Saipan International Airport

PGSN / SPN

I Fadang, Saipan, MP

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF PGSN 040533Z 0406/0506 01014G21KT P6SM VCSH SCT022 SCT080 PROB30 0410/0412 35014G22KT 4SM SHRA SCT016 BKN030 FM042000 02020G28KT P6SM VCSH SCT015 BKN050

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
11:00Z
+-1h
Sat
12:00Z
+0h
Sat
13:00Z
+1h
Sat
14:00Z
+2h
Sat
15:00Z
+3h
Sat
16:00Z
+4h
Sat
17:00Z
+5h
Sat
18:00Z
+6h
Sat
19:00Z
+7h
Sat
20:00Z
+8h
Sat
21:00Z
+9h
Sat
22:00Z
+10h
Sat
23:00Z
+11h
Sun
00:00Z
+12h
Sun
01:00Z
+13h
Sun
02:00Z
+14h
Sun
03:00Z
+15h
Sun
04:00Z
+16h
Wind Dir
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
20°
N
20°
N
20°
N
20°
N
20°
N
20°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
Wind Speed
14 kt
G21 kt
14 kt
G21 kt
14 kt
G21 kt
14 kt
G21 kt
14 kt
G21 kt
14 kt
G21 kt
14 kt
G21 kt
14 kt
G21 kt
14 kt
G21 kt
20 kt
G28 kt
20 kt
G28 kt
20 kt
G28 kt
20 kt
G28 kt
20 kt
G28 kt
20 kt
G28 kt
14 kt
G21 kt
14 kt
G21 kt
14 kt
G21 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
SCT022
SCT080
SCT022
SCT080
SCT022
SCT080
SCT022
SCT080
SCT022
SCT080
SCT022
SCT080
SCT022
SCT080
SCT022
SCT080
SCT022
SCT080
SCT015
BKN050
SCT015
BKN050
SCT015
BKN050
SCT015
BKN050
SCT015
BKN050
SCT015
BKN050
SCT022
SCT080
SCT022
SCT080
SCT022
SCT080
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:30Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:30Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:30Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:30Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:30Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:29Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:29Z
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
VFR
Wind
10° at 14 kt
Gusts: 21 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT022 SCT080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the North (10°) at 14 kt. Gusts up to 21 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 2200 feet, Scattered clouds at 8000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 10:00Z - 12:00Z
MVFR
Wind
350° at 14 kt
Gusts: 22 kt
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT016 BKN030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Winds from the North (350°) at 14 kt. Gusts up to 22 kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 1600 feet, Broken clouds at 3000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM042000 20:00Z - 02:00Z
VFR
Wind
20° at 20 kt
Gusts: 28 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT015 BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northeast (20°) at 20 kt. Gusts up to 28 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 1500 feet, 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.