Prince Sultan Air Base

OEPS / AKH

Al Kharj, SA

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF OEPS 141700Z 1417/1523 04009KT 9999 FEW140 BKN160 QNH2982INS TEMPO 1417/1419 VRB25G35KT 0800 DS VCTS BKN160CB BECMG 1500/1501 35006KT 9999 FEW180 SCT200 QNH2982INS BECMG 1505/1506 03009KT 9000 HZ FEW180 QNH2981INS BECMG 1508/1509 04012G22KT 9000 HZ FEW180 FEW200 QNH2976INS TEMPO 1510/1515 VRB20G30KT 2000 BLDU VCTS BKN160CB BECMG 1516/1517 04009KT 9999 NSW FEW200 QNH2980INS TX40/1511Z TN26/1502Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sun
20:00Z
+-1h
Sun
21:00Z
+0h
Sun
22:00Z
+1h
Sun
23:00Z
+2h
Mon
00:00Z
+3h
Mon
01:00Z
+4h
Mon
02:00Z
+5h
Mon
03:00Z
+6h
Mon
04:00Z
+7h
Mon
05:00Z
+8h
Mon
06:00Z
+9h
Mon
07:00Z
+10h
Mon
08:00Z
+11h
Mon
09:00Z
+12h
Mon
10:00Z
+13h
Mon
11:00Z
+14h
Mon
12:00Z
+15h
Mon
13:00Z
+16h
Mon
14:00Z
+17h
Mon
15:00Z
+18h
Mon
16:00Z
+19h
Mon
17:00Z
+20h
Mon
18:00Z
+21h
Mon
19:00Z
+22h
Mon
20:00Z
+23h
Mon
21:00Z
+24h
Wind Dir
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
Wind Speed
9kt
9kt
9kt
9kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
9kt
9kt
9kt
12kt
G22kt
12kt
G22kt
20kt
G30kt
20kt
G30kt
20kt
G30kt
20kt
G30kt
20kt
G30kt
12kt
G22kt
9kt
G22kt
9kt
G22kt
9kt
G22kt
9kt
G22kt
9kt
G22kt
9kt
G22kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
9 km
9 km
9 km
9 km
9 km
2 km
2 km
2 km
2 km
2 km
9 km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Haze
HZ
Haze
HZ
Haze
HZ
Haze
HZ
Haze
HZ
Blowing Dust
BLDU
Blowing Dust
BLDU
Blowing Dust
BLDU
Blowing Dust
BLDU
Blowing Dust
BLDU
Haze
HZ
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW140
BKN160
FEW140
BKN160
FEW140
BKN160
FEW140
BKN160
FEW180
SCT200
FEW180
SCT200
FEW180
SCT200
FEW180
SCT200
FEW180
SCT200
FEW180
FEW180
FEW180
FEW180
FEW200
FEW180
FEW200
BKN160CB
BKN160CB
BKN160CB
BKN160CB
BKN160CB
FEW180
FEW200
FEW200
FEW200
FEW200
FEW200
FEW200
FEW200
Ceiling
16000ft
AGL
16000ft
AGL
16000ft
AGL
16000ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
16000ft
AGL
16000ft
AGL
16000ft
AGL
16000ft
AGL
16000ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌇 18:06
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:54
🌙
Night
🌅 05:54
🌙
Night
🌅 05:54
☀️
Day
🌅 05:54
☀️
Day
🌅 05:54
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:05
☀️
Day
🌇 18:05
☀️
Day
🌇 18:05
🌙
Night
🌇 18:05
🌙
Night
🌇 18:05
🌙
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
40° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW140 BKN160
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Northeast (40°) at 9kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 14000 feet, Broken clouds at 16000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 2025-10-14 17:00:00 - 2025-10-14 19:00:00
LIFR
Wind
VRB° at 25 kt
Gusts: 35 kt
Visibility
0.8 km
Weather
Duststorm
Clouds
BKN160CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds will be variable in direction at 25kt. Gusts up to 35kt are expected. Visibility will be poor at 0.8 km. Weather conditions: Duststorm. Broken clouds at 16000 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

BECMG 2025-09-15 00:00:00 - 2025-09-15 01:00:00
VFR
Wind
350° at 6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW180 SCT200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the North (350°) at 6kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 18000 feet, Scattered clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 2025-09-15 05:00:00 - 2025-09-15 06:00:00
VFR
Wind
30° at 9 kt
Visibility
9 km
Weather
Haze
Clouds
FEW180
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the North-Northeast (30°) at 9kt. Visibility will be good at 9 km. Weather conditions: Haze. Few clouds at 18000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 2025-09-15 08:00:00 - 2025-09-15 09:00:00
VFR
Wind
40° at 12 kt
Gusts: 22 kt
Visibility
9 km
Weather
Haze
Clouds
FEW180 FEW200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Northeast (40°) at 12kt. Gusts up to 22kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 9 km. Weather conditions: Haze. Few clouds at 18000 feet, Few clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 2025-09-15 10:00:00 - 2025-09-15 15:00:00
IFR
Wind
VRB° at 20 kt
Gusts: 30 kt
Visibility
2 km
Weather
Blowing Dust
Clouds
BKN160CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds will be variable in direction at 20kt. Gusts up to 30kt are expected. Visibility will be moderate at 2 km. Weather conditions: Blowing Dust. Broken clouds at 16000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 2025-09-15 16:00:00 - 2025-09-15 17:00:00
VFR
Wind
40° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Northeast (40°) at 9kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 20000 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.