Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville

YBTL / TSV

Townsville, AU

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF YBTL 082206Z 0823/0918 11009KT 9999 FEW018 SCT025 FM090000 06013KT 9999 FEW030 SCT040 FM090900 10007KT 9999 SCT022 FM091400 16006KT 9999 SCT020

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Mon
00:00Z
+-1h
Mon
01:00Z
+0h
Mon
02:00Z
+1h
Mon
03:00Z
+2h
Mon
04:00Z
+3h
Mon
05:00Z
+4h
Mon
06:00Z
+5h
Mon
07:00Z
+6h
Mon
08:00Z
+7h
Mon
09:00Z
+8h
Mon
10:00Z
+9h
Mon
11:00Z
+10h
Mon
12:00Z
+11h
Mon
13:00Z
+12h
Mon
14:00Z
+13h
Mon
15:00Z
+14h
Mon
16:00Z
+15h
Wind Dir
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
Wind Speed
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 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
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW018
SCT025
FEW018
SCT025
FEW018
SCT025
FEW018
SCT025
FEW018
SCT025
FEW018
SCT025
FEW018
SCT025
FEW018
SCT025
FEW018
SCT025
SCT022
SCT022
SCT022
SCT022
SCT022
SCT020
SCT020
SCT020
Ceiling
🌤️ 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
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:33Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:33Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:33Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:33Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:33Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:26Z
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
110° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW018 SCT025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East-Southeast (110°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 1800 feet, Scattered clouds at 2500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM090000 00:00Z - 06:00Z
VFR
Wind
60° at 13 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW030 SCT040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East-Northeast (60°) at 13 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 3000 feet, Scattered clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM090900 09:00Z - 15:00Z
VFR
Wind
100° at 7 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT022
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East (100°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 2200 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM091400 14:00Z - 20:00Z
VFR
Wind
160° at 6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southeast (160°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 2000 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.