Laurence G Hanscom Field

KBED / BED

Bedford, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KBED 041732Z 0418/0518 25005KT P6SM FEW250 FM050300 00000KT 3SM BR BKN010 FM050700 23003KT 1SM BR BKN008 TEMPO 0507/0510 1/4SM FG FM051400 01003KT 4SM BR OVC008 FM051600 04006KT 6SM BR OVC010

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
19:00Z
+-1h
Wed
20:00Z
+0h
Wed
21:00Z
+1h
Wed
22:00Z
+2h
Wed
23:00Z
+3h
Thu
00:00Z
+4h
Thu
01:00Z
+5h
Thu
02:00Z
+6h
Thu
03:00Z
+7h
Thu
04:00Z
+8h
Thu
05:00Z
+9h
Thu
06:00Z
+10h
Thu
07:00Z
+11h
Thu
08:00Z
+12h
Thu
09:00Z
+13h
Thu
10:00Z
+14h
Thu
11:00Z
+15h
Thu
12:00Z
+16h
Thu
13:00Z
+17h
Thu
14:00Z
+18h
Thu
15:00Z
+19h
Thu
16:00Z
+20h
Wind Dir
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
-- -- -- --
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
250°
W
10°
N
10°
N
40°
NE
Wind Speed
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
-- -- -- --
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
5 kt
3 kt
3 kt
6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
1/4SM
1/4SM
1/4SM
1SM
1SM
1SM
>6SM
4SM
4SM
6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Clouds
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
BKN010
BKN010
BKN010
BKN010
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
BKN008
BKN008
BKN008
FEW250
OVC008
OVC008
OVC010
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR IFR MVFR MVFR MVFR IFR IFR IFR VFR IFR IFR IFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌇 17:33Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:24Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:24Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:24Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:24Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:24Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:35Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:35Z
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
250° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050300 03:00Z - 09:00Z
IFR
Wind
0° at 0 kt
Visibility
3SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN010
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (0°) at 0 kt. Visibility will be good at 3SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 1000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM050700 07:00Z - 13:00Z
IFR
Wind
230° at 3 kt
Visibility
1SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN008
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (230°) at 3 kt. Visibility will be moderate at 1SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 800 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

TEMPO 07:00Z - 10:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
1/4SM
Weather
Fog
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be moderate at 1/4SM. Weather conditions: Fog. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM051400 14:00Z - 20:00Z
IFR
Wind
10° at 3 kt
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
OVC008
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (10°) at 3 kt. Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Overcast skies at 800 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM051600 16:00Z - 22:00Z
IFR
Wind
40° at 6 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
OVC010
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northeast (40°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Overcast skies at 1000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

📚 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.