Cairns International Airport

YBCS / CNS

Cairns, AU

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF AMD YBCS 040522Z 0406/0506 13019KT 9999 FEW030 FM040900 18010KT 9999 -SHRA SCT020 FM050000 13015KT 9999 -SHRA SCT025 INTER 0414/0503 5000 SHRA BKN015

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
07:00Z
+-1h
Sat
08:00Z
+0h
Sat
09:00Z
+1h
Sat
10:00Z
+2h
Sat
11:00Z
+3h
Sat
12:00Z
+4h
Sat
13:00Z
+5h
Sat
14:00Z
+6h
Sat
15:00Z
+7h
Sat
16:00Z
+8h
Sat
17:00Z
+9h
Sat
18:00Z
+10h
Sat
19:00Z
+11h
Sat
20:00Z
+12h
Sat
21:00Z
+13h
Sat
22:00Z
+14h
Sat
23:00Z
+15h
Sun
00:00Z
+16h
Sun
01:00Z
+17h
Sun
02:00Z
+18h
Sun
03:00Z
+19h
Sun
04:00Z
+20h
Wind Dir
130°
SE
130°
SE
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
Wind Speed
19 kt
19 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
19 kt
19 kt
19 kt
19 kt
19 kt
19 kt
19 kt
19 kt
19 kt
15 kt
15 kt
15 kt
15 kt
15 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
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain
-SHRA SHRA
Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain
-SHRA SHRA
Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain
-SHRA SHRA
Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain
-SHRA SHRA
Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain
-SHRA SHRA
Clouds
FEW030
FEW030
SCT020
SCT020
SCT020
SCT020
SCT020
SCT020
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
SCT025
BKN015
SCT025
BKN015
SCT025
BKN015
SCT025
BKN015
SCT025
BKN015
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌅 06:34Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:34Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:25Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:25Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:25Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:25Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:25Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:34Z
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
130° at 19 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Southeast (130°) at 19 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 3000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM040900 09:00Z - 15:00Z
VFR
Wind
180° at 10 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (180°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050000 00:00Z - 06:00Z
MVFR
Wind
130° at 15 kt
Visibility
5 km
Weather
Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT025 BKN015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southeast (130°) at 15 kt. Visibility will be good at 5 km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 2500 feet, Broken clouds at 1500 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.