John Wayne Orange County International Airport

KSNA / SNA

Santa Ana, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KSNA 141732Z 1418/1518 19005KT P6SM BKN025 FM141900 21009KT P6SM SKC FM150400 VRB04KT P6SM SCT020 FM150700 VRB03KT P6SM OVC015

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
23:00Z
+-1h
Fri
00:00Z
+0h
Fri
01:00Z
+1h
Fri
02:00Z
+2h
Fri
03:00Z
+3h
Fri
04:00Z
+4h
Fri
05:00Z
+5h
Fri
06:00Z
+6h
Fri
07:00Z
+7h
Fri
08:00Z
+8h
Fri
09:00Z
+9h
Fri
10:00Z
+10h
Fri
11:00Z
+11h
Fri
12:00Z
+12h
Fri
13:00Z
+13h
Fri
14:00Z
+14h
Fri
15:00Z
+15h
Fri
16:00Z
+16h
Wind Dir
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
Wind Speed
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
Visibility
>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
Clouds
BKN025
BKN025
BKN025
BKN025
BKN025
SCT020
SCT020
SCT020
OVC015
OVC015
OVC015
OVC015
OVC015
OVC015
BKN025
BKN025
BKN025
BKN025
Ceiling
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
Flight Rules MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:07Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:07Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:07Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:07Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:07Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:52Z
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
MVFR
Wind
190° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South (190°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 2500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM141900 19:00Z - 01:00Z
VFR
Wind
210° at 9 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southwest (210°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Skies will be clear. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM150400 04:00Z - 10:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 4 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM150700 07:00Z - 13:00Z
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
OVC015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Overcast skies at 1500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

📚 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.