San Francisco International Airport

KSFO / SFO

San Francisco, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KSFO 041435Z 0415/0518 30008KT P6SM FEW004 BKN010 FM041700 29005KT P6SM FEW010 FM042100 28017KT P6SM SKC FM050400 29009KT P6SM FEW012 FM050800 29008KT P6SM BKN012 FM051100 28007KT P6SM OVC008

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
17:00Z
+-1h
Sat
18:00Z
+0h
Sat
19:00Z
+1h
Sat
20:00Z
+2h
Sat
21:00Z
+3h
Sat
22:00Z
+4h
Sat
23:00Z
+5h
Sun
00:00Z
+6h
Sun
01:00Z
+7h
Sun
02:00Z
+8h
Sun
03:00Z
+9h
Sun
04:00Z
+10h
Sun
05:00Z
+11h
Sun
06:00Z
+12h
Sun
07:00Z
+13h
Sun
08:00Z
+14h
Sun
09:00Z
+15h
Sun
10:00Z
+16h
Sun
11:00Z
+17h
Sun
12:00Z
+18h
Sun
13:00Z
+19h
Sun
14:00Z
+20h
Sun
15:00Z
+21h
Sun
16:00Z
+22h
Wind Dir
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
300°
NW
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
Wind Speed
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
17 kt
17 kt
17 kt
17 kt
17 kt
17 kt
8 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
7 kt
7 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
>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
Clouds
FEW004
BKN010
FEW004
BKN010
FEW004
BKN010
FEW004
BKN010
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
FEW004
BKN010
FEW012
FEW012
FEW012
FEW012
BKN012
BKN012
BKN012
OVC008
OVC008
OVC008
OVC008
OVC008
OVC008
Ceiling
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
1,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
1,200 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
Flight Rules MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌇 19:11Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:11Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:11Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:11Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:11Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:48Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:48Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:48Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:48Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:48Z
☀️
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 occurrenceAGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
MVFR
Wind
300° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW004 BKN010
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 400 feet, Broken clouds at 1000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM041700 17:00Z - 23:00Z
VFR
Wind
290° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW010
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Northwest (290°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 1000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM042100 21:00Z - 03:00Z
VFR
Wind
280° at 17 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (280°) at 17 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Skies will be clear. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050400 04:00Z - 10:00Z
VFR
Wind
290° at 9 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW012
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Northwest (290°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 1200 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050800 08:00Z - 14:00Z
MVFR
Wind
290° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN012
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Northwest (290°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 1200 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM051100 11:00Z - 17:00Z
IFR
Wind
280° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
OVC008
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (280°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Overcast skies at 800 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.