Hilo International Airport

PHTO / ITO

Hilo, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF PHTO 041913Z 0419/0518 33005KT P6SM VCSH SCT025 BKN035 TEMPO 0419/0421 2SM SHRA BR BKN025 FM042100 04010KT P6SM VCSH SCT025 BKN040 FM050600 VRB06KT P6SM VCSH SCT025 BKN035

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
19:00Z
+-1h
Sat
20:00Z
+0h
Sat
21:00Z
+1h
Sat
22:00Z
+2h
Sat
23:00Z
+3h
Sun
00:00Z
+4h
Sun
01:00Z
+5h
Sun
02:00Z
+6h
Sun
03:00Z
+7h
Sun
04:00Z
+8h
Sun
05:00Z
+9h
Sun
06:00Z
+10h
Sun
07:00Z
+11h
Sun
08:00Z
+12h
Sun
09:00Z
+13h
Sun
10:00Z
+14h
Sun
11:00Z
+15h
Sun
12:00Z
+16h
Sun
13:00Z
+17h
Sun
14:00Z
+18h
Sun
15:00Z
+19h
Sun
16:00Z
+20h
Wind Dir
330°
NW
330°
NW
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
330°
NW
330°
NW
330°
NW
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
330°
NW
330°
NW
330°
NW
330°
NW
330°
NW
Wind Speed
5 kt
5 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>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
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT025
BKN035
SCT025
BKN035
SCT025
BKN040
SCT025
BKN040
SCT025
BKN040
SCT025
BKN040
SCT025
BKN040
SCT025
BKN040
SCT025
BKN035
SCT025
BKN035
SCT025
BKN035
SCT025
BKN035
SCT025
BKN035
SCT025
BKN035
SCT025
BKN035
SCT025
BKN035
SCT025
BKN035
SCT025
BKN035
SCT025
BKN035
SCT025
BKN035
SCT025
BKN035
SCT025
BKN035
Ceiling
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:39Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:39Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:20Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:20Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:20Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:20Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:20Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:39Z
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
330° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT025 BKN035
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the North-Northwest (330°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 2500 feet, Broken clouds at 3500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 19:00Z - 21:00Z
IFR
Visibility
2SM
Weather
Showers Rain, Mist
Clouds
BKN025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be moderate at 2SM. Weather conditions: Showers Rain, Mist. Broken clouds at 2500 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM042100 21:00Z - 03:00Z
VFR
Wind
40° at 10 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT025 BKN040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northeast (40°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 2500 feet, Broken clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050600 06:00Z - 12:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT025 BKN035
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 2500 feet, Broken clouds at 3500 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.