Laurence G Hanscom Field

KBED / BED

Bedford, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KBED 221721Z 2218/2318 18009KT P6SM OVC022 FM230100 18004KT 4SM BR OVC020 FM230600 00000KT 1SM BR OVC010 FM231100 24003KT P6SM SCT150 FM231500 31008KT P6SM FEW040

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
20:00Z
+-1h
Wed
21:00Z
+0h
Wed
22:00Z
+1h
Wed
23:00Z
+2h
Thu
00:00Z
+3h
Thu
01:00Z
+4h
Thu
02:00Z
+5h
Thu
03:00Z
+6h
Thu
04:00Z
+7h
Thu
05:00Z
+8h
Thu
06:00Z
+9h
Thu
07:00Z
+10h
Thu
08:00Z
+11h
Thu
09:00Z
+12h
Thu
10:00Z
+13h
Thu
11:00Z
+14h
Thu
12:00Z
+15h
Thu
13:00Z
+16h
Thu
14:00Z
+17h
Thu
15:00Z
+18h
Thu
16:00Z
+19h
Wind Dir
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
-- -- -- -- --
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
310°
NW
310°
NW
Wind Speed
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
 -- -- -- -- --
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
8 kt
8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
1SM
1SM
1SM
1SM
1SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
OVC022
OVC022
OVC022
OVC022
OVC022
OVC020
OVC020
OVC020
OVC020
OVC020
OVC010
OVC010
OVC010
OVC010
OVC010
SCT150
SCT150
SCT150
SCT150
FEW040
FEW040
Ceiling
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌇 18:39Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:18Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:18Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:18Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:18Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:18Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:41Z
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 occurrence • AGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
MVFR
Wind
180° at 9 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
OVC022
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South (180°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Overcast skies at 2200 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM230100 01:00Z - 07:00Z
MVFR
Wind
180° at 4 kt
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
OVC020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (180°) at 4 kt. Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Overcast skies at 2000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM230600 06:00Z - 12:00Z
IFR
Wind
0° at 0 kt
Visibility
1SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
OVC010
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (0°) at 0 kt. Visibility will be moderate at 1SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Overcast skies at 1000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM231100 11:00Z - 17:00Z
VFR
Wind
240° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Southwest (240°) at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 15000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM231500 15:00Z - 21:00Z
VFR
Wind
310° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northwest (310°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 4000 feet. 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.