Great Falls International Airport

KGTF / GTF

Great Falls, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
KGTF 160520Z 1606/1706 25007KT P6SM BKN050 TEMPO 1606/1609 5SM -TSRA OVC045CB FM161800 34006KT P6SM BKN050 FM162200 02008KT P6SM BKN060 FM170000 10006KT P6SM BKN100 FM170100 17005KT P6SM SKC

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Tue
10:00Z
+-1h
Tue
11:00Z
+0h
Tue
12:00Z
+1h
Tue
13:00Z
+2h
Tue
14:00Z
+3h
Tue
15:00Z
+4h
Tue
16:00Z
+5h
Tue
17:00Z
+6h
Tue
18:00Z
+7h
Tue
19:00Z
+8h
Tue
20:00Z
+9h
Tue
21:00Z
+10h
Tue
22:00Z
+11h
Tue
23:00Z
+12h
Wed
00:00Z
+13h
Wed
01:00Z
+14h
Wed
02:00Z
+15h
Wed
03:00Z
+16h
Wed
04:00Z
+17h
Wind Dir
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
20°
N
20°
N
100°
E
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
Wind Speed
7kt
7kt
7kt
7kt
7kt
7kt
7kt
7kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
8kt
8kt
6kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
Visibility
>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
Clouds
BKN050
BKN050
BKN050
BKN050
BKN050
BKN050
BKN050
BKN050
BKN050
BKN050
BKN050
BKN050
BKN060
BKN060
BKN100
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
Ceiling
5000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
6000ft
AGL
6000ft
AGL
10000ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:08
☀️
Day
🌇 18:08
☀️
Day
🌇 18:08
🌙
Night
🌇 18:08
🌙
Night
🌇 18:08
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:52
🌙
Night
🌅 05:52
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
250° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 7kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 2025-10-16 06:00:00 - 2025-10-16 09:00:00
MVFR
Visibility
5SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
OVC045CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be good at 5SM. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Overcast skies at 4500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM161800 2025-09-16 18:00:00 - 2025-09-17 00:00:00
VFR
Wind
340° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northwest (340°) at 6kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM162200 2025-09-16 22:00:00 - 2025-09-17 04:00:00
VFR
Wind
20° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN060
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northeast (20°) at 8kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 6000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM170000 2025-09-17 00:00:00 - 2025-09-17 06:00:00
VFR
Wind
100° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East (100°) at 6kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 10000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM170100 2025-09-17 01:00:00 - 2025-09-17 07:00:00
VFR
Wind
170° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (170°) at 5kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Skies will be clear. 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.