Big Trout Lake Airport

CYTL / YTL

Big Trout Lake, CA

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF CYTL 150741Z 1508/1520 16017G27KT P6SM SCT060 BKN100 BECMG 1508/1510 17012G22KT FM151300 18012G22KT P6SM -SHRA BKN040 OVC080 FM151800 20012G22KT 4SM -SHRA BR OVC025 PROB30 1518/1520 20015G30KT 2SM TSRA BR OVC020CB RMK FCST BASED ON AUTO OBS. NXT FCST BY 151400Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Fri
10:00Z
+-1h
Fri
11:00Z
+0h
Fri
12:00Z
+1h
Fri
13:00Z
+2h
Fri
14:00Z
+3h
Fri
15:00Z
+4h
Fri
16:00Z
+5h
Fri
17:00Z
+6h
Fri
18:00Z
+7h
Wind Dir
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
200°
S
Wind Speed
17 kt
G27 kt
17 kt
G27 kt
17 kt
G27 kt
12 kt
G22 kt
12 kt
G22 kt
12 kt
G22 kt
12 kt
G22 kt
12 kt
G22 kt
15 kt
G30 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
2SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist, FCST, FCST
TSRA BR FCST FCST
30%
Clouds
SCT060
BKN100
SCT060
BKN100
SCT060
BKN100
BKN040
OVC080
BKN040
OVC080
BKN040
OVC080
BKN040
OVC080
BKN040
OVC080
OVC020CB
Ceiling
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:16Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:16Z
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
VFR
Wind
160° at 17 kt
Gusts: 27 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT060 BKN100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southeast (160°) at 17 kt. Gusts up to 27 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 6000 feet, Broken clouds at 10000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 08:00Z - 10:00Z
VFR
Wind
170° at 12 kt
Gusts: 22 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South (170°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 22 kt are expected. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM151300 13:00Z - 19:00Z
VFR
Wind
180° at 12 kt
Gusts: 22 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN040 OVC080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (180°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 22 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 4000 feet, Overcast skies at 8000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM151800 18:00Z - 00:00Z
MVFR
Wind
200° at 12 kt
Gusts: 22 kt
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain, Mist
Clouds
OVC025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 22 kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain, Mist. Overcast skies at 2500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

PROB30 18:00Z - 20:00Z
IFR
Wind
200° at 15 kt
Gusts: 30 kt
Visibility
2SM
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist, FCST, FCST
Clouds
OVC020CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 30 kt are expected. Visibility will be moderate at 2SM. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain, Mist, FCST, FCST. Overcast skies at 2000 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.