Newcastle Airport

YWLM / NTL

Williamtown, AU

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF YWLM 160125Z 1602/1700 31015KT CAVOK FM160700 01006KT CAVOK FM161400 VRB03KT CAVOK FM161800 31005KT CAVOK FM162300 27010KT 9999 FEW045

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Tue
03:00Z
+-1h
Tue
04:00Z
+0h
Tue
05:00Z
+1h
Tue
06:00Z
+2h
Tue
07:00Z
+3h
Tue
08:00Z
+4h
Tue
09:00Z
+5h
Tue
10:00Z
+6h
Tue
11:00Z
+7h
Tue
12:00Z
+8h
Tue
13:00Z
+9h
Tue
14:00Z
+10h
Tue
15:00Z
+11h
Tue
16:00Z
+12h
Tue
17:00Z
+13h
Tue
18:00Z
+14h
Tue
19:00Z
+15h
Tue
20:00Z
+16h
Tue
21:00Z
+17h
Tue
22:00Z
+18h
Wind Dir
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
310°
NW
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
Wind Speed
15kt
15kt
15kt
15kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
15kt
3kt
3kt
3kt
3kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
Visibility
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>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
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ 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
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:06
🌙
Night
🌅 06:06
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:06
☀️
Day
🌅 06:06
☀️
Day
🌅 06:06
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:53
☀️
Day
🌇 17:53
☀️
Day
🌇 17:53
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:53
🌙
Night
🌇 17:53
🌙
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
310° at 15 kt
Visibility
>10km
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Northwest (310°) at 15kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 10km. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM160700 2025-09-16 07:00:00 - 2025-09-16 13:00:00
VFR
Wind
10° at 6 kt
Visibility
>10km
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (10°) at 6kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 10km. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM161400 2025-09-16 14:00:00 - 2025-09-16 20:00:00
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>10km
📖 Plain English Explanation:

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

FM161800 2025-09-16 18:00:00 - 2025-09-17 00:00:00
VFR
Wind
310° at 5 kt
Visibility
>10km
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northwest (310°) at 5kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 10km. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM162300 2025-09-16 23:00:00 - 2025-09-17 05:00:00
VFR
Wind
270° at 10 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW045
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (270°) at 10kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 4500 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.