Surat Thani Airport

VTSB / URT

Surat Thani, TH

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF VTSB 222300Z 2300/2324 26003KT 8000 FEW020 BECMG 2304/2306 05008KT TEMPO 2307/2313 VRB15G25KT -TSRA FEW016CB SCT018 BKN100 BECMG 2313/2315 34003KT

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
01:00Z
+-1h
Thu
02:00Z
+0h
Thu
03:00Z
+1h
Thu
04:00Z
+2h
Thu
05:00Z
+3h
Thu
06:00Z
+4h
Thu
07:00Z
+5h
Thu
08:00Z
+6h
Thu
09:00Z
+7h
Thu
10:00Z
+8h
Thu
11:00Z
+9h
Thu
12:00Z
+10h
Thu
13:00Z
+11h
Thu
14:00Z
+12h
Thu
15:00Z
+13h
Thu
16:00Z
+14h
Thu
17:00Z
+15h
Thu
18:00Z
+16h
Thu
19:00Z
+17h
Thu
20:00Z
+18h
Thu
21:00Z
+19h
Thu
22:00Z
+20h
Wind Dir
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
Wind Speed
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
Visibility
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW020
FEW020
FEW020
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
FEW016CB
SCT018
FEW016CB
SCT018
FEW016CB
SCT018
FEW016CB
SCT018
FEW016CB
SCT018
FEW016CB
SCT018
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:50Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:50Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:50Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:50Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:50Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:09Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:09Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:09Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:09Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:09Z
🌙
Night
🌙
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
MVFR
Wind
260° at 3 kt
Visibility
8 km
Clouds
FEW020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West (260°) at 3 kt. Visibility will be good at 8 km. Few clouds at 2000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 04:00Z - 06:00Z
VFR
Wind
50° at 8 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Northeast (50°) at 8 kt. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 07:00Z - 13:00Z
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
FEW016CB SCT018 BKN100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds will be variable in direction at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Few clouds at 1600 feet, Scattered clouds at 1800 feet, Broken clouds at 10000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 13:00Z - 15:00Z
VFR
Wind
340° at 3 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the North-Northwest (340°) at 3 kt. 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.