Santa Maria Public Airport Captain G Allan Hancock Field

KSMX / SMX

Santa Maria, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KSMX 042007Z 0420/0518 29012KT P6SM BKN250 FM042100 31015G25KT P6SM SCT250 FM042300 31020G28KT P6SM SCT250 FM050100 32015G25KT P6SM SKC FM050300 32012KT P6SM SKC FM050900 33008KT P6SM SKC FM051600 32012KT P6SM SKC

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
22:00Z
+-1h
Wed
23:00Z
+0h
Thu
00:00Z
+1h
Thu
01:00Z
+2h
Thu
02:00Z
+3h
Thu
03:00Z
+4h
Thu
04:00Z
+5h
Thu
05:00Z
+6h
Thu
06:00Z
+7h
Thu
07:00Z
+8h
Thu
08:00Z
+9h
Thu
09:00Z
+10h
Thu
10:00Z
+11h
Thu
11:00Z
+12h
Thu
12:00Z
+13h
Thu
13:00Z
+14h
Thu
14:00Z
+15h
Thu
15:00Z
+16h
Thu
16:00Z
+17h
Wind Dir
290°
W
310°
NW
310°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
330°
NW
330°
NW
330°
NW
330°
NW
330°
NW
330°
NW
290°
W
320°
NW
Wind Speed
12 kt
20 kt
G28 kt
20 kt
G28 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
12 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
12 kt
12 kt
Visibility
>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
Clouds
BKN250
SCT250
SCT250
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
BKN250
CLR
Ceiling
25,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
25,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules 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
🌅 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
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
290° at 12 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West-Northwest (290°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM042100 21:00Z - 03:00Z
VFR
Wind
310° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northwest (310°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM042300 23:00Z - 05:00Z
VFR
Wind
310° at 20 kt
Gusts: 28 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northwest (310°) at 20 kt. Gusts up to 28 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050100 01:00Z - 07:00Z
VFR
Wind
320° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northwest (320°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 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.

FM050300 03:00Z - 09:00Z
VFR
Wind
320° at 12 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northwest (320°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Skies will be clear. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050900 09:00Z - 15:00Z
VFR
Wind
330° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northwest (330°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Skies will be clear. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM051600 16:00Z - 22:00Z
VFR
Wind
320° at 12 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northwest (320°) at 12 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.