Definition
A Terminal Aerodrome Forecast is a concise statement of the expected weather conditions at an airport during a specified period, typically covering a 5-statute-mile radius from the runway complex. A TAF includes forecast wind, visibility, weather phenomena, sky condition, and any expected significant changes during the valid period. Most TAFs are issued four times daily and are valid for 24 or 30 hours.
Plain English
A short weather forecast for a specific airport, telling pilots what to expect at and immediately around that airport over the next day or so.
Context Anchor
Pilots check TAFs during preflight weather planning, especially for the departure airport, destination airport, and any planned backup airport.
Derivation
Terminal refers to the airport itself — the end point of a flight. Aerodrome is an older British term for an airport (from the Greek roots aer, meaning air, and dromos, meaning course or running place — literally 'a place where things run through the air'). So a Terminal Aerodrome Forecast is simply a forecast for an airport.
Why Pilots Care
TAFs help pilots decide whether current or forecast weather supports a safe arrival, whether an alternate airport is required, and whether delays or cancellations may be needed.
Intuition Check
Do not read “terminal” as the airport building. In TAF, “terminal” means the airport area where aircraft arrive, depart, and operate.
Example Sentence 1
The TAF for the destination showed deteriorating visibility after 0300Z, so the pilot filed an alternate.
Example Sentence 2
Updated TAFs showed ceilings lifting above minimums, confirming the approach would be legal.