Cairns International Airport
YBCS / CNS
Cairns, AU
Current TAF Forecast
Detailed TAF Table
| Parameter |
Sat
13:00Z
+-1h
|
Sat
14:00Z
+0h
|
Sat
15:00Z
+1h
|
Sat
16:00Z
+2h
|
Sat
17:00Z
+3h
|
Sat
18:00Z
+4h
|
Sat
19:00Z
+5h
|
Sat
20:00Z
+6h
|
Sat
21:00Z
+7h
|
Sat
22:00Z
+8h
|
Sat
23:00Z
+9h
|
Sun
00:00Z
+10h
|
Sun
01:00Z
+11h
|
Sun
02:00Z
+12h
|
Sun
03:00Z
+13h
|
Sun
04:00Z
+14h
|
Sun
05:00Z
+15h
|
Sun
06:00Z
+16h
|
Sun
07:00Z
+17h
|
Sun
08:00Z
+18h
|
Sun
09:00Z
+19h
|
Sun
10:00Z
+20h
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wind Dir |
260°
W
|
VRB
|
VRB
|
VRB
|
VRB
|
VRB
|
VRB
|
VRB
|
VRB
|
VRB
|
VRB
|
VRB
|
VRB
|
VRB
|
VRB
|
VRB
|
VRB
|
VRB
|
VRB
|
VRB
|
VRB
|
VRB
|
| Wind Speed |
5kt
|
20kt
G35kt
|
20kt
G35kt
|
20kt
G35kt
|
20kt
G35kt
|
20kt
G35kt
|
20kt
G35kt
|
20kt
G35kt
|
20kt
G35kt
|
20kt
G35kt
|
20kt
G35kt
|
20kt
G35kt
|
20kt
G35kt
|
20kt
G35kt
|
20kt
G35kt
|
20kt
G35kt
|
20kt
G35kt
|
20kt
G35kt
|
20kt
G35kt
|
20kt
G35kt
|
20kt
G35kt
|
20kt
G35kt
|
| Visibility |
10+ km
|
1 km
|
1 km
|
1 km
|
1 km
|
1 km
|
1 km
|
1 km
|
1 km
|
1 km
|
1 km
|
1 km
|
1 km
|
1 km
|
1 km
|
1 km
|
1 km
|
1 km
|
1 km
|
1 km
|
1 km
|
1 km
|
| Weather |
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
|
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
|
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
|
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
40%
|
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
40%
|
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
40%
|
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
40%
|
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
40%
|
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
40%
|
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
40%
|
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
40%
|
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
40%
|
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
40%
|
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
40%
|
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
40%
|
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
40%
|
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
40%
|
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
40%
|
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
40%
|
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
40%
|
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
40%
|
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
40%
|
| Clouds |
BKN012
SCT040
|
BKN005
SCT035CB
|
BKN005
SCT035CB
|
BKN005
SCT035CB
|
BKN005
SCT035CB
|
BKN005
SCT035CB
|
BKN005
SCT035CB
|
BKN005
SCT035CB
|
BKN005
SCT035CB
|
BKN005
SCT035CB
|
BKN005
SCT035CB
|
BKN005
SCT035CB
|
BKN005
SCT035CB
|
BKN005
SCT035CB
|
BKN005
SCT035CB
|
BKN005
SCT035CB
|
BKN005
SCT035CB
|
BKN005
SCT035CB
|
BKN005
SCT035CB
|
BKN005
SCT035CB
|
BKN005
SCT035CB
|
BKN005
SCT035CB
|
| Ceiling |
1200ft
AGL
|
500ft
AGL
|
500ft
AGL
|
500ft
AGL
|
500ft
AGL
|
500ft
AGL
|
500ft
AGL
|
500ft
AGL
|
500ft
AGL
|
500ft
AGL
|
500ft
AGL
|
500ft
AGL
|
500ft
AGL
|
500ft
AGL
|
500ft
AGL
|
500ft
AGL
|
500ft
AGL
|
500ft
AGL
|
500ft
AGL
|
500ft
AGL
|
500ft
AGL
|
500ft
AGL
|
| Flight Rules | IFR | LIFR | LIFR | LIFR | LIFR | LIFR | LIFR | LIFR | LIFR | LIFR | LIFR | LIFR | LIFR | LIFR | LIFR | LIFR | LIFR | LIFR | LIFR | LIFR | LIFR | LIFR |
| Day/Night |
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
🌇
18:31
|
☀️
Day
🌇
18:31
|
☀️
Day
🌇
18:31
|
🌇
Dusk
🌇
18:31
|
🌙
Night
🌇
18:31
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
🌅
05:28
|
🌙
Night
🌅
05:28
|
🌅
Dawn
🌅
05:28
|
☀️
Day
🌅
05:28
|
☀️
Day
🌅
05:28
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
Forecast Periods
📖 Plain English Explanation:
This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West (260°) at 5kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 1200 feet, Scattered clouds at 4000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.
📖 Plain English Explanation:
Winds from the West (260°) at 5kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 1500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.
📖 Plain English Explanation:
Winds from the East (80°) at 9kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 3000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.
📖 Plain English Explanation:
Winds will be variable in direction at 5kt. Visibility will be moderate at 3 km. Weather conditions: Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet, Broken clouds at 1000 feet, Scattered clouds at 3500 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.
📖 Plain English Explanation:
Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds will be variable in direction at 20kt. Gusts up to 35kt are expected. Visibility will be poor at 1 km. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 500 feet, Scattered clouds at 3500 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.
📖 Plain English Explanation:
Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be moderate at 3 km. Weather conditions: Heavy Showers Rain, Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 1000 feet, Scattered clouds at 3500 feet, Broken clouds at 1200 feet, Scattered clouds at 3500 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.
📖 Plain English Explanation:
There is a 40% probability of: Winds will be variable in direction at 20kt. Gusts up to 35kt are expected. Visibility will be poor at 1 km. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 500 feet, Scattered clouds at 3500 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.
📖 Plain English Explanation:
There is a 40% probability of: Winds will be variable in direction at 20kt. Gusts up to 35kt are expected. Visibility will be poor at 1 km. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 500 feet, Scattered clouds at 3500 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.