Appleton International Airport

KATW / ATW

Appleton, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KATW 042338Z 0500/0524 14004KT P6SM SKC FM050900 05006KT P6SM FEW030 SCT045 FM051300 06009KT P6SM BKN028 PROB30 0514/0519 5SM -RA BR BKN018 FM051900 07009KT P6SM BKN014

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
03:00Z
+-1h
Thu
04:00Z
+0h
Thu
05:00Z
+1h
Thu
06:00Z
+2h
Thu
07:00Z
+3h
Thu
08:00Z
+4h
Thu
09:00Z
+5h
Thu
10:00Z
+6h
Thu
11:00Z
+7h
Thu
12:00Z
+8h
Thu
13:00Z
+9h
Thu
14:00Z
+10h
Thu
15:00Z
+11h
Thu
16:00Z
+12h
Thu
17:00Z
+13h
Thu
18:00Z
+14h
Thu
19:00Z
+15h
Thu
20:00Z
+16h
Thu
21:00Z
+17h
Thu
22:00Z
+18h
Wind Dir
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
60°
NE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
Wind Speed
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
9 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
30%
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
30%
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
30%
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
30%
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
30%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
FEW030
SCT045
FEW030
SCT045
FEW030
SCT045
FEW030
SCT045
BKN028
BKN018
BKN018
BKN018
BKN018
BKN018
BKN014
BKN014
BKN014
BKN014
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
2,800 ft
AGL
1,800 ft
AGL
1,800 ft
AGL
1,800 ft
AGL
1,800 ft
AGL
1,800 ft
AGL
1,400 ft
AGL
1,400 ft
AGL
1,400 ft
AGL
1,400 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:25Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:25Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:25Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:25Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:25Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:34Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:34Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:34Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:34Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:34Z
🌙
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 occurrence • AGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
140° at 4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Southeast (140°) at 4 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Skies will be clear. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050900 09:00Z - 15:00Z
VFR
Wind
50° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW030 SCT045
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northeast (50°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 3000 feet, Scattered clouds at 4500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM051300 13:00Z - 19:00Z
MVFR
Wind
60° at 9 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN028
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East-Northeast (60°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 2800 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

PROB30 14:00Z - 19:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
5SM
Weather
Light Rain, Mist
Clouds
BKN018
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be good at 5SM. Weather conditions: Light Rain, Mist. Broken clouds at 1800 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM051900 19:00Z - 01:00Z
MVFR
Wind
70° at 9 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN014
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East-Northeast (70°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 1400 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.