Ketchikan International Airport

PAKT / KTN

Ketchikan, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF PAKT 161751Z 1618/1718 35008KT P6SM SCT045 FM162100 04009KT P6SM FEW050 FM170500 15004KT P6SM FEW040 SCT250 FM170800 VRB02KT 4SM BR BKN007 OVC010 FM171500 VRB02KT P6SM SCT010 BKN035 AMD NOT SKED

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
20:00Z
+-1h
Sat
21:00Z
+0h
Sat
22:00Z
+1h
Sat
23:00Z
+2h
Sun
00:00Z
+3h
Sun
01:00Z
+4h
Sun
02:00Z
+5h
Sun
03:00Z
+6h
Sun
04:00Z
+7h
Sun
05:00Z
+8h
Sun
06:00Z
+9h
Sun
07:00Z
+10h
Sun
08:00Z
+11h
Sun
09:00Z
+12h
Sun
10:00Z
+13h
Sun
11:00Z
+14h
Sun
12:00Z
+15h
Sun
13:00Z
+16h
Sun
14:00Z
+17h
Sun
15:00Z
+18h
Sun
16:00Z
+19h
Wind Dir
350°
N
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
350°
N
350°
N
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
350°
N
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
8 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
8 kt
8 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
8 kt
2 kt
2 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT045
FEW050
FEW050
FEW050
FEW050
FEW050
FEW050
SCT045
SCT045
FEW040
SCT250
FEW040
SCT250
FEW040
SCT250
BKN007
OVC010
BKN007
OVC010
BKN007
OVC010
BKN007
OVC010
BKN007
OVC010
BKN007
OVC010
SCT045
SCT010
BKN035
SCT010
BKN035
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌇 19:19Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:19Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:39Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:39Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:39Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:39Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:39Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
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
350° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT045
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the North (350°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 4500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM162100 21:00Z - 03:00Z
VFR
Wind
40° at 9 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northeast (40°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM170500 05:00Z - 11:00Z
VFR
Wind
150° at 4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW040 SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southeast (150°) at 4 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 4000 feet, Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM170800 08:00Z - 14:00Z
IFR
Wind
VRB° at 2 kt
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN007 OVC010
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 2 kt. Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 700 feet, Overcast skies at 1000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM171500 15:00Z - 21:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 2 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT010 BKN035
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 2 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 1000 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.