Queenstown International Airport

NZQN / ZQN

Queenstown, NZ

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF AMD NZQN 040910Z 0409/0506 01005KT 9999 SCT050 TEMPO 0409/0414 0500 FG BECMG 0413/0415 18010KT TEMPO 0414/0418 6000 SHRA BKN014 BECMG 0416/0418 18015G30KT TEMPO 0416/0424 4000 SHSN

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
11:00Z
+-1h
Sat
12:00Z
+0h
Sat
13:00Z
+1h
Sat
14:00Z
+2h
Sat
15:00Z
+3h
Sat
16:00Z
+4h
Sat
17:00Z
+5h
Sat
18:00Z
+6h
Sat
19:00Z
+7h
Sat
20:00Z
+8h
Sat
21:00Z
+9h
Sat
22:00Z
+10h
Sat
23:00Z
+11h
Sun
00:00Z
+12h
Sun
01:00Z
+13h
Sun
02:00Z
+14h
Sun
03:00Z
+15h
Sun
04:00Z
+16h
Wind Dir
10°
N
10°
N
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
Wind Speed
5 kt
5 kt
10 kt
15 kt
G30 kt
15 kt
G30 kt
15 kt
G30 kt
15 kt
G30 kt
15 kt
G30 kt
15 kt
G30 kt
15 kt
G30 kt
15 kt
G30 kt
15 kt
G30 kt
15 kt
G30 kt
15 kt
G30 kt
15 kt
G30 kt
15 kt
G30 kt
15 kt
G30 kt
15 kt
G30 kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
6 km
6 km
4 km
4 km
4 km
4 km
4 km
4 km
4 km
4 km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Showers Rain
SHRA
Showers Rain
SHRA
Showers Snow
SHSN
Showers Snow
SHSN
Showers Snow
SHSN
Showers Snow
SHSN
Showers Snow
SHSN
Showers Snow
SHSN
Showers Snow
SHSN
Showers Snow
SHSN
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT050
SCT050
☀️ CLR
BKN014
BKN014
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
1,400 ft
AGL
1,400 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 16:36Z
☀️
Day
🌇 16:36Z
☀️
Day
🌇 16:36Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 16:36Z
🌙
Night
🌇 16:36Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
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 occurrenceAGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
10° at 5 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the North (10°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 09:00Z - 14:00Z
LIFR
Visibility
0.5 km
Weather
Fog
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be poor at 0.5 km. Weather conditions: Fog. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

BECMG 13:00Z - 15:00Z
VFR
Wind
180° at 10 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South (180°) at 10 kt. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 14:00Z - 18:00Z
IFR
Visibility
6 km
Weather
Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN014
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be good at 6 km. Weather conditions: Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 1400 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 16:00Z - 18:00Z
VFR
Wind
180° at 15 kt
Gusts: 30 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South (180°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 30 kt are expected. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 16:00Z - 00:00Z
IFR
Visibility
4 km
Weather
Showers Snow
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be moderate at 4 km. Weather conditions: Showers Snow. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

📚 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.