Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville

YBTL / TSV

Townsville, AU

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF YBTL 150105Z 1502/1600 11017KT 9999 FEW030 SCT045 FM150800 13012KT 9999 FEW030 FM151300 16009KT 9999 SCT025

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
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
Wind Speed
17 kt
17 kt
17 kt
17 kt
17 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
17 kt
17 kt
17 kt
17 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
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW030
SCT045
FEW030
SCT045
FEW030
SCT045
FEW030
SCT045
FEW030
SCT045
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
SCT025
SCT025
SCT025
SCT025
SCT025
SCT025
FEW030
SCT045
FEW030
SCT045
FEW030
SCT045
FEW030
SCT045
Ceiling
🌤️ 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
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:31Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:31Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:31Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:31Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:31Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:28Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:28Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:28Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:28Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:28Z
🌙
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
110° at 17 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW030 SCT045
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East-Southeast (110°) at 17 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 3000 feet, Scattered clouds at 4500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM150800 08:00Z - 14:00Z
VFR
Wind
130° at 12 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southeast (130°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 3000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM151300 13:00Z - 19:00Z
VFR
Wind
160° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southeast (160°) at 9 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.