What does a TAF beginning with "SCT" indicate?

A TAF that begins with "SCT" indicates scattered clouds. In aviation meteorology, "SCT" is short for "scattered," which refers to clouds that cover between 1/8 to 4/8 of the sky. This term provides pilots and meteorologists with important information regarding cloud cover at an airport, which can impact visibility and flight operations.

When interpreting weather information in TAFs, the presence of scattered clouds implies that while there will be some cloud coverage, it does not completely obscure the sky. This can be significant for flight planning, as it suggests that the weather is generally favorable with good visibility compared to conditions that indicate overcast skies, which would be denoted by "OVC." Clear skies, indicated by another term, show no significant cloud cover, while heavy fog describes low visibility conditions but is not related to cloud cover itself. Understanding these nuances is essential for pilots to assess weather conditions accurately.