John Wayne Orange County International Airport

KSNA / SNA

Santa Ana, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KSNA 032320Z 0400/0424 22008KT P6SM SKC FM040300 VRB04KT P6SM FEW013 SCT250 FM041000 VRB03KT P6SM OVC013 FM041600 VRB04KT P6SM SCT015 BKN150 FM041900 22009KT P6SM BKN100

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
03:00Z
+-1h
Sat
04:00Z
+0h
Sat
05:00Z
+1h
Sat
06:00Z
+2h
Sat
07:00Z
+3h
Sat
08:00Z
+4h
Sat
09:00Z
+5h
Sat
10:00Z
+6h
Sat
11:00Z
+7h
Sat
12:00Z
+8h
Sat
13:00Z
+9h
Sat
14:00Z
+10h
Sat
15:00Z
+11h
Sat
16:00Z
+12h
Sat
17:00Z
+13h
Sat
18:00Z
+14h
Sat
19:00Z
+15h
Sat
20:00Z
+16h
Sat
21:00Z
+17h
Sat
22:00Z
+18h
Wind Dir
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
Wind Speed
8 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
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
Visibility
>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
Clouds
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
OVC013
OVC013
OVC013
OVC013
OVC013
OVC013
SCT015
BKN150
SCT015
BKN150
SCT015
BKN150
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
1,300 ft
AGL
1,300 ft
AGL
1,300 ft
AGL
1,300 ft
AGL
1,300 ft
AGL
1,300 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:54Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:54Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:54Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:54Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:05Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:05Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:05Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:05Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:05Z
🌙
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 occurrence • AGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
220° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Skies will be clear. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM040300 03:00Z - 09:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW013 SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 4 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 1300 feet, Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM041000 10:00Z - 16:00Z
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
OVC013
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Overcast skies at 1300 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM041600 16:00Z - 22:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT015 BKN150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 4 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 1500 feet, Broken clouds at 15000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM041900 19:00Z - 01:00Z
VFR
Wind
220° at 9 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 10000 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.