Santa Barbara Municipal Airport

KSBA / SBA

Santa Barbara, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KSBA 050545Z 0506/0606 VRB03KT P6SM BKN100 FM050900 VRB03KT P6SM BKN006 FM051000 VRB03KT 6SM BR OVC004 FM051700 18005KT P6SM SCT008 FM052100 26010KT P6SM FEW100 FM060400 26005KT P6SM SKC

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sun
09:00Z
+-1h
Sun
10:00Z
+0h
Sun
11:00Z
+1h
Sun
12:00Z
+2h
Sun
13:00Z
+3h
Sun
14:00Z
+4h
Sun
15:00Z
+5h
Sun
16:00Z
+6h
Sun
17:00Z
+7h
Sun
18:00Z
+8h
Sun
19:00Z
+9h
Sun
20:00Z
+10h
Sun
21:00Z
+11h
Sun
22:00Z
+12h
Sun
23:00Z
+13h
Mon
00:00Z
+14h
Mon
01:00Z
+15h
Mon
02:00Z
+16h
Mon
03:00Z
+17h
Mon
04:00Z
+18h
Wind Dir
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
VRB
260°
W
Wind Speed
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
3 kt
5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
BKN100
OVC004
OVC004
OVC004
OVC004
OVC004
OVC004
BKN100
SCT008
SCT008
SCT008
SCT008
FEW100
FEW100
FEW100
FEW100
FEW100
FEW100
BKN100
CLR
Ceiling
10,000 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
10,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:06Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:06Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:06Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:06Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:06Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:54Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:54Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:54Z
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
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 10000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050900 09:00Z - 15:00Z
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
SCT008
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (180°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 800 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM052100 21:00Z - 03:00Z
VFR
Wind
260° at 10 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (260°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 10000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM060400 04:00Z - 10:00Z
VFR
Wind
260° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (260°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Skies will be clear. 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.