Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport

ZSAM / XMN

Xiamen, CN

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF ZSAM 140904Z 1412/1512 12004MPS 5000 BR SCT010 BKN030 TX25/1506Z TN21/1421Z TEMPO 1415/1418 SHRA BKN010 FEW023CB OVC026 TEMPO 1422/1502 TSRA BKN006 FEW023CB OVC026 TEMPO 1506/1509 TSRA BKN008 FEW023CB OVC026 BECMG 1511/1512 06005MPS

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
13:00Z
+-1h
Thu
14:00Z
+0h
Thu
15:00Z
+1h
Thu
16:00Z
+2h
Thu
17:00Z
+3h
Thu
18:00Z
+4h
Thu
19:00Z
+5h
Thu
20:00Z
+6h
Thu
21:00Z
+7h
Thu
22:00Z
+8h
Thu
23:00Z
+9h
Fri
00:00Z
+10h
Fri
01:00Z
+11h
Fri
02:00Z
+12h
Fri
03:00Z
+13h
Fri
04:00Z
+14h
Fri
05:00Z
+15h
Fri
06:00Z
+16h
Fri
07:00Z
+17h
Fri
08:00Z
+18h
Fri
09:00Z
+19h
Fri
10:00Z
+20h
Wind Dir -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Wind Speed -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Visibility
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
Weather
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Showers Rain
SHRA
Showers Rain
SHRA
Showers Rain
SHRA
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Clouds
SCT010
BKN030
SCT010
BKN030
BKN010
FEW023CB
BKN010
FEW023CB
BKN010
FEW023CB
SCT010
BKN030
SCT010
BKN030
SCT010
BKN030
SCT010
BKN030
BKN006
FEW023CB
BKN006
FEW023CB
BKN006
FEW023CB
BKN006
FEW023CB
SCT010
BKN030
SCT010
BKN030
SCT010
BKN030
SCT010
BKN030
BKN008
FEW023CB
BKN008
FEW023CB
BKN008
FEW023CB
SCT010
BKN030
SCT010
BKN030
Ceiling
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules MVFR MVFR IFR IFR IFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR LIFR LIFR LIFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:38Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:38Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:38Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:38Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:38Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:20Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:20Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:20Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:20Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:20Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
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
Visibility
5 km
Weather
Mist
Clouds
SCT010 BKN030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Visibility will be good at 5 km. Weather conditions: Mist. Scattered clouds at 1000 feet, Broken clouds at 3000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 15:00Z - 18:00Z
IFR
Weather
Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN010 FEW023CB OVC026
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Weather conditions: Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 1000 feet, Few clouds at 2300 feet, Overcast skies at 2600 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

TEMPO 22:00Z - 02:00Z
LIFR
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN006 FEW023CB OVC026
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 600 feet, Few clouds at 2300 feet, Overcast skies at 2600 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

TEMPO 06:00Z - 09:00Z
LIFR
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN008 FEW023CB OVC026
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 800 feet, Few clouds at 2300 feet, Overcast skies at 2600 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

BECMG 11:00Z - 12:00Z
VFR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: 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.