Darwin International Airport / RAAF Darwin

YPDN / DRW

Darwin, AU

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF YPDN 150215Z 1503/1606 03012KT CAVOK FM151500 10009KT 9999 FEW020 FM160000 08011KT 9999 FEW030 FM160400 03012KT 9999 FEW030

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Fri
03:00Z
+-1h
Fri
04:00Z
+0h
Fri
05:00Z
+1h
Fri
06:00Z
+2h
Fri
07:00Z
+3h
Fri
08:00Z
+4h
Fri
09:00Z
+5h
Fri
10:00Z
+6h
Fri
11:00Z
+7h
Fri
12:00Z
+8h
Fri
13:00Z
+9h
Fri
14:00Z
+10h
Fri
15:00Z
+11h
Fri
16:00Z
+12h
Fri
17:00Z
+13h
Fri
18:00Z
+14h
Fri
19:00Z
+15h
Fri
20:00Z
+16h
Fri
21:00Z
+17h
Fri
22:00Z
+18h
Fri
23:00Z
+19h
Sat
00:00Z
+20h
Sat
01:00Z
+21h
Sat
02:00Z
+22h
Sat
03:00Z
+23h
Sat
04:00Z
+24h
Wind Dir
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
30°
NE
Wind Speed
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
11 kt
11 kt
11 kt
11 kt
12 kt
Visibility
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
>10km
>10km
>10km
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
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
FEW020
FEW020
FEW020
FEW020
FEW020
FEW020
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ 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 VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:20Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:20Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:20Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:20Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:20Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:39Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:39Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:39Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:39Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:39Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:20Z
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
30° at 12 kt
Visibility
>10km
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the North-Northeast (30°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 10km. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM151500 15:00Z - 21:00Z
VFR
Wind
100° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East (100°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 2000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM160000 00:00Z - 06:00Z
VFR
Wind
80° at 11 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East (80°) at 11 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 3000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM160400 04:00Z - 10:00Z
VFR
Wind
30° at 12 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northeast (30°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 3000 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.