San Francisco International Airport

KSFO / SFO

San Francisco, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KSFO 042057Z 0421/0524 29020G25KT P6SM FEW050 FM042300 29025G35KT P6SM SKC FM050500 29020KT P6SM SKC FM050800 30010KT P6SM SKC FM052100 31015KT P6SM SKC

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
21:00Z
+-1h
Wed
22:00Z
+0h
Wed
23:00Z
+1h
Thu
00:00Z
+2h
Thu
01:00Z
+3h
Thu
02:00Z
+4h
Thu
03:00Z
+5h
Thu
04:00Z
+6h
Thu
05:00Z
+7h
Thu
06:00Z
+8h
Thu
07:00Z
+9h
Thu
08:00Z
+10h
Thu
09:00Z
+11h
Thu
10:00Z
+12h
Thu
11:00Z
+13h
Thu
12:00Z
+14h
Thu
13:00Z
+15h
Thu
14:00Z
+16h
Thu
15:00Z
+17h
Thu
16:00Z
+18h
Thu
17:00Z
+19h
Thu
18:00Z
+20h
Thu
19:00Z
+21h
Thu
20:00Z
+22h
Thu
21:00Z
+23h
Thu
22:00Z
+24h
Wind Dir
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
310°
NW
310°
NW
Wind Speed
20 kt
G25 kt
20 kt
G25 kt
25 kt
G35 kt
25 kt
G35 kt
25 kt
G35 kt
25 kt
G35 kt
25 kt
G35 kt
25 kt
G35 kt
20 kt
G25 kt
20 kt
G25 kt
20 kt
G25 kt
10 kt
G25 kt
10 kt
G25 kt
10 kt
G25 kt
10 kt
G25 kt
10 kt
G25 kt
10 kt
G25 kt
20 kt
G25 kt
20 kt
G25 kt
20 kt
G25 kt
20 kt
G25 kt
20 kt
G25 kt
20 kt
G25 kt
20 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 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
FEW050
FEW050
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
FEW050
FEW050
FEW050
FEW050
FEW050
FEW050
FEW050
CLR
CLR
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ 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
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:22Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:22Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:22Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:22Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:22Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:37Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:37Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:37Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:37Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:37Z
🌙
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 occurrence • AGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
290° at 20 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West-Northwest (290°) at 20 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM042300 23:00Z - 05:00Z
VFR
Wind
290° at 25 kt
Gusts: 35 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Northwest (290°) at 25 kt. Gusts up to 35 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Skies will be clear. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050500 05:00Z - 11:00Z
VFR
Wind
290° at 20 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Northwest (290°) at 20 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Skies will be clear. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050800 08:00Z - 14:00Z
VFR
Wind
300° at 10 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Skies will be clear. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM052100 21:00Z - 03:00Z
VFR
Wind
310° at 15 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northwest (310°) at 15 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Skies will be clear. 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.