Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport

YSSY / SYD

Sydney (Mascot), AU

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF AMD YSSY 040946Z 0409/0512 03008KT 9999 -SHRA SCT025 FM041000 01006KT 9999 -SHRA FEW012 FM041400 VRB03KT 9999 NSW SCT006 FM042200 36005KT 9999 SCT020 FM050200 06012KT 9999 -SHRA SCT030 FM050500 03016KT 9999 -SHRA SCT040 INTER 0410/0412 5000 SHRA SCT010 BKN015 PROB40 TEMPO 0505/0512 VRB20G35KT 1000 TSRA BKN010 SCT040CB

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
11:00Z
+-1h
Wed
12:00Z
+0h
Wed
13:00Z
+1h
Wed
14:00Z
+2h
Wed
15:00Z
+3h
Wed
16:00Z
+4h
Wed
17:00Z
+5h
Wed
18:00Z
+6h
Wed
19:00Z
+7h
Wed
20:00Z
+8h
Wed
21:00Z
+9h
Wed
22:00Z
+10h
Wed
23:00Z
+11h
Thu
00:00Z
+12h
Thu
01:00Z
+13h
Thu
02:00Z
+14h
Thu
03:00Z
+15h
Thu
04:00Z
+16h
Thu
05:00Z
+17h
Thu
06:00Z
+18h
Thu
07:00Z
+19h
Thu
08:00Z
+20h
Thu
09:00Z
+21h
Thu
10:00Z
+22h
Wind Dir
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
30°
NE
30°
NE
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
8 kt
8 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
20 kt
G35 kt
20 kt
G35 kt
20 kt
G35 kt
20 kt
G35 kt
20 kt
G35 kt
20 kt
G35 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
1 km
1 km
1 km
1 km
1 km
1 km
Weather
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
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
40%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
40%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
40%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
40%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
40%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
40%
Clouds
SCT025
SCT025
SCT025
SCT006
SCT006
SCT006
SCT006
SCT006
SCT006
SCT025
SCT025
SCT020
SCT020
SCT020
SCT020
SCT030
SCT030
SCT030
BKN010
SCT040CB
BKN010
SCT040CB
BKN010
SCT040CB
BKN010
SCT040CB
BKN010
SCT040CB
BKN010
SCT040CB
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:21Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:21Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:21Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:21Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:21Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:39Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:39Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:39Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:39Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:39Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
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 8 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the North-Northeast (30°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 2500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM041000 10:00Z - 16:00Z
VFR
Wind
10° at 6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
FEW012
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (10°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Few clouds at 1200 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM041400 14:00Z - 20:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT006
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 600 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM042200 22:00Z - 04:00Z
VFR
Wind
360° at 5 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (360°) 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.

FM050200 02:00Z - 08:00Z
VFR
Wind
60° at 12 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East-Northeast (60°) at 12 kt. 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.

FM050500 05:00Z - 11:00Z
MVFR
Wind
30° at 16 kt
Visibility
5 km
Weather
Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT040 SCT010 BKN015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northeast (30°) at 16 kt. Visibility will be good at 5 km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet, Scattered clouds at 1000 feet, Broken clouds at 1500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

PROB40 TEMPO 05:00Z - 12:00Z
LIFR
Wind
VRB° at 20 kt
Gusts: 35 kt
Visibility
1 km
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN010 SCT040CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 40% probability of: Winds will be variable in direction at 20 kt. Gusts up to 35 kt are expected. Visibility will be poor at 1 km. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 1000 feet, Scattered clouds at 4000 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.