INS Rajali / Arakkonam Naval Air Station

VOAR

Arakkonam, IN

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF VOAR 030500Z 0306/0412 25010G20KT 4500 HZ FEW020 BKN080 BECMG 0306/0308 6000 TEMPO 0311/0315 30010G25KT 3400 -RA/DZ SCT018 BKN080 BECMG 0313/0314 4500 HZ BECMG 0315/0317 24008KT BECMG 0406/0408 6000

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
11:00Z
+-1h
Wind Dir
250°
W
Wind Speed
10 kt
G20 kt
Visibility
4.5 km
Weather
Haze
HZ
Clouds
FEW020
BKN080
Ceiling
8,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules IFR
Day/Night
☀️
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
IFR
Wind
250° at 10 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
4.5 km
Weather
Haze
Clouds
FEW020 BKN080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt are expected. Visibility will be moderate at 4.5 km. Weather conditions: Haze. Few clouds at 2000 feet, Broken clouds at 8000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 06:00Z - 08:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
6 km
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Visibility will be good at 6 km. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 11:00Z - 15:00Z
IFR
Wind
300° at 10 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
3.4 km
Weather
Light RA/DZ
Clouds
SCT018 BKN080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be moderate at 3.4 km. Weather conditions: Light RA/DZ. Scattered clouds at 1800 feet, Broken clouds at 8000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 13:00Z - 14:00Z
IFR
Visibility
4.5 km
Weather
Haze
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Visibility will be moderate at 4.5 km. Weather conditions: Haze. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 15:00Z - 17:00Z
VFR
Wind
240° at 8 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West-Southwest (240°) at 8 kt. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 06:00Z - 08:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
6 km
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Visibility will be good at 6 km. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

📚 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.