Santa Monica Municipal Airport

KSMO / SMO

Santa Monica, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KSMO 041134Z 0412/0512 VRB03KT P6SM SCT008 FM041600 VRB03KT P6SM SCT012 FM041800 23008KT P6SM BKN250 FM050400 VRB03KT P6SM BKN250 FM051100 VRB03KT P6SM OVC008

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
12:00Z
+-1h
Sat
13:00Z
+0h
Sat
14:00Z
+1h
Sat
15:00Z
+2h
Sat
16:00Z
+3h
Sat
17:00Z
+4h
Sat
18:00Z
+5h
Sat
19:00Z
+6h
Sat
20:00Z
+7h
Sat
21:00Z
+8h
Sat
22:00Z
+9h
Sat
23:00Z
+10h
Sun
00:00Z
+11h
Sun
01:00Z
+12h
Sun
02:00Z
+13h
Sun
03:00Z
+14h
Sun
04:00Z
+15h
Sun
05:00Z
+16h
Sun
06:00Z
+17h
Sun
07:00Z
+18h
Sun
08:00Z
+19h
Sun
09:00Z
+20h
Sun
10:00Z
+21h
Wind Dir
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 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
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT008
SCT008
SCT008
SCT008
SCT012
SCT012
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
SCT008
SCT008
SCT008
SCT008
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
SCT008
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ 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
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:05Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:05Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:05Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:05Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:05Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:54Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:54Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:54Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:54Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:54Z
☀️
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
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT008
📖 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. Scattered clouds at 800 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM041600 16:00Z - 22:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT012
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 1200 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM041800 18:00Z - 00:00Z
VFR
Wind
230° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (230°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050400 04:00Z - 10:00Z
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.

FM051100 11:00Z - 17:00Z
IFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
OVC008
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 3 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.