Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport

PANC / ANC

Anchorage, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF PANC 292001Z 2920/3024 15006KT P6SM SCT080 TEMPO 2920/2922 15014G20KT FM292200 22007KT P6SM BKN060 FM300000 25010KT P6SM VCSH BKN080 FM300600 18006KT P6SM BKN080 FM301600 15009KT P6SM VCSH FEW050 OVC060

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
23:00Z
+-1h
Thu
00:00Z
+0h
Thu
01:00Z
+1h
Thu
02:00Z
+2h
Thu
03:00Z
+3h
Thu
04:00Z
+4h
Thu
05:00Z
+5h
Thu
06:00Z
+6h
Thu
07:00Z
+7h
Thu
08:00Z
+8h
Thu
09:00Z
+9h
Thu
10:00Z
+10h
Thu
11:00Z
+11h
Thu
12:00Z
+12h
Thu
13:00Z
+13h
Thu
14:00Z
+14h
Thu
15:00Z
+15h
Thu
16:00Z
+16h
Thu
17:00Z
+17h
Thu
18:00Z
+18h
Thu
19:00Z
+19h
Thu
20:00Z
+20h
Thu
21:00Z
+21h
Thu
22:00Z
+22h
Wind Dir
150°
SE
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
Wind Speed
6 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>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
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
SCT080
SCT080
SCT080
SCT080
FEW050
OVC060
FEW050
OVC060
FEW050
OVC060
FEW050
OVC060
FEW050
OVC060
FEW050
OVC060
SCT080
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:56Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:56Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:56Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:56Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:56Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:03Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:03Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:03Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:03Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:03Z
🌙
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 occurrence • AGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
150° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southeast (150°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 8000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 20:00Z - 22:00Z
VFR
Wind
150° at 14 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the South-Southeast (150°) at 14 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt are expected. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM292200 22:00Z - 04:00Z
VFR
Wind
220° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN060
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 6000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM300000 00:00Z - 06:00Z
VFR
Wind
250° at 10 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 8000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM300600 06:00Z - 12:00Z
VFR
Wind
180° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (180°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 8000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM301600 16:00Z - 22:00Z
VFR
Wind
150° at 9 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW050 OVC060
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southeast (150°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 5000 feet, Overcast skies at 6000 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.