Albert J Ellis Airport

KOAJ / OAJ

Richlands, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KOAJ 042329Z 0500/0524 21004KT P6SM SCT250 TEMPO 0508/0510 3SM BR BKN004 FM051000 21003KT 2SM BR BKN002 FM051100 21004KT 1/2SM FG BKN001 FM051300 22005KT 2SM BR BKN003 FM051500 23006KT P6SM BKN006 FM051600 22007KT P6SM SCT030 SCT250 AMD LTD TO CLD VIS AND WIND

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
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
230°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
210°
SW
Wind Speed
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
3 kt
4 kt
4 kt
5 kt
5 kt
6 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
3SM
3SM
2SM
1/2SM
1/2SM
2SM
2SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
BKN004
BKN004
BKN002
BKN001
BKN001
BKN003
BKN003
BKN006
SCT030
SCT250
SCT030
SCT250
SCT030
SCT250
SCT030
SCT250
SCT030
SCT250
SCT030
SCT250
SCT250
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
200 ft
AGL
100 ft
AGL
100 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR IFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:20Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:20Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:20Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:20Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:20Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:39Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:39Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:39Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:39Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:39Z
🌙
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 occurrenceAGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
210° at 4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southwest (210°) at 4 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 08:00Z - 10:00Z
LIFR
Visibility
3SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN004
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be good at 3SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 400 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

FM051000 10:00Z - 16:00Z
LIFR
Wind
210° at 3 kt
Visibility
2SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN002
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southwest (210°) at 3 kt. Visibility will be moderate at 2SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 200 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

FM051100 11:00Z - 17:00Z
LIFR
Wind
210° at 4 kt
Visibility
1/2SM
Weather
Fog
Clouds
BKN001
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southwest (210°) at 4 kt. Visibility will be moderate at 1/2SM. Weather conditions: Fog. Broken clouds at 100 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

FM051300 13:00Z - 19:00Z
LIFR
Wind
220° at 5 kt
Visibility
2SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN003
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be moderate at 2SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 300 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

FM051500 15:00Z - 21:00Z
IFR
Wind
230° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN006
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (230°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 600 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM051600 16:00Z - 22:00Z
VFR
Wind
220° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT030 SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 3000 feet, Scattered 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.