Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville
YBTL / TSV
Townsville, AU
Current TAF Forecast
Detailed TAF Table
| Parameter |
Tue
19:00Z
+-1h
|
Tue
20:00Z
+0h
|
Tue
21:00Z
+1h
|
Tue
22:00Z
+2h
|
Tue
23:00Z
+3h
|
Wed
00:00Z
+4h
|
Wed
01:00Z
+5h
|
Wed
02:00Z
+6h
|
Wed
03:00Z
+7h
|
Wed
04:00Z
+8h
|
Wed
05:00Z
+9h
|
Wed
06:00Z
+10h
|
Wed
07:00Z
+11h
|
Wed
08:00Z
+12h
|
Wed
09:00Z
+13h
|
Wed
10:00Z
+14h
|
Wed
11:00Z
+15h
|
Wed
12:00Z
+16h
|
Wed
13:00Z
+17h
|
Wed
14:00Z
+18h
|
Wed
15:00Z
+19h
|
Wed
16:00Z
+20h
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wind Dir |
VRB
|
VRB
|
VRB
|
VRB
|
VRB
|
40°
NE
|
40°
NE
|
40°
NE
|
40°
NE
|
40°
NE
|
40°
NE
|
VRB
|
VRB
|
VRB
|
VRB
|
VRB
|
50°
NE
|
50°
NE
|
50°
NE
|
50°
NE
|
50°
NE
|
50°
NE
|
| Wind Speed |
4kt
|
4kt
|
4kt
|
4kt
|
4kt
|
13kt
|
13kt
|
13kt
|
13kt
|
13kt
|
13kt
|
4kt
|
4kt
|
4kt
|
4kt
|
4kt
|
5kt
|
5kt
|
5kt
|
5kt
|
5kt
|
5kt
|
| 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
|
10+ km
|
10+ km
|
10+ km
|
3 km
|
3 km
|
3 km
|
3 km
|
3 km
|
3 km
|
| Weather |
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
|
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
|
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
|
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
|
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
|
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
|
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
|
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
|
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
|
Showers Rain
SHRA
|
Showers Rain
SHRA
|
Showers Rain
SHRA
|
Showers Rain
SHRA
|
Showers Rain
SHRA
|
Showers Rain
SHRA
|
| Clouds |
FEW014
SCT022
|
FEW014
SCT022
|
FEW014
SCT022
|
FEW014
SCT022
|
FEW014
SCT022
|
FEW028
|
FEW028
|
FEW028
|
FEW028
|
FEW028
|
FEW028
|
FEW014
SCT022
|
FEW014
SCT022
|
FEW014
SCT022
|
FEW014
SCT022
|
FEW014
SCT022
|
SCT020
BKN014
|
SCT020
BKN014
|
SCT020
BKN014
|
SCT020
BKN014
|
SCT020
BKN014
|
SCT020
BKN014
|
| Ceiling |
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
1400ft
AGL
|
1400ft
AGL
|
1400ft
AGL
|
1400ft
AGL
|
1400ft
AGL
|
1400ft
AGL
|
| Flight Rules | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Day/Night |
🌙
Night
🌇
18:26
|
🌙
Night
🌇
18:26
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
🌅
05:32
|
🌙
Night
🌅
05:32
|
🌙
Night
🌅
05:32
|
☀️
Day
🌅
05:32
|
☀️
Day
🌅
05:32
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
🌇
18:27
|
Forecast Periods
📖 Plain English Explanation:
This is the base forecast condition. Winds will be variable in direction at 4kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Few clouds at 1400 feet, Scattered clouds at 2200 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.
📖 Plain English Explanation:
Winds from the Northeast (40°) at 13kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 2800 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.
📖 Plain English Explanation:
Winds from the Northeast (50°) at 5kt. Visibility will be moderate at 3 km. Weather conditions: Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet, Broken clouds at 1400 feet, Few clouds at 2500 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.
📖 Plain English Explanation:
There is a 30% probability of: Winds will be variable in direction at 15kt. Gusts up to 25kt are expected. Visibility will be poor at 1 km. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 1000 feet, Scattered clouds at 2500 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.