Cairns International Airport
YBCS / CNS
Cairns, AU
Current TAF Forecast
Detailed TAF Table
| Parameter |
Sun
20:00Z
+-1h
|
Sun
21:00Z
+0h
|
Sun
22:00Z
+1h
|
Sun
23:00Z
+2h
|
Mon
00:00Z
+3h
|
Mon
01:00Z
+4h
|
Mon
02:00Z
+5h
|
Mon
03:00Z
+6h
|
Mon
04:00Z
+7h
|
Mon
05:00Z
+8h
|
Mon
06:00Z
+9h
|
Mon
07:00Z
+10h
|
Mon
08:00Z
+11h
|
Mon
09:00Z
+12h
|
Mon
10:00Z
+13h
|
Mon
11:00Z
+14h
|
Mon
12:00Z
+15h
|
Mon
13:00Z
+16h
|
Mon
14:00Z
+17h
|
Mon
15:00Z
+18h
|
Mon
16:00Z
+19h
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wind Dir |
170°
S
|
170°
S
|
170°
S
|
170°
S
|
140°
SE
|
140°
SE
|
140°
SE
|
140°
SE
|
140°
SE
|
140°
SE
|
170°
S
|
170°
S
|
170°
S
|
170°
S
|
170°
S
|
170°
S
|
170°
S
|
170°
S
|
170°
S
|
170°
S
|
170°
S
|
| Wind Speed |
10kt
|
10kt
|
10kt
|
10kt
|
14kt
|
14kt
|
14kt
|
14kt
|
14kt
|
14kt
|
10kt
|
10kt
|
10kt
|
8kt
|
8kt
|
8kt
|
8kt
|
8kt
|
8kt
|
10kt
|
10kt
|
| Visibility |
10+ km
|
10+ km
|
10+ km
|
10+ km
|
10+ km
|
10+ km
|
10+ km
|
10+ km
|
10+ km
|
10+ km
|
10+ km
|
10+ km
|
10+ km
|
3 km
|
3 km
|
3 km
|
3 km
|
3 km
|
3 km
|
10+ km
|
10+ km
|
| Weather |
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
|
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
|
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
|
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
|
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
|
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
|
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
|
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
|
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
|
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
|
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
|
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
|
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
|
Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain
-SHRA SHRA
|
Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain
-SHRA SHRA
|
Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain
-SHRA SHRA
|
Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain
-SHRA SHRA
|
Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain
-SHRA SHRA
|
Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain
-SHRA SHRA
|
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
|
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
|
| Clouds |
SCT020
SCT040
|
SCT020
SCT040
|
SCT020
SCT040
|
SCT020
SCT040
|
SCT020
BKN040
|
SCT020
BKN040
|
SCT020
BKN040
|
SCT020
BKN040
|
SCT020
BKN040
|
SCT020
BKN040
|
SCT020
SCT040
|
SCT020
SCT040
|
SCT020
SCT040
|
SCT015
BKN030
|
SCT015
BKN030
|
SCT015
BKN030
|
SCT015
BKN030
|
SCT015
BKN030
|
SCT015
BKN030
|
SCT020
SCT040
|
SCT020
SCT040
|
| Ceiling |
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
4000ft
AGL
|
4000ft
AGL
|
4000ft
AGL
|
4000ft
AGL
|
4000ft
AGL
|
4000ft
AGL
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
1400ft
AGL
|
1400ft
AGL
|
1400ft
AGL
|
1400ft
AGL
|
1400ft
AGL
|
1400ft
AGL
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
| Flight Rules | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | VFR | VFR |
| Day/Night |
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
🌅
06:03
|
🌙
Night
🌅
06:03
|
🌅
Dawn
🌅
06:03
|
☀️
Day
🌅
06:03
|
☀️
Day
🌅
06:03
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
🌇
17:56
|
☀️
Day
🌇
17:56
|
Forecast Periods
📖 Plain English Explanation:
This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South (170°) at 10kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet, Scattered clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.
📖 Plain English Explanation:
Winds from the Southeast (140°) at 14kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet, Broken clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.
📖 Plain English Explanation:
Winds from the South (170°) at 8kt. Visibility will be moderate at 3 km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 1500 feet, Broken clouds at 3000 feet, Broken clouds at 1400 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.
📚 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.