Santa Barbara Municipal Airport

KSBA / SBA

Santa Barbara, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KSBA 042321Z 0500/0524 26010KT P6SM FEW060 BKN090 FM050500 VRB03KT P6SM BKN250 FM050700 VRB03KT P6SM BKN006 FM051000 VRB03KT 6SM BR OVC004 FM051700 18005KT P6SM SCT010 FM051900 23007KT P6SM SCT010

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sun
04:00Z
+-1h
Sun
05:00Z
+0h
Sun
06:00Z
+1h
Sun
07:00Z
+2h
Sun
08:00Z
+3h
Sun
09:00Z
+4h
Sun
10:00Z
+5h
Sun
11:00Z
+6h
Sun
12:00Z
+7h
Sun
13:00Z
+8h
Sun
14:00Z
+9h
Sun
15:00Z
+10h
Sun
16:00Z
+11h
Sun
17:00Z
+12h
Sun
18:00Z
+13h
Sun
19:00Z
+14h
Sun
20:00Z
+15h
Sun
21:00Z
+16h
Sun
22:00Z
+17h
Wind Dir
260°
W
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
260°
W
180°
S
180°
S
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
Wind Speed
10 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
10 kt
5 kt
5 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
Visibility
>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
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW060
BKN090
BKN250
BKN250
BKN006
BKN006
BKN006
OVC004
OVC004
OVC004
OVC004
OVC004
OVC004
FEW060
BKN090
SCT010
SCT010
SCT010
SCT010
SCT010
SCT010
Ceiling
9,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
9,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:53Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:53Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:53Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:06Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:06Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:06Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:06Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:06Z
🌙
Night
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
260° at 10 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW060 BKN090
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West (260°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 6000 feet, Broken clouds at 9000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050500 05:00Z - 11:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050700 07:00Z - 13:00Z
IFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN006
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 600 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM051000 10:00Z - 16:00Z
LIFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
OVC004
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Overcast skies at 400 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

FM051700 17:00Z - 23:00Z
VFR
Wind
180° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT010
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (180°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 1000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM051900 19:00Z - 01:00Z
VFR
Wind
230° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT010
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (230°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 1000 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.