Newcastle Airport

YWLM / NTL

Williamtown, AU

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF YWLM 041028Z 0411/0506 05008KT CAVOK FM041800 34005KT CAVOK FM050300 10012KT 9999 -SHRA FEW030

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
15:00Z
+-1h
Wed
16:00Z
+0h
Wed
17:00Z
+1h
Wed
18:00Z
+2h
Wed
19:00Z
+3h
Wed
20:00Z
+4h
Wed
21:00Z
+5h
Wed
22:00Z
+6h
Wed
23:00Z
+7h
Thu
00:00Z
+8h
Thu
01:00Z
+9h
Thu
02:00Z
+10h
Thu
03:00Z
+11h
Thu
04:00Z
+12h
Wind Dir
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
100°
E
100°
E
Wind Speed
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
12 kt
12 kt
Visibility
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
10+ km
10+ km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Clouds
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
FEW030
FEW030
Ceiling
🌤️ 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
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:20Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:20Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:20Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:20Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:20Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:40Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:40Z
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 8 kt
Visibility
>10km
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Northeast (50°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 10km. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM041800 18:00Z - 00:00Z
VFR
Wind
340° at 5 kt
Visibility
>10km
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northwest (340°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 10km. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050300 03:00Z - 09:00Z
VFR
Wind
100° at 12 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
FEW030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East (100°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Few clouds at 3000 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.