Pilot Guide

How to Read a TAF Forecast

A practical guide to reading TAF forecasts, validity periods, TEMPO, BECMG, FM and PROB groups.

A TAF is a forecast for the weather expected near an aerodrome. While a METAR describes what is happening now, a TAF describes how conditions are expected to change over a forecast period.

Read the header first: station, issue time and validity period. Then read the prevailing conditions and each change group in order.

Common change groups

FM means conditions are expected from a specific time. TEMPO means temporary changes during a period. BECMG means conditions are becoming something else over time. PROB marks probability.

Example pattern

TAF KJFK 121130Z 1212/1312 28015G25KT 3SM -RA BR BKN012 OVC020

This starts with the aerodrome and issue time, then the validity window. The forecast conditions include wind from 280 degrees at 15 knots, gusting 25, visibility of 3 statute miles, light rain, mist, broken clouds at 1,200 feet and overcast at 2,000 feet.

Pilot reading habit

Do not read a TAF as a single sentence. Read it as a timeline. Mark when visibility, ceiling, precipitation, wind or thunderstorms change, then compare those times against departure, arrival, alternate and fuel planning.