TAFs, or Terminal Area Forecast, is the standardised format for publishing weather forecasts in aviation. For anyone learning to fly (and some experienced pilots too), they’ll need to know the codes, structure and meaning of a TAF to understand how the weather will impact on their flights. The UK Met Office has published this handy guide that explains each part of the TAF. The guide is available here. Due to the standardised structure, this guide is equally applicable to the TAFs published for Irish Airports.
In Ireland, Met Éireann is the only organisation that is certified to issue such aviation forecast products with an overall objective of ensuring the safety and efficiency of aviation in Irish airspace. Their Aviation Forecast desk operates 24/7; it is staffed every day and night of the year, providing weather forecasts and warnings to aircraft flying in Irish airspace and to the Irish airports.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has specific standards and regulations that Met Éireann must follow when producing and issuing forecasts and warnings for aviation. Meteorologists produce TAFs for all of the major airports in Ireland, and also for a number of regional airports. Shannon, Dublin, Knock (Ireland West) and Cork International Airports are provided with 24-hour TAFs updated four times a day. A short-term forecast focused on landing conditions, called a TREND, is also issued every thirty minutes for each of these airports, giving a statement of significant changes in weather expected over the following two hours. TAFs are also provided to Sligo, Donegal, Kerry, Waterford and Casement Aerodrome at regular intervals; these have a shorter focus of 9 hours ahead. The information provided in a TAF includes wind speed and direction, precipitation type, visibility, cloud amount and cloud height.
Local warnings are issued for aerodromes when weather conditions that have the potential to affect operations, such as strong winds, thunderstorms, frost or snow, are likely. Aviation forecasters also provide extended forecasts for Dublin Airport that extend out to 4 or 5 days and highlight the risks of fog, heavy rain, crosswinds, snow and ice, enabling the airport and airline operations to plan accordingly.
Met Éireann also issues warnings for significant meteorological phenomena that might be encountered in-flight within Irish airspace. These warnings are called SIGMETs and indicate the presence or forecast the likelihood of hazards to aviation such as severe turbulence, severe icing, thunderstorms, severe mountain waves and volcanic ash. Aviation forecasters provide specialised forecasts, both written and verbal, for Search and Rescue, Air Corps and give verbal briefings to General Aviation pilots and balloon operators if required.
Every 6 hours, meteorologists will also issue a Low Level Significant Weather Chart. The chart extends up to 10,000ft and includes a graphic on which Ireland, the UK and surrounding areas are divided into areas based on the expected weather. Text is then used to describe the weather in each area in detail, including weather type, visibility, cloud amounts and height as well as highlighting the risk of icing and turbulence.
You can download a copy of the UK Met Office TAF Guide HERE.
