1.2 What is a TAF?
TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast) is an aviation forecast of expected weather conditions at an airport. Ordinarily the forecast goes out to 24 hours; however, specified International airports require TAFs go out to 30 hours.
The TAF includes a forecast of the following meteorological elements:
- Surface wind (speed and direction)
- Surface visibility
- Weather (drizzle, rain, hail, snow, ice pellets, etc.)
- Obstructions to vision (if any)
- Clouds (or vertical visibility into a surface-based obscuration)
- Low Level Wind Shear (LLWS)
Here is an example of a TAF product (forecast) disseminated by NWS Forecast Offices (WFOs).
TAFs include forecast conditions within 5 statute miles (SM) of the center of the runway complex at the specified airport.
TAFs may also include specified significant meteorological phenomena expected to occur in the airport's vicinity. In the United States, vicinity is defined as an area between circles (a donut) with radii of 5 and 10 SM from the center of the runway complex of an airport.