Darwin International Airport / RAAF Darwin

YPDN / DRW

Darwin, AU

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF YPDN 042001Z 0421/0600 26010KT 9999 -SHRA SCT015 BECMG 0500/0501 26017KT 9999 -SHRA SCT020 FM051100 24012KT 9999 -SHRA SCT015 INTER 0421/0505 27015G25KT 2000 SHRA BKN008 SCT020TCU INTER 0511/0513 26015G25KT 2000 SHRA BKN008 SCT020TCU TEMPO 0513/0600 26020G30KT 1500 +SHRA BKN006 SCT015TCU PROB30 TEMPO 0515/0600 VRB25G40KT 0500 +TSRA BKN005 SCT015CB

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
21:00Z
+-1h
Wed
22:00Z
+0h
Wed
23:00Z
+1h
Thu
00:00Z
+2h
Thu
01:00Z
+3h
Thu
02:00Z
+4h
Thu
03:00Z
+5h
Thu
04:00Z
+6h
Thu
05:00Z
+7h
Thu
06:00Z
+8h
Thu
07:00Z
+9h
Thu
08:00Z
+10h
Thu
09:00Z
+11h
Thu
10:00Z
+12h
Thu
11:00Z
+13h
Thu
12:00Z
+14h
Thu
13:00Z
+15h
Thu
14:00Z
+16h
Thu
15:00Z
+17h
Thu
16:00Z
+18h
Thu
17:00Z
+19h
Thu
18:00Z
+20h
Thu
19:00Z
+21h
Thu
20:00Z
+22h
Thu
21:00Z
+23h
Thu
22:00Z
+24h
Wind Dir
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
17 kt
17 kt
17 kt
17 kt
17 kt
17 kt
17 kt
17 kt
17 kt
17 kt
17 kt
17 kt
G25 kt
17 kt
G25 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
25 kt
G40 kt
25 kt
G40 kt
25 kt
G40 kt
25 kt
G40 kt
25 kt
G40 kt
25 kt
G40 kt
25 kt
G40 kt
25 kt
G40 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
1.5 km
1.5 km
0.5 km
0.5 km
0.5 km
0.5 km
0.5 km
0.5 km
0.5 km
0.5 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
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Heavy Showers Rain
+SHRA
Heavy Showers Rain
+SHRA
Heavy Thunderstorm Rain
+TSRA
30%
Heavy Thunderstorm Rain
+TSRA
30%
Heavy Thunderstorm Rain
+TSRA
30%
Heavy Thunderstorm Rain
+TSRA
30%
Heavy Thunderstorm Rain
+TSRA
30%
Heavy Thunderstorm Rain
+TSRA
30%
Heavy Thunderstorm Rain
+TSRA
30%
Heavy Thunderstorm Rain
+TSRA
30%
Clouds
SCT015
SCT015
SCT015
SCT020
SCT020
SCT020
SCT020
SCT020
SCT020
SCT020
SCT020
SCT020
SCT020
SCT020
SCT020
SCT020
BKN006
SCT015TCU
BKN006
SCT015TCU
BKN005
SCT015CB
BKN005
SCT015CB
BKN005
SCT015CB
BKN005
SCT015CB
BKN005
SCT015CB
BKN005
SCT015CB
BKN005
SCT015CB
BKN005
SCT015CB
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
600 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:52Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:52Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:52Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:52Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:52Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:07Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:07Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:07Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:07Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:07Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
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 occurrence • AGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
260° at 10 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West (260°) at 10 kt. 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.

BECMG 00:00Z - 01:00Z
VFR
Wind
260° at 17 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West (260°) at 17 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM051100 11:00Z - 17:00Z
LIFR
Wind
260° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
2 km
Weather
Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain, Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT015 BKN008 SCT020TCU BKN008 SCT020TCU
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (260°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be moderate at 2 km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain, Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 1500 feet, Broken clouds at 800 feet, Scattered clouds at 2000 feet, Broken clouds at 800 feet, Scattered clouds at 2000 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

TEMPO 13:00Z - 00:00Z
LIFR
Wind
260° at 20 kt
Gusts: 30 kt
Visibility
1.5 km
Weather
Heavy Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN006 SCT015TCU
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the West (260°) at 20 kt. Gusts up to 30 kt are expected. Visibility will be moderate at 1.5 km. Weather conditions: Heavy Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 600 feet, Scattered clouds at 1500 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

PROB30 TEMPO 15:00Z - 00:00Z
LIFR
Wind
VRB° at 25 kt
Gusts: 40 kt
Visibility
0.5 km
Weather
Heavy Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN005 SCT015CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Winds will be variable in direction at 25 kt. Gusts up to 40 kt are expected. Visibility will be poor at 0.5 km. Weather conditions: Heavy Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 500 feet, Scattered clouds at 1500 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.