Cairns International Airport

YBCS / CNS

Cairns, AU

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF YBCS 140824Z 1409/1506 20006KT 9999 -SHRA FEW015 SCT025 FM150100 03009KT 9999 -SHRA SCT025 INTER 1409/1500 3000 SHRA BKN010 SCT025TCU INTER 1500/1506 3000 SHRA BKN015 SCT025TCU PROB30 TEMPO 1414/1421 VRB20G35KT 1000 TSRA BKN008 SCT025CB PROB30 TEMPO 1504/1506 VRB20G35KT 1000 TSRA BKN010 SCT030CB

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
11:00Z
+-1h
Sat
12:00Z
+0h
Sat
13:00Z
+1h
Sat
14:00Z
+2h
Sat
15:00Z
+3h
Sat
16:00Z
+4h
Sat
17:00Z
+5h
Sat
18:00Z
+6h
Sat
19:00Z
+7h
Sat
20:00Z
+8h
Sat
21:00Z
+9h
Sat
22:00Z
+10h
Sat
23:00Z
+11h
Sun
00:00Z
+12h
Sun
01:00Z
+13h
Sun
02:00Z
+14h
Sun
03:00Z
+15h
Sun
04:00Z
+16h
Wind Dir
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
VRB
Wind Speed
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
20 kt
G35 kt
20 kt
G35 kt
20 kt
G35 kt
20 kt
G35 kt
20 kt
G35 kt
20 kt
G35 kt
20 kt
G35 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
20 kt
G35 kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
1 km
1 km
1 km
1 km
1 km
1 km
1 km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
3 km
3 km
3 km
1 km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
30%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
30%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
30%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
30%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
30%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
30%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
30%
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain, Showers Rain
-SHRA SHRA SHRA
Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain, Showers Rain
-SHRA SHRA SHRA
Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain, Showers Rain
-SHRA SHRA SHRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
30%
Clouds
FEW015
SCT025
FEW015
SCT025
FEW015
SCT025
BKN008
SCT025CB
BKN008
SCT025CB
BKN008
SCT025CB
BKN008
SCT025CB
BKN008
SCT025CB
BKN008
SCT025CB
BKN008
SCT025CB
FEW015
SCT025
FEW015
SCT025
FEW015
SCT025
FEW015
SCT025
SCT025
BKN010
SCT025
BKN010
SCT025
BKN010
BKN010
SCT030CB
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR LIFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:20Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:20Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:20Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:20Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:20Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:39Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:39Z
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
200° at 6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
FEW015 SCT025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Few clouds at 1500 feet, Scattered clouds at 2500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM150100 01:00Z - 07:00Z
IFR
Wind
30° at 9 kt
Visibility
3 km
Weather
Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain, Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT025 BKN010 SCT025TCU BKN015 SCT025TCU
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northeast (30°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be moderate at 3 km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain, Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 2500 feet, Broken clouds at 1000 feet, Scattered clouds at 2500 feet, Broken clouds at 1500 feet, Scattered clouds at 2500 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

PROB30 TEMPO 14:00Z - 21:00Z
LIFR
Wind
VRB° at 20 kt
Gusts: 35 kt
Visibility
1 km
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN008 SCT025CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Winds will be variable in direction at 20 kt. Gusts up to 35 kt are expected. Visibility will be poor at 1 km. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 800 feet, Scattered clouds at 2500 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

PROB30 TEMPO 04:00Z - 06:00Z
LIFR
Wind
VRB° at 20 kt
Gusts: 35 kt
Visibility
1 km
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN010 SCT030CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Winds will be variable in direction at 20 kt. Gusts up to 35 kt are expected. Visibility will be poor at 1 km. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 1000 feet, Scattered clouds at 3000 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument 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.