Definition
A weather forecast prepared for a specific airport, describing expected surface wind, visibility, weather phenomena, and cloud conditions within a five statute mile radius of the airport over a defined period (typically 24 or 30 hours). In current FAA usage, terminal forecasts are issued as Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs).
Plain English
A weather forecast for a specific airport, telling you what wind, visibility, and clouds to expect there over the next day or so.
Context Anchor
Used during preflight weather planning, especially when checking conditions for the departure airport, destination airport, and any backup airport.
Derivation
Terminal' here means 'at the airport' — the end point of a flight, from the Latin terminus (boundary, end). So a terminal forecast is a forecast for the airport itself, not for the route between airports.
Why Pilots Care
They help pilots decide if conditions at the destination will support the planned approach or if an alternate airport is needed.
Intuition Check
“Terminal” does not mean the end of something here. It means the airport area being forecast. A terminal forecast is focused on weather near one airport, not the entire route.
Example Sentence 1
She checked the terminal forecasts for her destination and alternate before filing the IFR flight plan.
Example Sentence 2
Terminal forecasts showed gusty winds developing later, so the pilot adjusted the departure time.