Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville

YBTL / TSV

Townsville, AU

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF YBTL 042326Z 0500/0600 12010KT 9999 SCT030 FM050200 07015KT 9999 FEW040 FM050800 11009KT 9999 FEW020 FM051400 18005KT 9999 SCT018 FM052300 12010KT 9999 SCT025

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
120°
SE
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
Wind Speed
10 kt
15 kt
15 kt
15 kt
15 kt
15 kt
15 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 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
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
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT030
FEW040
FEW040
FEW040
FEW040
FEW040
FEW040
FEW020
FEW020
FEW020
FEW020
FEW020
FEW020
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
SCT030
SCT030
SCT030
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:38Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:38Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:38Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:38Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:38Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:21Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:21Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:21Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:21Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:21Z
🌙
Night
🌙
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
120° at 10 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East-Southeast (120°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 3000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050200 02:00Z - 08:00Z
VFR
Wind
70° at 15 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East-Northeast (70°) at 15 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050800 08:00Z - 14:00Z
VFR
Wind
110° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East-Southeast (110°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 2000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM051400 14:00Z - 20:00Z
VFR
Wind
180° at 5 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT018
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (180°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 1800 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM052300 23:00Z - 05:00Z
VFR
Wind
120° at 10 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East-Southeast (120°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 2500 feet. 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.