Ambala Air Force Station

VIAM

Ambala, IN

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF VIAM 041530Z 0500/0512 16010KT 4000 -RABR SCT020 FEW030CB BKN100 BECMG 0503/0505 5000 HZ SCT025 BKN090 TEMPO 0507/0511 4000 TSRA SCT020 FEW030CB BKN090

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sun
02:00Z
+-1h
Sun
03:00Z
+0h
Sun
04:00Z
+1h
Sun
05:00Z
+2h
Sun
06:00Z
+3h
Sun
07:00Z
+4h
Sun
08:00Z
+5h
Sun
09:00Z
+6h
Sun
10:00Z
+7h
Wind Dir
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
Wind Speed
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
Visibility
4 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
4 km
4 km
4 km
4 km
Weather
Light RABR
-RABR
Haze
HZ
Haze
HZ
Haze
HZ
Haze
HZ
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Clouds
SCT020
FEW030CB
SCT025
BKN090
SCT025
BKN090
SCT025
BKN090
SCT025
BKN090
SCT020
FEW030CB
SCT020
FEW030CB
SCT020
FEW030CB
SCT020
FEW030CB
Ceiling
10,000 ft
AGL
9,000 ft
AGL
9,000 ft
AGL
9,000 ft
AGL
9,000 ft
AGL
9,000 ft
AGL
9,000 ft
AGL
9,000 ft
AGL
9,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules IFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR IFR IFR IFR IFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:00Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:00Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:00Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:00Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:00Z
☀️
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
IFR
Wind
160° at 10 kt
Visibility
4 km
Weather
Light RABR
Clouds
SCT020 FEW030CB BKN100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southeast (160°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be moderate at 4 km. Weather conditions: Light RABR. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet, Few clouds at 3000 feet, Broken clouds at 10000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 03:00Z - 05:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
5 km
Weather
Haze
Clouds
SCT025 BKN090
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Visibility will be good at 5 km. Weather conditions: Haze. Scattered clouds at 2500 feet, Broken clouds at 9000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 07:00Z - 11:00Z
IFR
Visibility
4 km
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
SCT020 FEW030CB BKN090
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be moderate at 4 km. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet, Few clouds at 3000 feet, Broken clouds at 9000 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.