Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport

ZSAM / XMN

Xiamen, CN

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF ZSAM 040901Z 0412/0512 18004G09MPS 6000 SCT025 TX35/0506Z TN27/0421Z TEMPO 0422/0501 SHRA FEW023CB BKN025

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
16:00Z
+-1h
Sat
17:00Z
+0h
Sat
18:00Z
+1h
Sat
19:00Z
+2h
Sat
20:00Z
+3h
Sat
21:00Z
+4h
Sat
22:00Z
+5h
Sat
23:00Z
+6h
Sun
00:00Z
+7h
Sun
01:00Z
+8h
Sun
02:00Z
+9h
Sun
03:00Z
+10h
Sun
04:00Z
+11h
Sun
05:00Z
+12h
Sun
06:00Z
+13h
Sun
07:00Z
+14h
Sun
08:00Z
+15h
Sun
09:00Z
+16h
Sun
10:00Z
+17h
Wind Dir -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Wind Speed -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Visibility
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Showers Rain
SHRA
Showers Rain
SHRA
Showers Rain
SHRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT025
SCT025
SCT025
SCT025
SCT025
SCT025
FEW023CB
BKN025
FEW023CB
BKN025
FEW023CB
BKN025
SCT025
SCT025
SCT025
SCT025
SCT025
SCT025
SCT025
SCT025
SCT025
SCT025
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌇 18:48Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:48Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:48Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:48Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:48Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:11Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:11Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:11Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:11Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:11Z
☀️
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
MVFR
Visibility
6 km
Clouds
SCT025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Visibility will be good at 6 km. Scattered clouds at 2500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 22:00Z - 01:00Z
MVFR
Weather
Showers Rain
Clouds
FEW023CB BKN025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Weather conditions: Showers Rain. Few clouds at 2300 feet, Broken clouds at 2500 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.