Alpena County Regional Airport

KAPN / APN

Alpena, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KAPN 252320Z 2600/2624 23004KT P6SM BKN060 FM261000 VRB03KT P6SM VCSH BKN070 FM261300 VRB03KT P6SM BKN022 FM261600 34005KT P6SM SCT100

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sun
02:00Z
+-1h
Sun
03:00Z
+0h
Sun
04:00Z
+1h
Sun
05:00Z
+2h
Sun
06:00Z
+3h
Sun
07:00Z
+4h
Sun
08:00Z
+5h
Sun
09:00Z
+6h
Sun
10:00Z
+7h
Sun
11:00Z
+8h
Sun
12:00Z
+9h
Sun
13:00Z
+10h
Sun
14:00Z
+11h
Sun
15:00Z
+12h
Sun
16:00Z
+13h
Sun
17:00Z
+14h
Sun
18:00Z
+15h
Sun
19:00Z
+16h
Sun
20:00Z
+17h
Sun
21:00Z
+18h
Sun
22:00Z
+19h
Wind Dir
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
230°
SW
Wind Speed
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
BKN060
BKN060
BKN060
BKN060
BKN060
BKN060
BKN060
BKN060
BKN070
BKN070
BKN070
BKN022
BKN022
BKN022
SCT100
SCT100
SCT100
SCT100
SCT100
SCT100
BKN060
Ceiling
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
7,000 ft
AGL
7,000 ft
AGL
7,000 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
6,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:48Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:48Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:48Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:48Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:48Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:11Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:11Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:11Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:11Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:11Z
🌙
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
230° at 4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN060
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Southwest (230°) at 4 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 6000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM261000 10:00Z - 16:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN070
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 7000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM261300 13:00Z - 19:00Z
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN022
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 2200 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM261600 16:00Z - 22:00Z
VFR
Wind
340° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northwest (340°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 10000 feet. 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.