Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

KPHX / PHX

Phoenix, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KPHX 040851Z 0409/0512 11005KT P6SM FEW200 SCT250 FM041800 18005KT P6SM SCT200 BKN250 FM042200 26006KT P6SM SCT200 BKN250 FM050800 11005KT P6SM SCT200

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
09:00Z
+-1h
Wed
10:00Z
+0h
Wed
11:00Z
+1h
Wed
12:00Z
+2h
Wed
13:00Z
+3h
Wed
14:00Z
+4h
Wed
15:00Z
+5h
Wed
16:00Z
+6h
Wed
17:00Z
+7h
Wed
18:00Z
+8h
Wed
19:00Z
+9h
Wed
20:00Z
+10h
Wed
21:00Z
+11h
Wed
22:00Z
+12h
Wed
23:00Z
+13h
Thu
00:00Z
+14h
Thu
01:00Z
+15h
Thu
02:00Z
+16h
Thu
03:00Z
+17h
Thu
04:00Z
+18h
Thu
05:00Z
+19h
Thu
06:00Z
+20h
Thu
07:00Z
+21h
Thu
08:00Z
+22h
Thu
09:00Z
+23h
Thu
10:00Z
+24h
Wind Dir
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
Wind Speed
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 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
>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
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW200
SCT250
FEW200
SCT250
FEW200
SCT250
FEW200
SCT250
FEW200
SCT250
FEW200
SCT250
FEW200
SCT250
FEW200
SCT250
FEW200
SCT250
SCT200
BKN250
SCT200
BKN250
SCT200
BKN250
SCT200
BKN250
SCT200
BKN250
SCT200
BKN250
SCT200
BKN250
SCT200
BKN250
SCT200
BKN250
SCT200
BKN250
FEW200
SCT250
FEW200
SCT250
FEW200
SCT250
FEW200
SCT250
SCT200
SCT200
SCT200
Ceiling
🌤️ 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
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ 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 VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:38Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:38Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:38Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:38Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:38Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:20Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:20Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:20Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:20Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:20Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
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
110° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW200 SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East-Southeast (110°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 20000 feet, Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM041800 18:00Z - 00:00Z
VFR
Wind
180° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT200 BKN250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (180°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 20000 feet, Broken clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM042200 22:00Z - 04:00Z
VFR
Wind
260° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT200 BKN250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (260°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 20000 feet, Broken clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050800 08:00Z - 14:00Z
VFR
Wind
110° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East-Southeast (110°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 20000 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.