Santa Maria Public Airport Captain G Allan Hancock Field

KSMX / SMX

Santa Maria, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KSMX 142342Z 1500/1524 31012KT P6SM SKC FM150300 30006KT P6SM SKC FM150500 VRB03KT P6SM SKC FM151100 VRB03KT 2SM BR VCFG OVC003 FM151600 27005KT P6SM SCT005 FM152000 30012KT P6SM SKC FM152300 30015G25KT P6SM SKC

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Fri
05:00Z
+-1h
Fri
06:00Z
+0h
Fri
07:00Z
+1h
Fri
08:00Z
+2h
Fri
09:00Z
+3h
Fri
10:00Z
+4h
Fri
11:00Z
+5h
Fri
12:00Z
+6h
Fri
13:00Z
+7h
Fri
14:00Z
+8h
Fri
15:00Z
+9h
Fri
16:00Z
+10h
Fri
17:00Z
+11h
Fri
18:00Z
+12h
Fri
19:00Z
+13h
Fri
20:00Z
+14h
Fri
21:00Z
+15h
Fri
22:00Z
+16h
Wind Dir
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
Wind Speed
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
2SM
2SM
2SM
2SM
2SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Mist, Vicinity Fog
BR VCFG
Mist, Vicinity Fog
BR VCFG
Mist, Vicinity Fog
BR VCFG
Mist, Vicinity Fog
BR VCFG
Mist, Vicinity Fog
BR VCFG
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
OVC003
OVC003
OVC003
OVC003
OVC003
SCT005
SCT005
SCT005
SCT005
CLR
CLR
CLR
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:05Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:05Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:05Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:54Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:54Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:54Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:54Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:54Z
🌙
Night
🌙
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
310° at 12 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Northwest (310°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Skies will be clear. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM150300 03:00Z - 09:00Z
VFR
Wind
300° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Skies will be clear. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM150500 05:00Z - 11:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

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

FM151100 11:00Z - 17:00Z
LIFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
2SM
Weather
Mist, Vicinity Fog
Clouds
OVC003
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be moderate at 2SM. Weather conditions: Mist, Vicinity Fog. Overcast skies at 300 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

FM151600 16:00Z - 22:00Z
VFR
Wind
270° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT005
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (270°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM152000 20:00Z - 02:00Z
VFR
Wind
300° at 12 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Skies will be clear. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM152300 23:00Z - 05:00Z
VFR
Wind
300° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. 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.