Newcastle Airport

YWLM / NTL

Williamtown, AU

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF YWLM 151710Z 1518/1618 24008KT 9999 -SHRA SCT010 BKN020 BECMG 1603/1604 27006KT 9999 -SHRA FEW012 BKN035 INTER 1518/1522 15015G25KT 3000 SHRA BKN010 FEW025TCU TEMPO 1522/1603 15015G25KT 3000 SHRA BKN010 FEW025TCU INTER 1603/1618 3000 SHRA BKN012 FEW025TCU

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
20:00Z
+-1h
Wed
21:00Z
+0h
Wed
22:00Z
+1h
Wed
23:00Z
+2h
Thu
00:00Z
+3h
Thu
01:00Z
+4h
Thu
02:00Z
+5h
Thu
03:00Z
+6h
Thu
04:00Z
+7h
Thu
05:00Z
+8h
Thu
06:00Z
+9h
Thu
07:00Z
+10h
Thu
08:00Z
+11h
Thu
09:00Z
+12h
Thu
10:00Z
+13h
Thu
11:00Z
+14h
Thu
12:00Z
+15h
Thu
13:00Z
+16h
Thu
14:00Z
+17h
Thu
15:00Z
+18h
Thu
16:00Z
+19h
Wind Dir
240°
SW
240°
SW
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
Wind Speed
8 kt
8 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
3 km
3 km
3 km
3 km
3 km
3 km
3 km
3 km
3 km
3 km
3 km
3 km
3 km
3 km
3 km
3 km
3 km
3 km
3 km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Showers Rain, Showers Rain
SHRA SHRA
Showers Rain, Showers Rain
SHRA SHRA
Showers Rain, Showers Rain
SHRA SHRA
Showers Rain, Showers Rain
SHRA SHRA
Showers Rain, Showers Rain
SHRA SHRA
Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain
-SHRA SHRA
Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain
-SHRA SHRA
Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain
-SHRA SHRA
Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain
-SHRA SHRA
Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain
-SHRA SHRA
Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain
-SHRA SHRA
Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain
-SHRA SHRA
Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain
-SHRA SHRA
Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain
-SHRA SHRA
Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain
-SHRA SHRA
Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain
-SHRA SHRA
Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain
-SHRA SHRA
Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain
-SHRA SHRA
Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain
-SHRA SHRA
Clouds
SCT010
BKN020
SCT010
BKN020
BKN010
FEW025TCU
BKN010
FEW025TCU
BKN010
FEW025TCU
BKN010
FEW025TCU
BKN010
FEW025TCU
FEW012
BKN035
FEW012
BKN035
FEW012
BKN035
FEW012
BKN035
FEW012
BKN035
FEW012
BKN035
FEW012
BKN035
FEW012
BKN035
FEW012
BKN035
FEW012
BKN035
FEW012
BKN035
FEW012
BKN035
FEW012
BKN035
FEW012
BKN035
Ceiling
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
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 MVFR MVFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:59Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:59Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:59Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:59Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:59Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:00Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:00Z
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 occurrence • AGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
MVFR
Wind
240° at 8 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT010 BKN020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West-Southwest (240°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 1000 feet, Broken clouds at 2000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 03:00Z - 04:00Z
IFR
Wind
150° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
3 km
Weather
Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain
Clouds
FEW012 BKN035 BKN010 FEW025TCU
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South-Southeast (150°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be moderate at 3 km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain. Few clouds at 1200 feet, Broken clouds at 3500 feet, Broken clouds at 1000 feet, Few clouds at 2500 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

TEMPO 22:00Z - 03:00Z
IFR
Wind
150° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
3 km
Weather
Showers Rain, Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN010 FEW025TCU BKN012 FEW025TCU
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the South-Southeast (150°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be moderate at 3 km. Weather conditions: Showers Rain, Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 1000 feet, Few clouds at 2500 feet, Broken clouds at 1200 feet, Few clouds at 2500 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.