Can someone help translate this TAFOTBD 131545Z 1318/1424 35015KT CAVOK BECMG 1406/1408 35015G25KT TEMPO 1406/1415 3000 BLDU SKCIt's the predicted weather in Doha (OTBD)Ok I understand 99% of it, the only bit I dont get is 1318/1424 and Tempo 1406/1415Cheers

Can someone help translate this TAFOTBD 131545Z 1318/1424 35015KT CAVOK BECMG 1406/1408 35015G25KT TEMPO 1406/1415 3000 BLDU SKCIt's the predicted weather in Doha (OTBD)Ok I understand 99% of it, the only bit I dont get is 1318/1424 and Tempo 1406/1415Cheers

The 1318/1424 are the date and time the TAF is valid...(18th of the month @ 1300z to the 14th of the month @ 2400z or 0000z). It also says the length of the TAF...in this case it is a 30 hr TAF.Then the TEMPO means that the observations that follow are temporary and are constrained by the times that follow the TEMPO tag.In other wards those observations are only valid for the date and time of the 14th of the month @ 0600z to the 14th of the month @ 1500z.

The 1318/1424 are the date and time the TAF is valid...(18th of the month @ 1300z to the 14th of the month @ 2400z or 0000z). It also says the length of the TAF...in this case it is a 30 hr TAF.Then the TEMPO means that the observations that follow are temporary and are constrained by the times that follow the TEMPO tag.In other wards those observations are only valid for the date and time of the 14th of the month @ 0600z to the 14th of the month @ 1500z.

Very nice, thanks mate! here's how I was getting confused. (131545Z) I wrongly assumed that was the date and time, 13 being todays date, 1545Z being 3:45pm that the conditions were expected.

Cool info, personally I have never learned to read a METAR and is still as foreign as reading Braille. Anyone feel like finishing the explanation on the rest of it? :(

Cool info, personally I have never learned to read a METAR and is still as foreign as reading Braille. Anyone feel like finishing the explanation on the rest of it? :(

Hey Dan,It's pretty simple once you get used to it.OTBD 131545Z 1318/1424 35015KT CAVOK BECMG 1406/1408 35015G25KT TEMPO 1406/1415 3000 BLDU SKCWinds are 350/15 knots CAVOK (Clear skies) Becoming Winds 350/15 knots Gusts to 25 Knots (FUN) Visibilty 3000 meters blowing dust.SKC (Sky Clear)

Here is the NWS METAR/TAF Decode Card: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/oso/oso1/oso12/document/guide.shtml

Thanks. So CAVOK and SKC mean the same thing basically?

Nope, you can have a clear sky and obstruction to visibility such as haze or smoke.

Nice, thanks Dan. I was looking to lengthen this post for bookmarked reference but that link looks like a keeper.

Nice, thanks Dan. I was looking to lengthen this post for bookmarked reference but that link looks like a keeper.

Thanks for the link :( Delhi is a great example of bad visibilty despite there not being a cloud in the sky. I've flown into VIDP a countless number of times to refuel on the way into the far east and the Vis never seems to get above two miles max

CAVOK is a very specific thing. Ceiling and Visibility is OK. You have CAVOK flying VFR, and have a forecast of it staying that way, no need to worry about minimums and alternates. Your destination is not CAVOK, then you must do diligence, make the proper preparations that will insure you will be able to land, rated to perform the necessary approach, and have a suitable alternate should the airport fall into a condition where you are not rated to fly the necessary approach.

To make it definitive, CAVOK is: Visibility, 10km or more; no cloud below 1500m (5000ft) or below the highest minimum sector altitude, whichever is greater, and no cumunolimbus; and no weather of significance to aviation (taken from Brazilian AIS website http://www.aisweb.aer.mil.br/aisweb/ )And according to US AIP, U.S. controllers do not use the term “CAVOK.” However, the ceiling/sky condition, visibility, and obstructions to vision may be omitted if the ceiling is above 5,000 feet and the visibility is more than 5 miles.

Another one for you Dan - http://www.dauntless-soft.com/products/Freebies/WeatherDecoder/John Ellison

Thanks John. Now we have the resources, the next thing for me personally is to upgrade my % of retainability :(

Very nice, thanks mate! here's how I was getting confused. (131545Z) I wrongly assumed that was the date and time, 13 being todays date, 1545Z being 3:45pm that the conditions were expected.

Actually you are partly right. You interpreted the time right as being the 13th of the month and being at 15:45z but instead of having the conditions be expected at that time. That is the time that the TAF was issued or made....then the other times tell you when to expect what weather at what time. Also, I don't know where that airport is but zulu time will not correspond to regular time unless you are in one timezone; and I think that is in Europe somewhere. For example. Here in the States in Central time; 15:45z time is 10:45 am local time. You have to correct for whatever time zone you are in. each time zone will have a correction such as this...In Central standard time zulu time conversion will use this formula, (local time + 5 = zulu time). In other time zones that "5" will change to another number and in some cases that "+" sign will change to a "-". Google has a bunch of time converters.