Spangdahlem Air Base

ETAD / SPM

Trier, DE

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF ETAD 141745Z 1418/1600 17009KT 9999 BKN020 QNH2993INS BECMG 1420/1421 21012G20KT 9999 BKN012 QNH2987INS BECMG 1423/1500 22012G25KT 9000 SHRA BKN010 OVC015 QNH2983INS BECMG 1506/1507 24015G30KT 9000 SHRA OVC022 QNH2985INS BECMG 1511/1512 24015G30KT 9999 NSW FEW010 SCT020 QNH2992INS BECMG 1516/1517 24012G25KT 9999 NSW BKN030 QNH2993INS TX17/1515Z TN15/1509Z LAST NO AMDS AFT 1418 NEXT 1504

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sun
21:00Z
+-1h
Sun
22:00Z
+0h
Sun
23:00Z
+1h
Mon
00:00Z
+2h
Mon
01:00Z
+3h
Mon
02:00Z
+4h
Mon
03:00Z
+5h
Mon
04:00Z
+6h
Mon
05:00Z
+7h
Mon
06:00Z
+8h
Mon
07:00Z
+9h
Mon
08:00Z
+10h
Mon
09:00Z
+11h
Mon
10:00Z
+12h
Mon
11:00Z
+13h
Mon
12:00Z
+14h
Mon
13:00Z
+15h
Mon
14:00Z
+16h
Mon
15:00Z
+17h
Mon
16:00Z
+18h
Mon
17:00Z
+19h
Mon
18:00Z
+20h
Mon
19:00Z
+21h
Mon
20:00Z
+22h
Mon
21:00Z
+23h
Mon
22:00Z
+24h
Wind Dir
170°
S
170°
S
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
Wind Speed
9kt
9kt
12kt
G25kt
12kt
G25kt
12kt
G25kt
12kt
G25kt
12kt
G25kt
12kt
G25kt
12kt
G25kt
15kt
G30kt
15kt
G30kt
15kt
G30kt
15kt
G30kt
15kt
G30kt
15kt
G30kt
15kt
G30kt
15kt
G30kt
15kt
G30kt
15kt
G30kt
12kt
G25kt
12kt
G25kt
12kt
G25kt
12kt
G25kt
12kt
G25kt
12kt
G25kt
12kt
G25kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
9 km
9 km
9 km
9 km
9 km
9 km
9 km
9 km
9 km
9 km
9 km
9 km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
1.504 km
1.504 km
1.504 km
1.504 km
1.504 km
1.504 km
1.504 km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Showers Rain
SHRA
Showers Rain
SHRA
Showers Rain
SHRA
Showers Rain
SHRA
Showers Rain
SHRA
Showers Rain
SHRA
Showers Rain
SHRA
Showers Rain
SHRA
Showers Rain
SHRA
Showers Rain
SHRA
Showers Rain
SHRA
Showers Rain
SHRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
BKN020
BKN020
BKN010
OVC015
BKN010
OVC015
BKN010
OVC015
BKN010
OVC015
BKN010
OVC015
BKN010
OVC015
BKN010
OVC015
OVC022
OVC022
OVC022
OVC022
OVC022
FEW010
SCT020
FEW010
SCT020
FEW010
SCT020
FEW010
SCT020
FEW010
SCT020
BKN030
BKN030
BKN030
BKN030
BKN030
BKN030
BKN030
Ceiling
2000ft
AGL
2000ft
AGL
1000ft
AGL
1000ft
AGL
1000ft
AGL
1000ft
AGL
1000ft
AGL
1000ft
AGL
1000ft
AGL
2200ft
AGL
2200ft
AGL
2200ft
AGL
2200ft
AGL
2200ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
3000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
Flight Rules MVFR MVFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:49
🌙
Night
🌅 05:49
🌙
Night
🌅 05:49
☀️
Day
🌅 05:49
☀️
Day
🌅 05:49
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:10
☀️
Day
🌇 18:10
☀️
Day
🌇 18:10
🌙
Night
🌇 18:10
🌙
Night
🌇 18:10
🌙
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
170° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South (170°) at 9kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 2000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 2025-10-14 20:00:00 - 2025-10-14 21:00:00
MVFR
Wind
210° at 12 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN012
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South-Southwest (210°) at 12kt. Gusts up to 20kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 1200 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 2025-09-14 23:00:00 - 2025-09-15 00:00:00
IFR
Wind
220° at 12 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
9 km
Weather
Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN010 OVC015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 12kt. Gusts up to 25kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 9 km. Weather conditions: Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 1000 feet, Overcast skies at 1500 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 2025-09-15 06:00:00 - 2025-09-15 07:00:00
MVFR
Wind
240° at 15 kt
Gusts: 30 kt
Visibility
9 km
Weather
Showers Rain
Clouds
OVC022
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West-Southwest (240°) at 15kt. Gusts up to 30kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 9 km. Weather conditions: Showers Rain. Overcast skies at 2200 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 2025-09-15 11:00:00 - 2025-09-15 12:00:00
VFR
Wind
240° at 15 kt
Gusts: 30 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW010 SCT020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West-Southwest (240°) at 15kt. Gusts up to 30kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 1000 feet, Scattered clouds at 2000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 2025-09-15 16:00:00 - 2025-09-15 17:00:00
LIFR
Wind
240° at 12 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
1.504 km
Clouds
BKN030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West-Southwest (240°) at 12kt. Gusts up to 25kt are expected. Visibility will be moderate at 1.504 km. Broken clouds at 3000 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.