Part 107 Test / Study guides

How to read a TAF for the Part 107 test

Updated October 6, 2026 · 3 min read · Checked against the FAA Aviation Weather Handbook and the Remote Pilot Study Guide

In short: a TAF is a forecast for the area within 5 statute miles of an airport, usually for 24 or 30 hours. It uses the same codes as a METAR, plus change groups: FM (from this time on), BECMG (changing gradually), TEMPO (temporary, on and off) and PROB30 or PROB40 (a 30 or 40% chance).

If you can read a METAR, you can read most of a TAF. The new part is time: a TAF describes several periods, and test questions ask what is expected at one of them. The skill is finding the right period, then decoding it like a METAR. If METARs are new to you, start with how to read a METAR.

A forecast from the test, decoded

This is the Oklahoma City forecast from the FAA testing supplement:

KOKC 051130Z 0512/0618 14008KT 5SM BR BKN030
     TEMPO 0513/0516 1 1/2SM BR
     FM051600 18010KT P6SM SKC
     BECMG 0522/0524 20013G20KT 4SM SHRA OVC020
     PROB40 0600/0606 2SM TSRA OVC008CB
     BECMG 0606/0608 21015KT P6SM SCT040=
LineMeaning
KOKC 051130ZOklahoma City, issued on the 5th at 11:30 UTC.
0512/0618Valid from 12:00 UTC on the 5th to 18:00 UTC on the 6th: 30 hours.
14008KT 5SM BR BKN030At the start: wind from 140° at 8 knots, visibility 5 miles in mist, broken clouds at 3,000 feet AGL (the ceiling).
TEMPO 0513/0516 1 1/2SM BRFrom 13:00 to 16:00 UTC on the 5th, visibility will at times drop to 1½ miles in mist.
FM051600 18010KT P6SM SKCFrom 16:00 UTC on the 5th, everything changes: wind from 180° at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, sky clear.
BECMG 0522/0524 20013G20KT 4SM SHRA OVC020Gradually, between 22:00 and 24:00 UTC, becoming wind from 200° at 13 gusting 20 knots, 4 miles in rain showers, overcast at 2,000 feet.
PROB40 0600/0606 2SM TSRA OVC008CBA 40% chance, from 00:00 to 06:00 UTC on the 6th, of 2 miles in thunderstorms with rain and overcast cumulonimbus at 800 feet.
BECMG 0606/0608 21015KT P6SM SCT040Between 06:00 and 08:00 UTC on the 6th, becoming wind from 210° at 15 knots, more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet.

The four change groups

  • FM (from): a rapid, lasting change. Everything before it is replaced from that time on, so read only the new group for later times.
  • BECMG (becoming): a gradual change during the period given, usually two hours or less. Only the elements listed change; the rest carry over.
  • TEMPO (temporary): conditions that come and go, each spell lasting less than an hour, for less than half of the period. The main forecast still applies the rest of the time.
  • PROB30, PROB40: a 30% or 40% chance of the conditions during the period, usually thunderstorms or rain.

One code you will not see in a U.S. METAR: P6SM means visibility more than 6 statute miles. The = at the very end just marks the end of the forecast.

A method that works for every TAF question

  1. Check the valid period (0512/0618). The question's time must fall inside it.
  2. Find the last FM group before that time. That is your base forecast.
  3. Apply any BECMG that has finished by then, changing only what it lists.
  4. Note any TEMPO or PROB covering the time as possible, not certain.

Example: what is forecast at KOKC at 18:00 UTC on the 5th? The last FM before then is FM051600, so: wind 180° at 10 knots, more than 6 miles, sky clear. The BECMG at 22:00 has not started yet.

Mistakes that cost points

  1. Reading the valid period as hours of one day. 0512/0618 is day 5 at 12Z to day 6 at 18Z.
  2. Treating TEMPO as the new forecast. It only interrupts the main forecast.
  3. Missing the "more than" in P6SM. Visibility is above 6 miles, not exactly 6.
  4. Forgetting heights are AGL. OVC008CB is 800 feet above the ground.

Check yourself

Six questions on the TAFs from the FAA testing supplement:

Question 1 of 6 · Weather

Figure 15. Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAF), from the FAA testing supplement
KMEM 121720Z 1218/1324 20012KT 5SM HZ BKN030 PROB40 1220/1222 1SM TSRA OVC008CB FM122200 33015G20KT P6SM BKN015 OVC025 PROB40 1220/1222 3SM SHRA FM120200 35012KT OVC008 PROB40 1202/1205 2SM-RASN BECMG 1306/1308 02008KT BKN012 BECMG 1310/1312 00000KT 3SM BR SKC TEMPO 1212/1214 1/2SM FG FM131600 VRB06KT P6SM SKC=
KOKC 051130Z 0512/0618 14008KT 5SM BR BKN030 TEMPO 0513/0516 1 1/2SM BR FM051600 18010KT P6SM SKC BECMG 0522/0524 20013G20KT 4SM SHRA OVC020 PROB40 0600/0606 2SM TSRA OVC008CB BECMG 0606/0608 21015KT P6SM SCT040=

(Refer to Figure 15.) What is the valid period of the TAF for KMEM?

  1. A1200Z on the 12th to 2400Z on the 13th
  2. B1800Z on the 12th to 2400Z on the 13th
  3. C1720Z on the 12th to 1720Z on the 13th
Show answer

B. 1800Z on the 12th to 2400Z on the 13th

1218/1324 means from the 12th at 1800Z to the 13th at 2400Z. 121720Z is when the forecast was issued.

Source: FAA-CT-8080-2H, Figure 15; Remote Pilot Study Guide, Ch. 3a

Question 2 of 6 · Weather

Figure 15 is above

(Refer to Figure 15.) In the KMEM TAF, what wind is forecast to develop between 1000Z and 1200Z on the 13th?

  1. ACalm
  2. BFrom 020° at 8 knots
  3. CVariable at 6 knots
Show answer

A. Calm

BECMG 1310/1312 00000KT forecasts the wind becoming calm (00000KT) between 1000Z and 1200Z on the 13th.

Source: FAA-CT-8080-2H, Figure 15; Remote Pilot Study Guide, Ch. 3a

Question 3 of 6 · Weather

Figure 15 is above

(Refer to Figure 15.) In the KMEM TAF, what does "PROB40 1220/1222 1SM TSRA OVC008CB" forecast?

  1. AThunderstorms will definitely occur for 40 minutes
  2. BA 40 percent chance, between 2000Z and 2200Z, of 1 SM visibility in thunderstorms with rain and an 800-foot overcast with cumulonimbus
  3. CRain showers at 1 SM with clouds at 8,000 feet
Show answer

B. A 40 percent chance, between 2000Z and 2200Z, of 1 SM visibility in thunderstorms with rain and an 800-foot overcast with cumulonimbus

PROB40 gives a 40 percent probability during the stated period (1220/1222). TSRA is a thunderstorm with rain, and OVC008CB is an overcast at 800 feet with cumulonimbus.

Source: FAA-CT-8080-2H, Figure 15; Remote Pilot Study Guide, Ch. 3a

Question 4 of 6 · Weather

Figure 15 is above

(Refer to Figure 15.) What conditions are forecast at KOKC from 1600Z on the 5th?

  1. AWind 180° at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 SM, sky clear
  2. BWind 140° at 8 knots, visibility 5 SM in mist, broken at 3,000 feet
  3. CWind 200° at 13 knots gusting to 20, visibility 4 SM in rain showers
Show answer

A. Wind 180° at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 SM, sky clear

FM051600 18010KT P6SM SKC: from 1600Z on the 5th, wind 180° at 10 knots, visibility greater than 6 SM, sky clear.

Source: FAA-CT-8080-2H, Figure 15; Remote Pilot Study Guide, Ch. 3a

Question 5 of 6 · Weather

Figure 15 is above

(Refer to Figure 15.) What does "TEMPO 0513/0516 1 1/2SM BR" in the KOKC TAF mean?

  1. ABetween 1300Z and 1600Z on the 5th, visibility will temporarily drop to 1-1/2 SM in mist
  2. BFrom 1300Z the visibility becomes 1-1/2 SM permanently
  3. CBroken clouds at 1,500 feet between 1300Z and 1600Z
Show answer

A. Between 1300Z and 1600Z on the 5th, visibility will temporarily drop to 1-1/2 SM in mist

TEMPO describes temporary fluctuations, each expected to last less than an hour, within the stated period.

Source: FAA-CT-8080-2H, Figure 15; Remote Pilot Study Guide, Ch. 3a

Question 6 of 6 · Weather

In a TAF, "P6SM" means the forecast visibility is

  1. Agreater than 6 statute miles
  2. B6 statute miles with precipitation
  3. Cpossibly 6 statute miles
Show answer

A. greater than 6 statute miles

P6SM means plus 6 statute miles: visibility greater than 6 SM.

Source: Remote Pilot Study Guide, Ch. 3a

Every TAF and METAR question on the test, in the app. The figures re-set as crisp text, with a decode of every answer.

Coming soon to iPhone and Android

Sources

The forecast is reproduced from the FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Supplement, a U.S. Government publication. Part 107 Test is not affiliated with the FAA.