Darwin International Airport / RAAF Darwin

YPDN / DRW

Darwin, AU

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF AMD YPDN 030446Z 0304/0406 16015KT 9999 -SHRA SCT030 BECMG 0305/0306 30012KT 9999 NSW SCT030 FM031200 26004KT 9999 FEW020 FM040200 32012KT 9999 SCT030 INTER 0304/0307 4000 SHRA BKN015 PROB40 TEMPO 0304/0309 VRB20G35KT 1000 TSRA BKN010 SCT030CB PROB30 TEMPO 0404/0406 VRB20G35KT 1000 TSRA BKN010 SCT030CB

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Mon
06:00Z
+-1h
Mon
07:00Z
+0h
Mon
08:00Z
+1h
Mon
09:00Z
+2h
Mon
10:00Z
+3h
Mon
11:00Z
+4h
Mon
12:00Z
+5h
Mon
13:00Z
+6h
Mon
14:00Z
+7h
Mon
15:00Z
+8h
Mon
16:00Z
+9h
Mon
17:00Z
+10h
Mon
18:00Z
+11h
Mon
19:00Z
+12h
Mon
20:00Z
+13h
Mon
21:00Z
+14h
Mon
22:00Z
+15h
Mon
23:00Z
+16h
Tue
00:00Z
+17h
Tue
01:00Z
+18h
Tue
02:00Z
+19h
Tue
03:00Z
+20h
Tue
04:00Z
+21h
Wind Dir
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
320°
NW
320°
NW
VRB
Wind Speed
15kt
15kt
15kt
15kt
15kt
15kt
4kt
4kt
4kt
4kt
4kt
4kt
15kt
15kt
15kt
15kt
15kt
15kt
15kt
15kt
12kt
12kt
20kt
G35kt
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
4 km
4 km
1 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
☀️ 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
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Showers Rain
SHRA
Showers Rain
SHRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
30%
Clouds
SCT030
SCT030
SCT030
SCT030
SCT030
SCT030
FEW020
FEW020
FEW020
FEW020
FEW020
FEW020
SCT030
SCT030
SCT030
SCT030
SCT030
SCT030
SCT030
SCT030
SCT030
BKN015
SCT030
BKN015
BKN010
SCT030CB
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
1500ft
AGL
1500ft
AGL
1000ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR LIFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌅 05:42
☀️
Day
🌅 05:42
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:17
☀️
Day
🌇 18:17
☀️
Day
🌇 18:17
🌙
Night
🌇 18:17
🌙
Night
🌇 18:17
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:42
🌙
Night
🌅 05:42
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
160° at 15 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southeast (160°) at 15kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 3000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 2025-12-03 05:00:00 - 2025-12-03 06:00:00
VFR
Wind
300° at 12 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 12kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 3000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM031200 2025-11-03 12:00:00 - 2025-11-03 18:00:00
VFR
Wind
260° at 4 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (260°) at 4kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 2000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM040200 2025-11-04 02:00:00 - 2025-11-04 08:00:00
IFR
Wind
320° at 12 kt
Visibility
4 km
Weather
Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT030 BKN015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northwest (320°) at 12kt. Visibility will be moderate at 4 km. Weather conditions: Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 3000 feet, Broken clouds at 1500 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

PROB40 TEMPO 2025-12-03 04:00:00 - 2025-11-03 09:00:00
LIFR
Wind
VRB° at 20 kt
Gusts: 35 kt
Visibility
1 km
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN010 SCT030CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 40% probability of: Winds will be variable in direction at 20kt. Gusts up to 35kt are expected. Visibility will be poor at 1 km. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 1000 feet, Scattered clouds at 3000 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

PROB30 TEMPO 2025-11-04 04:00:00 - 2025-11-04 06:00:00
LIFR
Wind
VRB° at 20 kt
Gusts: 35 kt
Visibility
1 km
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN010 SCT030CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Winds will be variable in direction at 20kt. Gusts up to 35kt are expected. Visibility will be poor at 1 km. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 1000 feet, Scattered clouds at 3000 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.