Mesa Gateway Airport

KIWA / AZA

Mesa, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KIWA 220520Z 2206/2306 28006KT P6SM SCT250 FM220800 13007KT P6SM SKC FM221700 21007KT P6SM SCT250 FM222200 26010G20KT P6SM BKN250 FM230300 28006KT P6SM FEW250 AMD LTD TO CLD VIS AND WIND TIL 221200

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
08:00Z
+-1h
Wed
09:00Z
+0h
Wed
10:00Z
+1h
Wed
11:00Z
+2h
Wed
12:00Z
+3h
Wed
13:00Z
+4h
Wed
14:00Z
+5h
Wed
15:00Z
+6h
Wed
16:00Z
+7h
Wed
17:00Z
+8h
Wed
18:00Z
+9h
Wed
19:00Z
+10h
Wed
20:00Z
+11h
Wed
21:00Z
+12h
Wed
22:00Z
+13h
Wed
23:00Z
+14h
Thu
00:00Z
+15h
Thu
01:00Z
+16h
Thu
02:00Z
+17h
Thu
03:00Z
+18h
Thu
04:00Z
+19h
Wind Dir
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
280°
W
280°
W
Wind Speed
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
6 kt
G20 kt
6 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
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
FEW250
FEW250
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR 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
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:32Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:32Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:32Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:32Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:32Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:26Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:26Z
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
280° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West (280°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM220800 08:00Z - 14:00Z
VFR
Wind
130° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southeast (130°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Skies will be clear. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM221700 17:00Z - 23:00Z
VFR
Wind
210° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southwest (210°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM222200 22:00Z - 04:00Z
VFR
Wind
260° at 10 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (260°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM230300 03:00Z - 09:00Z
VFR
Wind
280° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (280°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 25000 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.