Surat Thani Airport

VTSB / URT

Surat Thani, TH

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF VTSB 142300Z 1500/1524 19003KT 8000 FEW020 SCT100 BECMG 1503/1505 25008KT TEMPO 1505/1512 VRB15G25KT 4000 TSRA FEW016CB SCT018 BKN100 BECMG 1513/1515 19003KT

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Fri
03:00Z
+-1h
Fri
04:00Z
+0h
Fri
05:00Z
+1h
Fri
06:00Z
+2h
Fri
07:00Z
+3h
Fri
08:00Z
+4h
Fri
09:00Z
+5h
Fri
10:00Z
+6h
Fri
11:00Z
+7h
Fri
12:00Z
+8h
Fri
13:00Z
+9h
Fri
14:00Z
+10h
Fri
15:00Z
+11h
Fri
16:00Z
+12h
Fri
17:00Z
+13h
Fri
18:00Z
+14h
Fri
19:00Z
+15h
Fri
20:00Z
+16h
Fri
21:00Z
+17h
Fri
22:00Z
+18h
Wind Dir
190°
S
190°
S
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
Wind Speed
3 kt
3 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
Visibility
8 km
8 km
4 km
4 km
4 km
4 km
4 km
4 km
4 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW020
SCT100
FEW020
SCT100
FEW016CB
SCT018
FEW016CB
SCT018
FEW016CB
SCT018
FEW016CB
SCT018
FEW016CB
SCT018
FEW016CB
SCT018
FEW016CB
SCT018
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules MVFR MVFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:44Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:44Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:44Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:44Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:44Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:15Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:15Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:15Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:15Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:15Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
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
190° at 3 kt
Visibility
8 km
Clouds
FEW020 SCT100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South (190°) at 3 kt. Visibility will be good at 8 km. Few clouds at 2000 feet, Scattered clouds at 10000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 03:00Z - 05:00Z
VFR
Wind
250° at 8 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 8 kt. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 05:00Z - 12:00Z
IFR
Wind
VRB° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
4 km
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
FEW016CB SCT018 BKN100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds will be variable in direction at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be moderate at 4 km. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Few clouds at 1600 feet, Scattered clouds at 1800 feet, Broken clouds at 10000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 13:00Z - 15:00Z
VFR
Wind
190° at 3 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South (190°) at 3 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.