Alpena County Regional Airport

KAPN / APN

Alpena, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KAPN 151753Z 1518/1618 21010G18KT P6SM BKN130 FM161100 22007KT P6SM BKN120 FM161500 21007KT P6SM OVC015

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Fri
19:00Z
+-1h
Fri
20:00Z
+0h
Fri
21:00Z
+1h
Fri
22:00Z
+2h
Fri
23:00Z
+3h
Sat
00:00Z
+4h
Sat
01:00Z
+5h
Sat
02:00Z
+6h
Sat
03:00Z
+7h
Sat
04:00Z
+8h
Sat
05:00Z
+9h
Sat
06:00Z
+10h
Sat
07:00Z
+11h
Sat
08:00Z
+12h
Sat
09:00Z
+13h
Sat
10:00Z
+14h
Sat
11:00Z
+15h
Sat
12:00Z
+16h
Sat
13:00Z
+17h
Sat
14:00Z
+18h
Sat
15:00Z
+19h
Sat
16:00Z
+20h
Wind Dir
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
Wind Speed
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
7 kt
G18 kt
7 kt
G18 kt
7 kt
G18 kt
7 kt
G18 kt
7 kt
G18 kt
7 kt
G18 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
BKN130
BKN130
BKN130
BKN130
BKN130
BKN130
BKN130
BKN130
BKN130
BKN130
BKN130
BKN130
BKN130
BKN130
BKN130
BKN130
BKN120
BKN120
BKN120
BKN120
OVC015
OVC015
Ceiling
13,000 ft
AGL
13,000 ft
AGL
13,000 ft
AGL
13,000 ft
AGL
13,000 ft
AGL
13,000 ft
AGL
13,000 ft
AGL
13,000 ft
AGL
13,000 ft
AGL
13,000 ft
AGL
13,000 ft
AGL
13,000 ft
AGL
13,000 ft
AGL
13,000 ft
AGL
13,000 ft
AGL
13,000 ft
AGL
12,000 ft
AGL
12,000 ft
AGL
12,000 ft
AGL
12,000 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌇 19:07Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:07Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:07Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:51Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:51Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:51Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:51Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:51Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
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 occurrence • AGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
210° at 10 kt
Gusts: 18 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN130
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southwest (210°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 18 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 13000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM161100 11:00Z - 17:00Z
VFR
Wind
220° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN120
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 12000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM161500 15:00Z - 21:00Z
MVFR
Wind
210° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
OVC015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southwest (210°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Overcast skies at 1500 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.