Seattle–Tacoma International Airport

KSEA / SEA

Seattle, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KSEA 081720Z 0818/0924 28004KT P6SM VCSH SCT040 BKN060 OVC100 FM082000 26008KT P6SM -RA SCT035 BKN050 OVC070 FM082300 05007KT 5SM -RA BR OVC040 FM090300 12010KT 5SM -RA BR OVC022 FM090700 19012KT 6SM -RA BR OVC012 FM091200 21015G25KT 5SM -SHRA BR OVC015 FM092000 22014G22KT P6SM VCSH BKN025 OVC050

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Mon
18:00Z
+-1h
Mon
19:00Z
+0h
Mon
20:00Z
+1h
Mon
21:00Z
+2h
Mon
22:00Z
+3h
Mon
23:00Z
+4h
Tue
00:00Z
+5h
Tue
01:00Z
+6h
Tue
02:00Z
+7h
Tue
03:00Z
+8h
Tue
04:00Z
+9h
Tue
05:00Z
+10h
Tue
06:00Z
+11h
Tue
07:00Z
+12h
Tue
08:00Z
+13h
Tue
09:00Z
+14h
Tue
10:00Z
+15h
Tue
11:00Z
+16h
Tue
12:00Z
+17h
Tue
13:00Z
+18h
Tue
14:00Z
+19h
Tue
15:00Z
+20h
Tue
16:00Z
+21h
Tue
17:00Z
+22h
Tue
18:00Z
+23h
Tue
19:00Z
+24h
Tue
20:00Z
+25h
Tue
21:00Z
+26h
Tue
22:00Z
+27h
Wind Dir
280°
W
280°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
280°
W
280°
W
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
Wind Speed
4 kt
4 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
4 kt
4 kt
14 kt
G22 kt
14 kt
G22 kt
14 kt
G22 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Showers Rain, Mist
-SHRA BR
Light Showers Rain, Mist
-SHRA BR
Light Showers Rain, Mist
-SHRA BR
Light Showers Rain, Mist
-SHRA BR
Light Showers Rain, Mist
-SHRA BR
Light Showers Rain, Mist
-SHRA BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT040
BKN060
SCT040
BKN060
SCT035
BKN050
SCT035
BKN050
SCT035
BKN050
OVC040
OVC040
OVC040
OVC040
OVC022
OVC022
OVC022
OVC022
OVC012
OVC012
OVC012
OVC012
OVC012
OVC015
OVC015
OVC015
OVC015
OVC015
OVC015
SCT040
BKN060
SCT040
BKN060
BKN025
OVC050
BKN025
OVC050
BKN025
OVC050
Ceiling
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
1,200 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
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌇 19:25Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:25Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:25Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:25Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:33Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:33Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:33Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:33Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:33Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:26Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:26Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:26Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:26Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:26Z
🌙
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 occurrence • AGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
280° at 4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT040 BKN060 OVC100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West (280°) at 4 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet, Broken clouds at 6000 feet, Overcast skies at 10000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM082000 20:00Z - 02:00Z
VFR
Wind
260° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Weather
Light Rain
Clouds
SCT035 BKN050 OVC070
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (260°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Rain. Scattered clouds at 3500 feet, Broken clouds at 5000 feet, Overcast skies at 7000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM082300 23:00Z - 05:00Z
MVFR
Wind
50° at 7 kt
Visibility
5SM
Weather
Light Rain, Mist
Clouds
OVC040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northeast (50°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be good at 5SM. Weather conditions: Light Rain, Mist. Overcast skies at 4000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM090300 03:00Z - 09:00Z
MVFR
Wind
120° at 10 kt
Visibility
5SM
Weather
Light Rain, Mist
Clouds
OVC022
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East-Southeast (120°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be good at 5SM. Weather conditions: Light Rain, Mist. Overcast skies at 2200 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM090700 07:00Z - 13:00Z
IFR
Wind
190° at 12 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Rain, Mist
Clouds
OVC012
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (190°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Rain, Mist. Overcast skies at 1200 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM091200 12:00Z - 18:00Z
MVFR
Wind
210° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
5SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain, Mist
Clouds
OVC015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southwest (210°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 5SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain, Mist. Overcast skies at 1500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM092000 20:00Z - 02:00Z
MVFR
Wind
220° at 14 kt
Gusts: 22 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN025 OVC050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 14 kt. Gusts up to 22 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 2500 feet, Overcast skies at 5000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

📚 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.