Great Falls International Airport

KGTF / GTF

Great Falls, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KGTF 230537Z 2306/2406 31022G32KT 6SM -SHRA OVC015 FM230900 32020G29KT P6SM OVC015 PROB30 2309/2315 6SM -RASN OVC015 FM231500 32020G30KT P6SM OVC050 FM240000 33012G18KT P6SM OVC050 PROB30 2402/2405 6SM -RASN OVC035

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
06:00Z
+-1h
Thu
07:00Z
+0h
Thu
08:00Z
+1h
Thu
09:00Z
+2h
Thu
10:00Z
+3h
Thu
11:00Z
+4h
Thu
12:00Z
+5h
Thu
13:00Z
+6h
Thu
14:00Z
+7h
Thu
15:00Z
+8h
Thu
16:00Z
+9h
Thu
17:00Z
+10h
Thu
18:00Z
+11h
Thu
19:00Z
+12h
Thu
20:00Z
+13h
Thu
21:00Z
+14h
Thu
22:00Z
+15h
Thu
23:00Z
+16h
Fri
00:00Z
+17h
Fri
01:00Z
+18h
Fri
02:00Z
+19h
Fri
03:00Z
+20h
Fri
04:00Z
+21h
Wind Dir
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
330°
NW
330°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
Wind Speed
22 kt
G32 kt
22 kt
G32 kt
22 kt
G32 kt
22 kt
G32 kt
22 kt
G32 kt
22 kt
G32 kt
22 kt
G32 kt
22 kt
G32 kt
22 kt
G32 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
22 kt
G32 kt
22 kt
G32 kt
22 kt
G32 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
22 kt
G32 kt
22 kt
G32 kt
22 kt
G32 kt
Visibility
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
>6SM
>6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light RASN
-RASN
30%
Light RASN
-RASN
30%
Light RASN
-RASN
30%
Light RASN
-RASN
30%
Light RASN
-RASN
30%
Light RASN
-RASN
30%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light RASN
-RASN
30%
Light RASN
-RASN
30%
Light RASN
-RASN
30%
Clouds
OVC015
OVC015
OVC015
OVC015
OVC015
OVC015
OVC015
OVC015
OVC015
OVC050
OVC050
OVC050
OVC050
OVC050
OVC050
OVC015
OVC015
OVC015
OVC050
OVC050
OVC035
OVC035
OVC035
Ceiling
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
Flight Rules MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌅 05:15Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:15Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:44Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:44Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:44Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:44Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:44Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:13Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:13Z
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
MVFR
Wind
310° at 22 kt
Gusts: 32 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
OVC015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Northwest (310°) at 22 kt. Gusts up to 32 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Overcast skies at 1500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM230900 09:00Z - 15:00Z
MVFR
Wind
320° at 20 kt
Gusts: 29 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
OVC015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northwest (320°) at 20 kt. Gusts up to 29 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Overcast skies at 1500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

PROB30 09:00Z - 15:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light RASN
Clouds
OVC015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light RASN. Overcast skies at 1500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM231500 15:00Z - 21:00Z
VFR
Wind
320° at 20 kt
Gusts: 30 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
OVC050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northwest (320°) at 20 kt. Gusts up to 30 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Overcast skies at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM240000 00:00Z - 06:00Z
VFR
Wind
330° at 12 kt
Gusts: 18 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
OVC050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northwest (330°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 18 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Overcast skies at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 02:00Z - 05:00Z
VFR
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light RASN
Clouds
OVC035
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light RASN. Overcast skies 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.