir
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
Wind Speed
14kt
14kt
14kt
14kt
14kt
14kt
14kt
14kt
14kt
14kt
14kt
14kt
14kt
14kt
14kt
14kt
14kt
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
6 km
6 km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Clouds
FEW020
SCT040
SCT024
SCT024
SCT024
SCT024
SCT024
SCT024
SCT024
SCT024
SCT024
SCT024
SCT024
SCT024
SCT024
SCT024
SCT018
SCT018
Ceiling
🌤️ 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 MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:58
☀️
Day
🌇 17:58
☀️
Day
🌇 17:58
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:58
🌙
Night
🌇 17:58
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
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
140° at 14 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW020 SCT040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Southeast (140°) at 14kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 2000 feet, Scattered clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 2025-10-16 09:00:00 - 2025-09-16 10:00:00
VFR
Clouds
SCT020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Scattered clouds at 2000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 TEMPO 2025-09-16 10:00:00 - 2025-09-17 00:00:00
VFR
Clouds
SCT024
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Scattered clouds at 2400 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 2025-09-17 00:00:00 - 2025-09-17 03:00:00
MVFR
Visibility
6 km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT018
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be good at 6 km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 1800 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.