Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville

YBTL / TSV

Townsville, AU

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF YBTL 260509Z 2606/2706 07014KT 9999 FEW040 FM260900 11007KT 9999 SCT025 FM261300 20005KT 9999 SCT020 FM262300 16010KT 9999 SCT030 FM270100 10014KT 9999 SCT035 FM270300 07014KT 9999 SCT040

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sun
08:00Z
+-1h
Sun
09:00Z
+0h
Sun
10:00Z
+1h
Sun
11:00Z
+2h
Sun
12:00Z
+3h
Sun
13:00Z
+4h
Sun
14:00Z
+5h
Sun
15:00Z
+6h
Sun
16:00Z
+7h
Sun
17:00Z
+8h
Sun
18:00Z
+9h
Sun
19:00Z
+10h
Sun
20:00Z
+11h
Sun
21:00Z
+12h
Sun
22:00Z
+13h
Sun
23:00Z
+14h
Mon
00:00Z
+15h
Mon
01:00Z
+16h
Mon
02:00Z
+17h
Mon
03:00Z
+18h
Mon
04:00Z
+19h
Wind Dir
70°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
160°
S
160°
S
100°
E
100°
E
70°
E
70°
E
Wind Speed
14 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
14 kt
14 kt
14 kt
14 kt
10 kt
10 kt
14 kt
14 kt
14 kt
14 kt
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
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW040
SCT025
SCT025
SCT025
SCT025
SCT020
SCT020
SCT020
SCT020
SCT020
SCT020
FEW040
FEW040
FEW040
FEW040
SCT030
SCT030
SCT035
SCT035
SCT040
SCT040
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌅 06:33Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:26Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:26Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:26Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:26Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:26Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:32Z
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
70° at 14 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East-Northeast (70°) at 14 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM260900 09:00Z - 15:00Z
VFR
Wind
110° at 7 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East-Southeast (110°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 2500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM261300 13:00Z - 19:00Z
VFR
Wind
200° at 5 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM262300 23:00Z - 05:00Z
VFR
Wind
160° at 10 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southeast (160°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 3000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM270100 01:00Z - 07:00Z
VFR
Wind
100° at 14 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT035
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East (100°) at 14 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 3500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM270300 03:00Z - 09:00Z
VFR
Wind
70° at 14 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East-Northeast (70°) at 14 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet. 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.