Andrés Sabella Gálvez International Airport

SCFA / ANF

Antofagasta, CL

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF SCFA 040425Z 0406/0506 20008KT 9999 BKN015 TN15/0410Z TX17/0418Z BECMG 0413/0415 20018KT FEW013 BECMG 0420/0422 BKN007 BECMG 0500/0502 20008KT

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
10:00Z
+-1h
Sat
11:00Z
+0h
Sat
12:00Z
+1h
Sat
13:00Z
+2h
Sat
14:00Z
+3h
Sat
15:00Z
+4h
Sat
16:00Z
+5h
Sat
17:00Z
+6h
Sat
18:00Z
+7h
Sat
19:00Z
+8h
Sat
20:00Z
+9h
Sat
21:00Z
+10h
Sat
22:00Z
+11h
Sat
23:00Z
+12h
Sun
00:00Z
+13h
Sun
01:00Z
+14h
Sun
02:00Z
+15h
Sun
03:00Z
+16h
Sun
04:00Z
+17h
Wind Dir
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
Wind Speed
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
18 kt
18 kt
18 kt
18 kt
18 kt
18 kt
18 kt
18 kt
18 kt
18 kt
18 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
BKN015
BKN015
BKN015
FEW013
FEW013
FEW013
FEW013
FEW013
FEW013
FEW013
BKN007
BKN007
BKN007
BKN007
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
Ceiling
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR IFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:13Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:13Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:13Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:13Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:13Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:46Z
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
200° at 8 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 1500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 13:00Z - 15:00Z
VFR
Wind
200° at 18 kt
Clouds
FEW013
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 18 kt. Few clouds at 1300 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 20:00Z - 22:00Z
IFR
Clouds
BKN007
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Broken clouds at 700 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 00:00Z - 02:00Z
VFR
Wind
200° at 8 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 8 kt. 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.