Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole

PHKO / KOA

Kailua-Kona, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF PHKO 250309Z 2503/2606 20010KT P6SM SCT025 SCT050 FM250600 11009KT P6SM BKN060 FM252000 22010KT P6SM BKN050

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
05:00Z
+-1h
Thu
06:00Z
+0h
Thu
07:00Z
+1h
Thu
08:00Z
+2h
Thu
09:00Z
+3h
Thu
10:00Z
+4h
Thu
11:00Z
+5h
Thu
12:00Z
+6h
Thu
13:00Z
+7h
Thu
14:00Z
+8h
Thu
15:00Z
+9h
Thu
16:00Z
+10h
Thu
17:00Z
+11h
Thu
18:00Z
+12h
Thu
19:00Z
+13h
Thu
20:00Z
+14h
Thu
21:00Z
+15h
Thu
22:00Z
+16h
Thu
23:00Z
+17h
Fri
00:00Z
+18h
Fri
01:00Z
+19h
Fri
02:00Z
+20h
Fri
03:00Z
+21h
Fri
04:00Z
+22h
Wind Dir
200°
S
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
Wind Speed
10 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 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
SCT025
SCT050
BKN060
BKN060
BKN060
BKN060
BKN060
BKN060
SCT025
SCT050
SCT025
SCT050
SCT025
SCT050
SCT025
SCT050
SCT025
SCT050
SCT025
SCT050
SCT025
SCT050
SCT025
SCT050
BKN050
BKN050
BKN050
BKN050
BKN050
BKN050
SCT025
SCT050
SCT025
SCT050
SCT025
SCT050
Ceiling
🌤️ 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
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ 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
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:19Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:19Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:19Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:40Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:40Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:40Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:40Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:40Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:19Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:19Z
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
200° at 10 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT025 SCT050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 2500 feet, Scattered clouds at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM250600 06:00Z - 12:00Z
VFR
Wind
110° at 9 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN060
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East-Southeast (110°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 6000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM252000 20:00Z - 02:00Z
VFR
Wind
220° at 10 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 5000 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.