Salinas Municipal Airport

KSNS / SNS

Salinas, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KSNS 041729Z 0418/0518 31007KT P6SM SCT150 FM042000 30013G20KT P6SM BKN150 FM050400 29008KT P6SM OVC008 FM050700 VRB04KT P6SM OVC005

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
23:00Z
+-1h
Sun
00:00Z
+0h
Sun
01:00Z
+1h
Sun
02:00Z
+2h
Sun
03:00Z
+3h
Sun
04:00Z
+4h
Sun
05:00Z
+5h
Sun
06:00Z
+6h
Sun
07:00Z
+7h
Sun
08:00Z
+8h
Sun
09:00Z
+9h
Sun
10:00Z
+10h
Sun
11:00Z
+11h
Sun
12:00Z
+12h
Sun
13:00Z
+13h
Sun
14:00Z
+14h
Sun
15:00Z
+15h
Sun
16:00Z
+16h
Wind Dir
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
Wind Speed
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 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
SCT150
SCT150
SCT150
SCT150
SCT150
OVC008
OVC008
OVC008
OVC005
OVC005
OVC005
OVC005
OVC005
OVC005
SCT150
SCT150
SCT150
SCT150
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:50Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:50Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:50Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:50Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:50Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
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 occurrenceAGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
310° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Northwest (310°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 15000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM042000 20:00Z - 02:00Z
VFR
Wind
300° at 13 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 13 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 15000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050400 04:00Z - 10:00Z
IFR
Wind
290° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
OVC008
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Northwest (290°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Overcast skies at 800 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM050700 07:00Z - 13:00Z
IFR
Wind
VRB° at 4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
OVC005
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 4 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Overcast skies at 500 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.