Ketchikan International Airport

PAKT / KTN

Ketchikan, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF PAKT 061439Z 0615/0712 13013G23KT P6SM SCT015 BKN025 OVC040 TEMPO 0615/0619 BKN015 OVC030 FM062000 14017G32KT 4SM -RA OVC015 FM070300 14013KT 3SM -RA BR FEW005 OVC010

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Mon
15:00Z
+-1h
Mon
16:00Z
+0h
Mon
17:00Z
+1h
Mon
18:00Z
+2h
Mon
19:00Z
+3h
Mon
20:00Z
+4h
Mon
21:00Z
+5h
Mon
22:00Z
+6h
Mon
23:00Z
+7h
Tue
00:00Z
+8h
Tue
01:00Z
+9h
Tue
02:00Z
+10h
Tue
03:00Z
+11h
Tue
04:00Z
+12h
Tue
05:00Z
+13h
Tue
06:00Z
+14h
Tue
07:00Z
+15h
Tue
08:00Z
+16h
Tue
09:00Z
+17h
Tue
10:00Z
+18h
Wind Dir
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
130°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
Wind Speed
13 kt
G23 kt
13 kt
G23 kt
13 kt
G23 kt
13 kt
G23 kt
13 kt
G23 kt
17 kt
G32 kt
17 kt
G32 kt
17 kt
G32 kt
17 kt
G32 kt
17 kt
G32 kt
17 kt
G32 kt
13 kt
G23 kt
13 kt
G23 kt
13 kt
G23 kt
13 kt
G23 kt
13 kt
G23 kt
13 kt
G23 kt
13 kt
G23 kt
13 kt
G23 kt
13 kt
G23 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
>6SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
☀️ Clear
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT015
BKN025
SCT015
BKN025
SCT015
BKN025
SCT015
BKN025
SCT015
BKN025
OVC015
OVC015
OVC015
OVC015
OVC015
OVC015
SCT015
BKN025
FEW005
OVC010
FEW005
OVC010
FEW005
OVC010
FEW005
OVC010
FEW005
OVC010
FEW005
OVC010
SCT015
BKN025
SCT015
BKN025
Ceiling
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
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
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
Flight Rules MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:36Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:36Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:36Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 19:36Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:36Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:24Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:24Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 04:24Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:24Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:24Z
☀️
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
MVFR
Wind
130° at 13 kt
Gusts: 23 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT015 BKN025 OVC040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Southeast (130°) at 13 kt. Gusts up to 23 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 1500 feet, Broken clouds at 2500 feet, Overcast skies at 4000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 15:00Z - 19:00Z
MVFR
Clouds
BKN015 OVC030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Broken clouds at 1500 feet, Overcast skies at 3000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM062000 20:00Z - 02:00Z
MVFR
Wind
140° at 17 kt
Gusts: 32 kt
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Light Rain
Clouds
OVC015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southeast (140°) at 17 kt. Gusts up to 32 kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Light Rain. Overcast skies at 1500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM070300 03:00Z - 09:00Z
IFR
Wind
140° at 13 kt
Visibility
3SM
Weather
Light Rain, Mist
Clouds
FEW005 OVC010
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southeast (140°) at 13 kt. Visibility will be good at 3SM. Weather conditions: Light Rain, Mist. Few clouds at 500 feet, Overcast skies at 1000 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.