Seattle–Tacoma International Airport

KSEA / SEA

Seattle, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KSEA 050858Z 0509/0612 02013KT P6SM OVC040 FM051200 02005KT P6SM SCT027 BKN035 FM051900 35008KT P6SM SCT040 FM052300 36010G18KT P6SM FEW250 FM060500 03006KT P6SM FEW250 FM061100 04005KT P6SM FEW040

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
Mon
05:00Z
+19h
Mon
06:00Z
+20h
Mon
07:00Z
+21h
Mon
08:00Z
+22h
Mon
09:00Z
+23h
Mon
10:00Z
+24h
Wind Dir
20°
N
20°
N
20°
N
20°
N
20°
N
20°
N
20°
N
20°
N
20°
N
20°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
Wind Speed
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
13 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 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
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>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
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
OVC040
OVC040
OVC040
SCT027
BKN035
SCT027
BKN035
SCT027
BKN035
SCT027
BKN035
SCT027
BKN035
SCT027
BKN035
OVC040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
Ceiling
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:26Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:26Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:26Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:26Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:26Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:34Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:34Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:34Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:34Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:34Z
☀️
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 occurrenceAGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
20° at 13 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
OVC040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the North-Northeast (20°) at 13 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Overcast skies at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM051200 12:00Z - 18:00Z
VFR
Wind
20° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT027 BKN035
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northeast (20°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 2700 feet, Broken clouds at 3500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM051900 19:00Z - 01:00Z
VFR
Wind
350° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (350°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM052300 23:00Z - 05:00Z
VFR
Wind
360° at 10 kt
Gusts: 18 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (360°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 18 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM060500 05:00Z - 11:00Z
VFR
Wind
30° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northeast (30°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM061100 11:00Z - 17:00Z
VFR
Wind
40° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northeast (40°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 4000 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.