San Francisco International Airport

KSFO / SFO

San Francisco, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KSFO 041729Z 0418/0524 34009KT P6SM FEW015 FEW200 FM042100 29017KT P6SM SCT200 FM050400 29010KT P6SM FEW012 FM050700 29008KT P6SM BKN010 FM051100 28007KT P6SM OVC008 FM051800 27010KT P6SM SCT010 FM052100 28016KT P6SM SCT250

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
20:00Z
+-1h
Sat
21:00Z
+0h
Sat
22:00Z
+1h
Sat
23:00Z
+2h
Sun
00:00Z
+3h
Sun
01:00Z
+4h
Sun
02:00Z
+5h
Sun
03:00Z
+6h
Sun
04:00Z
+7h
Sun
05:00Z
+8h
Sun
06:00Z
+9h
Sun
07:00Z
+10h
Sun
08:00Z
+11h
Sun
09:00Z
+12h
Sun
10:00Z
+13h
Sun
11:00Z
+14h
Sun
12:00Z
+15h
Sun
13:00Z
+16h
Sun
14:00Z
+17h
Sun
15:00Z
+18h
Sun
16:00Z
+19h
Sun
17:00Z
+20h
Sun
18:00Z
+21h
Sun
19:00Z
+22h
Sun
20:00Z
+23h
Sun
21:00Z
+24h
Sun
22:00Z
+25h
Wind Dir
340°
N
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
340°
N
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
340°
N
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
280°
W
280°
W
Wind Speed
9 kt
17 kt
17 kt
17 kt
17 kt
17 kt
17 kt
9 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
9 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
16 kt
16 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
>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
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW015
FEW200
SCT200
SCT200
SCT200
SCT200
SCT200
SCT200
FEW015
FEW200
FEW012
FEW012
FEW012
BKN010
BKN010
BKN010
BKN010
OVC008
OVC008
OVC008
OVC008
OVC008
OVC008
FEW015
FEW200
SCT010
SCT010
SCT010
SCT250
SCT250
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌇 19:11Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:11Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:48Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:48Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:48Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:48Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:48Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:11Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:11Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:11Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:11Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:11Z
🌙
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
340° at 9 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW015 FEW200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the North-Northwest (340°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 1500 feet, Few clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM042100 21:00Z - 03:00Z
VFR
Wind
290° at 17 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Northwest (290°) at 17 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050400 04:00Z - 10:00Z
VFR
Wind
290° at 10 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW012
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Northwest (290°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 1200 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050700 07:00Z - 13:00Z
MVFR
Wind
290° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN010
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Northwest (290°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 1000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM051100 11:00Z - 17:00Z
IFR
Wind
280° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
OVC008
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (280°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Overcast skies at 800 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM051800 18:00Z - 00:00Z
VFR
Wind
270° at 10 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT010
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (270°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 1000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM052100 21:00Z - 03:00Z
VFR
Wind
280° at 16 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (280°) at 16 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. 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.