Plain English Meaning

A short weather forecast for the area right around an airport, telling pilots what to expect at that airport over roughly the next day.

Full Definition

A Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) is a concise weather forecast issued for the airspace within a five statute mile radius of an airport, typically valid for 24 or 30 hours and updated four times per day. It describes expected surface wind, visibility, weather phenomena, and cloud conditions, including any forecast changes during the valid period.

Context Anchor

Pilots use TAFs during preflight weather planning, especially when deciding whether the , destination, or is suitable for the planned .