Newcastle Airport

YWLM / NTL

Williamtown, AU

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF AMD YWLM 100528Z 1006/1106 05005KT CAVOK FM101200 VRB03KT CAVOK FM101800 31004KT CAVOK FM102100 29005KT 9999 -RA SCT045 FM110300 29005KT 9999 -RA SCT010 BKN030 INTER 1021/1106 5000 SHRA BKN014 INTER 1103/1106 5000 SHRA BKN010

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
08:00Z
+-1h
Wed
09:00Z
+0h
Wed
10:00Z
+1h
Wed
11:00Z
+2h
Wed
12:00Z
+3h
Wed
13:00Z
+4h
Wed
14:00Z
+5h
Wed
15:00Z
+6h
Wed
16:00Z
+7h
Wed
17:00Z
+8h
Wed
18:00Z
+9h
Wed
19:00Z
+10h
Wed
20:00Z
+11h
Wed
21:00Z
+12h
Wed
22:00Z
+13h
Wed
23:00Z
+14h
Thu
00:00Z
+15h
Thu
01:00Z
+16h
Thu
02:00Z
+17h
Thu
03:00Z
+18h
Thu
04:00Z
+19h
Wind Dir
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
Wind Speed
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
Visibility
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
5 km
5 km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain, Showers Rain, Showers Rain
-RA SHRA SHRA
Light Rain, Showers Rain, Showers Rain
-RA SHRA SHRA
Clouds
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
SCT045
SCT045
SCT045
SCT045
SCT045
SCT045
SCT010
BKN030
SCT010
BKN030
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ 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
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌅 07:03Z
☀️
Day
🌅 07:03Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 16:56Z
☀️
Day
🌇 16:56Z
☀️
Day
🌇 16:56Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 16:56Z
🌙
Night
🌇 16:56Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
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 occurrenceAGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
50° at 5 kt
Visibility
>10km
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Northeast (50°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 10km. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM101200 12:00Z - 18:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>10km
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 10km. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM101800 18:00Z - 00:00Z
VFR
Wind
310° at 4 kt
Visibility
>10km
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northwest (310°) at 4 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 10km. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM102100 21:00Z - 03:00Z
VFR
Wind
290° at 5 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Weather
Light Rain
Clouds
SCT045
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Northwest (290°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Weather conditions: Light Rain. Scattered clouds at 4500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM110300 03:00Z - 09:00Z
IFR
Wind
290° at 5 kt
Visibility
5 km
Weather
Light Rain, Showers Rain, Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT010 BKN030 BKN014 BKN010
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Northwest (290°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be good at 5 km. Weather conditions: Light Rain, Showers Rain, Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 1000 feet, Broken clouds at 3000 feet, Broken clouds at 1400 feet, Broken clouds at 1000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

📚 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.