Sandakan Airport

WBKS / SDK

Sandakan, MY

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF WBKS 042300Z 0500/0600 23006KT 9999 FEW016 TEMPO 0508/0512 5000 TSRA FEW010 FEW016CB SCT030

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sun
01:00Z
+-1h
Sun
02:00Z
+0h
Sun
03:00Z
+1h
Sun
04:00Z
+2h
Sun
05:00Z
+3h
Sun
06:00Z
+4h
Sun
07:00Z
+5h
Sun
08:00Z
+6h
Sun
09:00Z
+7h
Sun
10:00Z
+8h
Sun
11:00Z
+9h
Sun
12:00Z
+10h
Sun
13:00Z
+11h
Sun
14:00Z
+12h
Sun
15:00Z
+13h
Sun
16:00Z
+14h
Sun
17:00Z
+15h
Sun
18:00Z
+16h
Sun
19:00Z
+17h
Sun
20:00Z
+18h
Sun
21:00Z
+19h
Sun
22:00Z
+20h
Wind Dir
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
Wind Speed
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 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
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW016
FEW016
FEW016
FEW016
FEW016
FEW016
FEW016
FEW010
FEW016CB
FEW010
FEW016CB
FEW010
FEW016CB
FEW010
FEW016CB
FEW016
FEW016
FEW016
FEW016
FEW016
FEW016
FEW016
FEW016
FEW016
FEW016
FEW016
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
1,600 ft 🌩️
CB Base
1,600 ft 🌩️
CB Base
1,600 ft 🌩️
CB Base
1,600 ft 🌩️
CB Base
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:47Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:47Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:47Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:47Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:47Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:12Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:12Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:12Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:12Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:12Z
🌙
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
VFR
Wind
230° at 6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW016
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Southwest (230°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 1600 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 08:00Z - 12:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
5 km
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
FEW010 FEW016CB SCT030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be good at 5 km. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Few clouds at 1000 feet, Few clouds at 1600 feet, Scattered clouds at 3000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

📚 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.