Newcastle Airport

YWLM / NTL

Williamtown, AU

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF AMD YWLM 031439Z 0314/0412 29020G30KT CAVOK FM031500 30010KT 9999 -RA NSC FM032100 30010KT 9999 NSW FEW020 BECMG 0323/0400 31018G30KT CAVOK FM040300 29022G36KT CAVOK FM040800 29010KT CAVOK TEMPO 0314/0316 3000 HZ NSC INTER 0316/0319 30025G35KT 6000 SHRA SCT015

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Mon
15:00Z
+-1h
Mon
16:00Z
+0h
Mon
17:00Z
+1h
Mon
18:00Z
+2h
Mon
19:00Z
+3h
Mon
20:00Z
+4h
Mon
21:00Z
+5h
Mon
22:00Z
+6h
Mon
23:00Z
+7h
Tue
00:00Z
+8h
Tue
01:00Z
+9h
Tue
02:00Z
+10h
Tue
03:00Z
+11h
Tue
04:00Z
+12h
Tue
05:00Z
+13h
Tue
06:00Z
+14h
Tue
07:00Z
+15h
Tue
08:00Z
+16h
Tue
09:00Z
+17h
Tue
10:00Z
+18h
Wind Dir
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
300°
NW
300°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
Wind Speed
20kt
G30kt
20kt
G30kt
20kt
G30kt
20kt
G30kt
20kt
G30kt
20kt
G30kt
10kt
G30kt
10kt
G30kt
18kt
G30kt
18kt
G30kt
18kt
G30kt
18kt
G30kt
18kt
G30kt
18kt
G30kt
18kt
G30kt
18kt
G30kt
18kt
G30kt
18kt
G30kt
18kt
G30kt
18kt
G30kt
Visibility
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
10+ km
10+ km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
Weather
☀️ 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
FEW020
FEW020
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
Ceiling
🌤️ 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
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:43
☀️
Day
🌇 18:43
☀️
Day
🌇 18:43
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:43
🌙
Night
🌇 18:43
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:15
🌙
Night
🌅 05:15
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:15
☀️
Day
🌅 05:15
☀️
Day
🌅 05:15
☀️
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
290° at 20 kt
Gusts: 30 kt
Visibility
>10km
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West-Northwest (290°) at 20kt. Gusts up to 30kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 10km. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM031500 2025-12-03 15:00:00 - 2025-12-03 21:00:00
VFR
Wind
300° at 10 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Weather
Light Rain
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 10kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Weather conditions: Light Rain. Skies will be clear. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM032100 2025-11-03 21:00:00 - 2025-11-04 03:00:00
VFR
Wind
300° at 10 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 10kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 2000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 2025-11-03 23:00:00 - 2025-11-04 00:00:00
VFR
Wind
310° at 18 kt
Gusts: 30 kt
Visibility
>10km
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Northwest (310°) at 18kt. Gusts up to 30kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 10km. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM040300 2025-11-04 03:00:00 - 2025-11-04 09:00:00
VFR
Wind
290° at 22 kt
Gusts: 36 kt
Visibility
>10km
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Northwest (290°) at 22kt. Gusts up to 36kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 10km. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM040800 2025-11-04 08:00:00 - 2025-11-04 14:00:00
VFR
Wind
290° at 10 kt
Visibility
>10km
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Northwest (290°) at 10kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 10km. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 2025-12-03 14:00:00 - 2025-11-03 16:00:00
MVFR
Wind
300° at 25 kt
Gusts: 35 kt
Visibility
6 km
Weather
Haze, Showers Rain
Clouds
CLR SCT015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 25kt. Gusts up to 35kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 6 km. Weather conditions: Haze, Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 1500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

📚 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.