A TAF is a forecast covering approximately how many hours?

• A. 24–30 hours.
• B. 6–12 hours.
• C. 12–18 hours.
• D. 48–72 hours.

Answer: (A)

TAF forecasts are designed to cover the weather outlook for an airport’s terminal area over a window of about one day to a day and a half. In practice, this means a validity period of roughly 24 to 30 hours. That horizon strikes a balance: it’s long enough to help planning for most daily operations, yet short enough to keep forecasts reasonably accurate and up-to-date. Updates or amendments are issued if conditions change significantly, but the standard forecast window remains around 24–30 hours.

Choosing a window like 6–12 hours or 12–18 hours would be too short for the typical planning needs that a TAF supports, while 48–72 hours stretches beyond what a TAF is intended to provide.