Terminal Area Forecasts (TAFs)
Terminal Area Forecasts, commonly known as TAFs, are official weather forecast reports issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) for specific airports around the world. Unlike METARs which report current weather conditions, TAFs provide predictions for future periods.
TAFs typically cover a 24-30 hour period and are updated every six hours for major civil airports at 0000, 0600, 1200, and 1800 UTC. However, military TAFs are updated every three hours. The reports include detailed information about forecasted visibility, cloud cover, and precipitation.
TAFs are essential for aviation safety as they help pilots and air traffic controllers to make informed decisions and anticipate weather-related challenges. By consulting TAFs, pilots can adjust their flight plans accordingly, allowing for safe takeoffs, landings, and overall flight operations.
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