TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast)

Details
Category: Weather Reports & Codes

A Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) is a short-term aviation weather forecast describing the expected weather conditions at an airfield over a defined future period, typically 24 or 30 hours. Unlike a METAR (current conditions), a TAF is predictive, helping pilots and planners decide when operations are likely to be possible.

TAFs are issued by meteorological authorities using a standardized, coded format and are always referenced in Zulu time (UTC).

What a TAF provides

A TAF forecasts:

  • Wind (direction, speed, gusts)
  • Visibility
  • Weather phenomena (rain, fog, snow, thunderstorms)
  • Cloud coverage and ceiling
  • Significant changes expected over time

It uses time blocks and change indicators to show how and when conditions will evolve.

Common TAF change groups

  • FM (From): Rapid, significant change from a specific time onward
  • BECMG (Becoming): Gradual change over a time window
  • TEMPO (Temporary): Short-duration fluctuations
  • PROB30 / PROB40: Probability of a condition occurring

These allow pilots to anticipate windows of opportunity or weather deterioration.

Example TAF

 
TAF LIRF 221100Z 2212/2312 24010KT 8000 SCT020 TEMPO 2214/2218 4000 SHRA BECMG 2220/2222 9999 NSW
 

Plain-language meaning:

  • Forecast for Rome Fiumicino
  • Valid from 22nd 12:00Z to 23rd 12:00Z
  • Wind 240° at 10 kt
  • Visibility 8 km, scattered clouds at 2,000 ft
  • Temporary rain showers reducing visibility between 14–18Z
  • Improving to good visibility, no significant weather after 20–22Z

Why TAF matters

  • Determines mission timing and recovery planning
  • Influences fuel planning and alternates
  • Critical for carrier recovery windows
  • Supports go / delay / divert decisions
  • Complements METAR by adding trend awareness

Application in DCS World

  • DCS does not dynamically generate real TAFs.
  • Mission weather is fixed or scripted, but cadets can:
    • Treat mission briefs as a static TAF
    • Plan departures and recoveries around predicted visibility and ceilings
    • Simulate weather deterioration or improvement across mission phases

Multiplayer units often create TAF-style forecasts to add realism and enforce planning discipline.

Training relevance for cadets

Cadets should learn to:

  • Read TAFs quickly and identify critical time windows
  • Correlate TAF forecasts with:
  • Avoid the classic error of planning on a single “good” METAR while ignoring a deteriorating TAF

Bottom line:
A METAR tells you what the weather is now.
A TAF tells you what it will become.