LESSON3-TERMINAL AERODROME FORECAST(TAF)

The terminal aerodrome forecast(TAF) is a concise statement of the expected meteorological conditions at an airport during a specified period (usually 24Hr.)
The TAF covers a geographic area within a 5-SM radius of the airport´s center.
TAF´s are scheduled four times daily for 24-Hr.periods beginning at 0000Z,0600Z,1200Z and 1800Z.
A TAF contains the following sequence of elements in the following order (items 1-9).Forecast change indicators (items 10-12) and probability forecast (item 13) are used as

COMMUNICATIONS HEADER

1. Type of report
2.ICAO station identifier
3.Date and Time of origin
4.Valid period date and time

FORECAST OF METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS

5.Wind
6.Visibility
7.Weather
8.Sky condition
9.Wind shear(optional)

TIME ELEMENTS

10.Temporary (TEMPO)
11. From (FM)
12. Becoming (BECMG)
13. Probability (PROB)

TAF

KOKC 051130Z 051212 14008KT 5SM BR BKN030 WS018/32030KT TEMPO 1316 1 1/2SM BR FM1600 16010KT P6SM SKC BECMG 2224 20013G20KT 4SM SHRA OVC020

1. ROUTINE TERMINAL AERODROME FORECAST
2.OKLAHOMA CITY,OK
3.FORECAST PREPARED ON THE 5TH DAY AT 11:30 UTC(or Z)
4.FORECAST VALID FROM THE 5TH DAY AT 1200 UTC UNTIL 1200 UTC ON THE 6TH
5.WIND 140º TRUE AT 8 KT
6.VISIBILITY 5 SM
7.VISIBILITY OBSCURED BY MIST
8.CEILING 3,000 FT. BROKEN
9.LOW-LEVEL WIND SHEAR AT 1,800 FT.,WIND 320º TRUE AT 30 KT
10.TEMPORARY (SPOKEN AS OCCASIONAL)VISIBILITY 1 1/2 SM IN MIST BETWEEN 1300
     UTC AND 1600 UTC
11.FROM (OR AFTER) 1600 UTC,WIND 160º TRUE AT 10 KT.,VISIBILITY NORE THAN 6 SM
    SKY CLEAR
12.BECOMING(GRADUAL CHANGE) WIND 200º TRUE AT 13 KT.,GUSTS TO 20 KT.,
    VISIBILITY 4 SM IN MODERATE RAIN SHOWERS,CEILING 2,000FT.OVERCAST
    BETWEEN 2200 UTC AND 2400 UTC
13. PROBABILITY (40% CHANCE) BETWEEN 0000 UTC AND 0600 UTC OF VISIBILITY 2 SM,
     THUNDERSTORM,MODERATE RAIN,CEILING 800 FT. OVERCAST,CUMULONIMBUS
     CLOUDS (THE = SIGN INDICATES END OF FORECAST.)