Cartwright Airport

CYCA / YRF

Cartwright, CA

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF CYCA 261940Z 2620/2708 04008KT P6SM SCT080 TEMPO 2620/2621 VRB20G30KT P6SM -SHRA BKN080 PROB30 2620/2621 2 1/2SM TSRA BR OVC060CB FM262100 36008KT P6SM BKN080 TEMPO 2621/2701 P6SM -SHRA PROB30 2621/2701 VRB20G30KT 2 1/2SM TSRA BR OVC010CB FM270100 36005KT P6SM -SHRA SCT003 BKN050 TEMPO 2701/2708 5SM -SHRA BR PROB30 2701/2708 2SM -SHRA BR OVC003 RMK FCST BASED ON AUTO OBS. NXT FCST BY 270200Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Fri
20:00Z
+-1h
Fri
21:00Z
+0h
Fri
22:00Z
+1h
Fri
23:00Z
+2h
Sat
00:00Z
+3h
Sat
01:00Z
+4h
Sat
02:00Z
+5h
Sat
03:00Z
+6h
Sat
04:00Z
+7h
Sat
05:00Z
+8h
Sat
06:00Z
+9h
Wind Dir
40°
NE
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
Wind Speed
8 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
1/2SM
1/2SM
1/2SM
1/2SM
2SM
2SM
2SM
2SM
2SM
2SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
TSRA BR
30%
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
TSRA BR
30%
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
TSRA BR
30%
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
TSRA BR
30%
Light Showers Rain, Mist, FCST, FCST
-SHRA BR FCST FCST
30%
Light Showers Rain, Mist, FCST, FCST
-SHRA BR FCST FCST
30%
Light Showers Rain, Mist, FCST, FCST
-SHRA BR FCST FCST
30%
Light Showers Rain, Mist, FCST, FCST
-SHRA BR FCST FCST
30%
Light Showers Rain, Mist, FCST, FCST
-SHRA BR FCST FCST
30%
Light Showers Rain, Mist, FCST, FCST
-SHRA BR FCST FCST
30%
Clouds
SCT080
OVC010CB
OVC010CB
OVC010CB
OVC010CB
OVC003
OVC003
OVC003
OVC003
OVC003
OVC003
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR IFR IFR IFR IFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR
Day/Night
🌇
Dusk
🌇 19:36Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:36Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:23Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:23Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 04:23Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:23Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:23Z
Flight Rules
VFR: Visual Flight Rules
MVFR: Marginal VFR
IFR: Instrument Flight Rules
LIFR: Low IFR
Ceiling Colors
Red: < 500ft
Amber: 500-1000ft
Blue: 1000-3000ft
Green: > 3000ft
⛈️ TCU: Towering Cumulus
🌩️ CB: Cumulonimbus
+Nh: Hours from now%: Probability of occurrenceAGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
40° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Northeast (40°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 8000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 20:00Z - 21:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 20 kt
Gusts: 30 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds will be variable in direction at 20 kt. Gusts up to 30 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 8000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 20:00Z - 21:00Z
IFR
Visibility
1/2SM
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
Clouds
OVC060CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be moderate at 1/2SM. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain, Mist. Overcast skies at 6000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM262100 21:00Z - 03:00Z
VFR
Wind
360° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (360°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 8000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 21:00Z - 01:00Z
VFR
Visibility
>6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 21:00Z - 01:00Z
IFR
Wind
VRB° at 20 kt
Gusts: 30 kt
Visibility
1/2SM
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
Clouds
OVC010CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Winds will be variable in direction at 20 kt. Gusts up to 30 kt are expected. Visibility will be moderate at 1/2SM. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain, Mist. Overcast skies at 1000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM270100 01:00Z - 07:00Z
VFR
Wind
360° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT003 BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (360°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 300 feet, Broken clouds at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 01:00Z - 08:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
5SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain, Mist
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be good at 5SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain, Mist. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

PROB30 01:00Z - 08:00Z
LIFR
Visibility
2SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain, Mist, FCST, FCST
Clouds
OVC003
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be moderate at 2SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain, Mist, FCST, FCST. Overcast skies at 300 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

📚 Understanding TAF Forecasts

Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) provides detailed weather forecasts specifically for aviation operations. Our system translates complex meteorological codes into plain English to help pilots of all experience levels understand forecasted conditions.

What TAF Includes:

  • • Wind direction, speed, and gusts
  • • Visibility in statute miles or kilometers
  • • Weather phenomena (rain, snow, fog, thunderstorms)
  • • Cloud coverage types and altitudes
  • • Forecast changes with timing
  • • Flight rules categories (VFR/IFR)

Change Indicators Explained:

  • BASE - Main forecast conditions
  • FM - Permanent change from specific time
  • BECMG - Gradual change over 2-4 hours
  • TEMPO - Temporary changes (less than 1 hour)
  • PROB30/40 - 30% or 40% probability

🛩️ Flight Rules Categories

VFR

Visual Flight Rules

  • • Ceiling ≥ 3000 ft
  • • Visibility ≥ 5 miles
  • • Good for visual flying

MVFR

Marginal VFR

  • • Ceiling 1000-3000 ft
  • • Visibility 3-5 miles
  • • Caution for VFR

IFR

Instrument Flight Rules

  • • Ceiling 500-1000 ft
  • • Visibility 1-3 miles
  • • Instruments required

LIFR

Low IFR

  • • Ceiling < 500 ft
  • • Visibility < 1 mile
  • • Challenging conditions

💡 TAF Reading Tips

For Student Pilots:

  • • Focus on the plain English explanations above
  • • Pay attention to flight rules categories
  • • Look for wind direction relative to runway headings
  • • Check for temporary conditions (TEMPO)

For Experienced Pilots:

  • • Cross-reference with raw TAF for precise timing
  • • Consider probability forecasts for alternate planning
  • • Monitor BECMG periods for gradual changes
  • • Always check current METAR vs TAF forecast

Important: TAF forecasts should always be supplemented with current METAR observations, PIREPs, and other weather information for complete situational awareness. Weather can change rapidly, and forecasts have inherent limitations.