Appleton International Airport

KATW / ATW

Appleton, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KATW 101451Z 1015/1112 13006KT P6SM VCTS SCT030 BKN045CB TEMPO 1015/1017 4SM -TSRA BKN025CB FM101700 17011G22KT P6SM BKN050 FM102000 18012G23KT 6SM -TSRA BKN035CB TEMPO 1021/1101 1 1/2SM TSRA BR BKN025CB FM110300 19008KT P6SM BKN020 FM110500 24009G16KT P6SM SCT035

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
16:00Z
+-1h
Wed
17:00Z
+0h
Wed
18:00Z
+1h
Wed
19:00Z
+2h
Wed
20:00Z
+3h
Wed
21:00Z
+4h
Wed
22:00Z
+5h
Wed
23:00Z
+6h
Thu
00:00Z
+7h
Thu
01:00Z
+8h
Thu
02:00Z
+9h
Thu
03:00Z
+10h
Thu
04:00Z
+11h
Thu
05:00Z
+12h
Thu
06:00Z
+13h
Thu
07:00Z
+14h
Thu
08:00Z
+15h
Thu
09:00Z
+16h
Thu
10:00Z
+17h
Wind Dir
130°
SE
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
180°
S
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
180°
S
130°
SE
190°
S
190°
S
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
Wind Speed
6 kt
11 kt
G22 kt
11 kt
G22 kt
11 kt
G22 kt
12 kt
G23 kt
6 kt
G23 kt
6 kt
G23 kt
6 kt
G23 kt
6 kt
G23 kt
12 kt
G23 kt
6 kt
8 kt
8 kt
9 kt
G16 kt
9 kt
G16 kt
9 kt
G16 kt
9 kt
G16 kt
9 kt
G16 kt
9 kt
G16 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
6SM
1/2SM
1/2SM
1/2SM
1/2SM
6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
TSRA BR
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
TSRA BR
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
TSRA BR
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
TSRA BR
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT030
BKN045CB
BKN050
BKN050
BKN050
BKN035CB
BKN025CB
BKN025CB
BKN025CB
BKN025CB
BKN035CB
SCT030
BKN045CB
BKN020
BKN020
SCT035
SCT035
SCT035
SCT035
SCT035
SCT035
Ceiling
4,500 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
4,500 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules MVFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR IFR IFR IFR IFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:21Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:21Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:21Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:21Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:21Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:37Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:37Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:37Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:37Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:37Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
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
MVFR
Wind
130° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT030 BKN045CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Southeast (130°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 3000 feet, Broken clouds at 4500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 15:00Z - 17:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN025CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 2500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM101700 17:00Z - 23:00Z
VFR
Wind
170° at 11 kt
Gusts: 22 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (170°) at 11 kt. Gusts up to 22 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM102000 20:00Z - 02:00Z
MVFR
Wind
180° at 12 kt
Gusts: 23 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN035CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (180°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 23 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 3500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 21:00Z - 01:00Z
IFR
Visibility
1/2SM
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
Clouds
BKN025CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be moderate at 1/2SM. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain, Mist. Broken clouds at 2500 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM110300 03:00Z - 09:00Z
MVFR
Wind
190° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (190°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 2000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM110500 05:00Z - 11:00Z
VFR
Wind
240° at 9 kt
Gusts: 16 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT035
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Southwest (240°) at 9 kt. Gusts up to 16 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 3500 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.