Meadows Field

KBFL / BFL

Bakersfield, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KBFL 172004Z 1720/1818 VRB03KT 1 1/2SM BR BKN002 FM172100 VRB03KT 2SM HZ SCT004 FM172300 VRB04KT 4SM HZ SKC FM180300 VRB03KT 1SM BR SCT250 TEMPO 1805/1809 1/4SM FG VV005 FM180900 00000KT 1/4SM FG VV002

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
21:00Z
+-1h
Sat
22:00Z
+0h
Sat
23:00Z
+1h
Sun
00:00Z
+2h
Sun
01:00Z
+3h
Sun
02:00Z
+4h
Sun
03:00Z
+5h
Sun
04:00Z
+6h
Sun
05:00Z
+7h
Sun
06:00Z
+8h
Sun
07:00Z
+9h
Sun
08:00Z
+10h
Sun
09:00Z
+11h
Sun
10:00Z
+12h
Sun
11:00Z
+13h
Sun
12:00Z
+14h
Sun
13:00Z
+15h
Sun
14:00Z
+16h
Sun
15:00Z
+17h
Sun
16:00Z
+18h
Wind Dir
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
-- -- -- -- -- --
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
3kt
3kt
4kt
4kt
4kt
4kt
3kt
3kt
3kt
3kt
3kt
3kt
-- -- -- -- -- --
3kt
3kt
Visibility
1/2SM
1/2SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
1SM
1SM
1/4SM
1/4SM
1/4SM
1/4SM
1/4SM
1/4SM
1/4SM
1/4SM
1/4SM
1/4SM
1/2SM
1/2SM
Weather
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Haze
HZ
Haze
HZ
Haze
HZ
Haze
HZ
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Clouds
BKN002
BKN002
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
SCT250
SCT250
VV005
VV005
VV005
VV005
VV002
VV002
VV002
VV002
VV002
VV002
BKN002
BKN002
Ceiling
200ft
AGL
200ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
500ft 🌫️
Indefinite
500ft 🌫️
Indefinite
500ft 🌫️
Indefinite
500ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200ft
AGL
200ft
AGL
Flight Rules LIFR LIFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 07:02
🌙
Night
🌅 07:02
🌅
Dawn
🌅 07:02
☀️
Day
🌅 07:02
☀️
Day
🌅 07:02
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 16:57
☀️
Day
🌇 16:57
☀️
Day
🌇 16:57
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
LIFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
1/2SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN002
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds will be variable in direction at 3kt. Visibility will be moderate at 1/2SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 200 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

FM172100 2026-02-17 21:00:00 - 2026-02-18 03:00:00
IFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
2SM
Weather
Haze
Clouds
SCT004
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 3kt. Visibility will be moderate at 2SM. Weather conditions: Haze. Scattered clouds at 400 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM172300 2026-01-17 23:00:00 - 2026-01-18 05:00:00
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 4 kt
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Haze
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 4kt. Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Haze. Skies will be clear. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM180300 2026-01-18 03:00:00 - 2026-01-18 09:00:00
IFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
1SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 3kt. Visibility will be moderate at 1SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

TEMPO 2026-01-18 05:00:00 - 2026-01-18 09:00:00
IFR
Visibility
1/4SM
Weather
Fog
Clouds
VV005
📖 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. Vertical visibility at 500 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM180900 2026-01-18 09:00:00 - 2026-01-18 15:00:00
LIFR
Wind
0° at 0 kt
Visibility
1/4SM
Weather
Fog
Clouds
VV002
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (0°) at 0kt. Visibility will be moderate at 1/4SM. Weather conditions: Fog. Vertical visibility at 200 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.