Pickle Lake Airport

CYPL / YPL

Pickle Lake, CA

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF AMD CYPL 121709Z 1217/1302 22005KT P6SM BKN020 TEMPO 1217/1218 BKN025 FM121800 16006KT P6SM FEW025 BECMG 1222/1224 13010KT RMK FCST BASED ON AUTO OBS. NXT FCST BY 122000Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
19:00Z
+-1h
Thu
20:00Z
+0h
Thu
21:00Z
+1h
Thu
22:00Z
+2h
Thu
23:00Z
+3h
Fri
00:00Z
+4h
Wind Dir
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
Wind Speed
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
FCST, FCST
FCST FCST
FCST, FCST
FCST FCST
FCST, FCST
FCST FCST
Clouds
BKN020
BKN020
BKN020
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
Ceiling
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌇 17:42Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
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
MVFR
Wind
220° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 2000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 17:00Z - 18:00Z
MVFR
Clouds
BKN025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Broken clouds at 2500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM121800 18:00Z - 00:00Z
VFR
Wind
160° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southeast (160°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 2500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 22:00Z - 00:00Z
VFR
Wind
130° at 10 kt
Weather
FCST, FCST
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Southeast (130°) at 10 kt. Weather conditions: FCST, FCST. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) 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.