Newcastle Airport

YWLM / NTL

Williamtown, AU

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF YWLM 150123Z 1502/1600 15008KT 9999 -SHRA SCT015 BKN025 FM150800 VRB03KT 9999 -SHRA SCT025 FM151400 31004KT 9999 -SHRA SCT010 BKN020 INTER 1502/1506 3000 SHRA BKN008 FEW020TCU PROB30 1514/1522 0300 FG

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Fri
04:00Z
+-1h
Fri
05:00Z
+0h
Fri
06:00Z
+1h
Fri
07:00Z
+2h
Fri
08:00Z
+3h
Fri
09:00Z
+4h
Fri
10:00Z
+5h
Fri
11:00Z
+6h
Fri
12:00Z
+7h
Fri
13:00Z
+8h
Fri
14:00Z
+9h
Fri
15:00Z
+10h
Fri
16:00Z
+11h
Fri
17:00Z
+12h
Fri
18:00Z
+13h
Fri
19:00Z
+14h
Fri
20:00Z
+15h
Fri
21:00Z
+16h
Fri
22:00Z
+17h
Wind Dir
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
Wind Speed
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
0.3 km
0.3 km
0.3 km
0.3 km
0.3 km
0.3 km
0.3 km
0.3 km
10+ km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Fog
FG
30%
Fog
FG
30%
Fog
FG
30%
Fog
FG
30%
Fog
FG
30%
Fog
FG
30%
Fog
FG
30%
Fog
FG
30%
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Clouds
SCT015
BKN025
SCT015
BKN025
SCT015
BKN025
SCT015
BKN025
SCT025
SCT025
SCT025
SCT025
SCT025
SCT025
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
SCT015
BKN025
Ceiling
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
2,500 ft
AGL
Flight Rules MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR MVFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:51Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:51Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:51Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:51Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:51Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:08Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:08Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:08Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:08Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:08Z
🌙
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
MVFR
Wind
150° at 8 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT015 BKN025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southeast (150°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 1500 feet, Broken clouds at 2500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM150800 08:00Z - 14:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 2500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM151400 14:00Z - 20:00Z
LIFR
Wind
310° at 4 kt
Visibility
3 km
Weather
Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT010 BKN020 BKN008 FEW020TCU
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northwest (310°) at 4 kt. Visibility will be moderate at 3 km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 1000 feet, Broken clouds at 2000 feet, Broken clouds at 800 feet, Few clouds at 2000 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

PROB30 14:00Z - 22:00Z
LIFR
Visibility
0.3 km
Weather
Fog
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be poor at 0.3 km. Weather conditions: Fog. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument 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.