Talkeetna Airport

PATK / TKA

Talkeetna, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF PATK 150526Z 1506/1606 VRB03KT P6SM VCSH SCT050 BKN080 FM151200 16005KT P6SM -SHRA OVC040 FM151400 18004KT P6SM -SHRA SCT010 OVC025 FM151800 23004KT P6SM BKN050

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Fri
10:00Z
+-1h
Fri
11:00Z
+0h
Fri
12:00Z
+1h
Fri
13:00Z
+2h
Fri
14:00Z
+3h
Fri
15:00Z
+4h
Fri
16:00Z
+5h
Fri
17:00Z
+6h
Fri
18:00Z
+7h
Fri
19:00Z
+8h
Fri
20:00Z
+9h
Fri
21:00Z
+10h
Fri
22:00Z
+11h
Fri
23:00Z
+12h
Sat
00:00Z
+13h
Sat
01:00Z
+14h
Sat
02:00Z
+15h
Sat
03:00Z
+16h
Sat
04:00Z
+17h
Wind Dir
VRB
VRB
160°
S
160°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
3 kt
3 kt
5 kt
5 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT050
BKN080
SCT050
BKN080
OVC040
OVC040
SCT010
OVC025
SCT010
OVC025
SCT010
OVC025
SCT010
OVC025
BKN050
BKN050
BKN050
BKN050
BKN050
BKN050
SCT050
BKN080
SCT050
BKN080
SCT050
BKN080
SCT050
BKN080
SCT050
BKN080
Ceiling
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:24Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:24Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:24Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:24Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:24Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:34Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:34Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:34Z
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
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT050 BKN080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 5000 feet, Broken clouds at 8000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM151200 12:00Z - 18:00Z
VFR
Wind
160° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
OVC040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southeast (160°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Overcast skies at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM151400 14:00Z - 20:00Z
MVFR
Wind
180° at 4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT010 OVC025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (180°) at 4 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 1000 feet, Overcast skies at 2500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM151800 18:00Z - 00:00Z
VFR
Wind
230° at 4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (230°) at 4 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 5000 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.