Salinas Municipal Airport

KSNS / SNS

Salinas, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KSNS 150421Z 1504/1524 29011KT P6SM BKN013 FM150600 31007KT P6SM SKC FM151200 VRB04KT 6SM HZ SCT007 TEMPO 1512/1516 4SM BR SCT004 BKN007 FM151700 29004KT 6SM HZ SCT007 FM152100 29015KT P6SM SKC

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Fri
04:00Z
+-1h
Fri
05:00Z
+0h
Fri
06:00Z
+1h
Fri
07:00Z
+2h
Fri
08:00Z
+3h
Fri
09:00Z
+4h
Fri
10:00Z
+5h
Fri
11:00Z
+6h
Fri
12:00Z
+7h
Fri
13:00Z
+8h
Fri
14:00Z
+9h
Fri
15:00Z
+10h
Fri
16:00Z
+11h
Fri
17:00Z
+12h
Fri
18:00Z
+13h
Fri
19:00Z
+14h
Fri
20:00Z
+15h
Fri
21:00Z
+16h
Fri
22:00Z
+17h
Wind Dir
290°
W
290°
W
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
VRB
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
Wind Speed
11 kt
11 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
11 kt
11 kt
11 kt
11 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
15 kt
15 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Haze
HZ
Haze
HZ
Haze
HZ
Haze
HZ
Haze
HZ
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
BKN013
BKN013
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
SCT004
BKN007
SCT004
BKN007
SCT004
BKN007
SCT004
BKN007
SCT007
SCT007
SCT007
SCT007
SCT007
CLR
CLR
Ceiling
1,300 ft
AGL
1,300 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR IFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:03Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:03Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:03Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:03Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:56Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:56Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:56Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:56Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:56Z
🌙
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
MVFR
Wind
290° at 11 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN013
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West-Northwest (290°) at 11 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 1300 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM150600 06:00Z - 12:00Z
VFR
Wind
310° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northwest (310°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Skies will be clear. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM151200 12:00Z - 18:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 4 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Haze
Clouds
SCT007
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 4 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Haze. Scattered clouds at 700 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 12:00Z - 16:00Z
IFR
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
SCT004 BKN007
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Scattered clouds at 400 feet, Broken clouds at 700 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM151700 17:00Z - 23:00Z
VFR
Wind
290° at 4 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Haze
Clouds
SCT007
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Northwest (290°) at 4 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Haze. Scattered clouds at 700 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM152100 21:00Z - 03:00Z
VFR
Wind
290° at 15 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Northwest (290°) at 15 kt. 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.