John Wayne Orange County International Airport

KSNA / SNA

Santa Ana, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KSNA 211124Z 2112/2212 VRB04KT P6SM SCT020 TEMPO 2112/2116 BKN018 FM211800 21012G20KT P6SM SCT025 BKN050 FM212300 22008G16KT P6SM VCSH SCT020 BKN035 TEMPO 2200/2204 -SHRA BKN018 FM220500 VRB04KT P6SM SCT025 BKN035

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Tue
15:00Z
+-1h
Tue
16:00Z
+0h
Tue
17:00Z
+1h
Tue
18:00Z
+2h
Tue
19:00Z
+3h
Tue
20:00Z
+4h
Tue
21:00Z
+5h
Tue
22:00Z
+6h
Tue
23:00Z
+7h
Wed
00:00Z
+8h
Wed
01:00Z
+9h
Wed
02:00Z
+10h
Wed
03:00Z
+11h
Wed
04:00Z
+12h
Wed
05:00Z
+13h
Wed
06:00Z
+14h
Wed
07:00Z
+15h
Wed
08:00Z
+16h
Wed
09:00Z
+17h
Wed
10:00Z
+18h
Wind Dir
VRB
VRB
VRB
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
220°
SW
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
220°
SW
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
8 kt
G16 kt
4 kt
G16 kt
4 kt
G16 kt
4 kt
G16 kt
4 kt
G16 kt
8 kt
G16 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
Visibility
>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
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT020
SCT020
SCT020
SCT025
BKN050
SCT025
BKN050
SCT025
BKN050
SCT025
BKN050
SCT025
BKN050
SCT020
BKN035
BKN018
BKN018
BKN018
BKN018
SCT020
BKN035
SCT025
BKN035
SCT025
BKN035
SCT025
BKN035
SCT025
BKN035
SCT025
BKN035
SCT025
BKN035
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
1,800 ft
AGL
1,800 ft
AGL
1,800 ft
AGL
1,800 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:31Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:31Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:31Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:31Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:31Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:27Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:27Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:27Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:27Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:27Z
☀️
Day
☀️
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 occurrenceAGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds will be variable in direction at 4 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 12:00Z - 16:00Z
MVFR
Clouds
BKN018
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Broken clouds at 1800 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM211800 18:00Z - 00:00Z
VFR
Wind
210° at 12 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT025 BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southwest (210°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 2500 feet, Broken clouds at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM212300 23:00Z - 05:00Z
VFR
Wind
220° at 8 kt
Gusts: 16 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT020 BKN035
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 8 kt. Gusts up to 16 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet, Broken clouds at 3500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 00:00Z - 04:00Z
MVFR
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN018
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 1800 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM220500 05:00Z - 11:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT025 BKN035
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 4 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 2500 feet, Broken clouds at 3500 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.