Cavern City Air Terminal

KCNM / CNM

Carlsbad, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KCNM 300520Z 3006/0106 13006KT P6SM BKN200 FM301200 08007KT P6SM OVC170 FM301900 10010KT P6SM SCT060 OVC170 FM010200 16014KT P6SM OVC035

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
07:00Z
+-1h
Thu
08:00Z
+0h
Thu
09:00Z
+1h
Thu
10:00Z
+2h
Thu
11:00Z
+3h
Thu
12:00Z
+4h
Thu
13:00Z
+5h
Thu
14:00Z
+6h
Thu
15:00Z
+7h
Thu
16:00Z
+8h
Thu
17:00Z
+9h
Thu
18:00Z
+10h
Thu
19:00Z
+11h
Thu
20:00Z
+12h
Thu
21:00Z
+13h
Thu
22:00Z
+14h
Thu
23:00Z
+15h
Fri
00:00Z
+16h
Fri
01:00Z
+17h
Fri
02:00Z
+18h
Fri
03:00Z
+19h
Fri
04:00Z
+20h
Fri
05:00Z
+21h
Fri
06:00Z
+22h
Fri
07:00Z
+23h
Fri
08:00Z
+24h
Fri
09:00Z
+25h
Fri
10:00Z
+26h
Fri
11:00Z
+27h
Fri
12:00Z
+28h
Fri
13:00Z
+29h
Fri
14:00Z
+30h
Fri
15:00Z
+31h
Fri
16:00Z
+32h
Fri
17:00Z
+33h
Fri
18:00Z
+34h
Fri
19:00Z
+35h
Fri
20:00Z
+36h
Fri
21:00Z
+37h
Fri
22:00Z
+38h
Fri
23:00Z
+39h
Sat
00:00Z
+40h
Sat
01:00Z
+41h
Sat
02:00Z
+42h
Sat
03:00Z
+43h
Sat
04:00Z
+44h
Wind Dir
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
130°
SE
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
130°
SE
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
Wind Speed
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
6 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
6 kt
14 kt
14 kt
14 kt
14 kt
14 kt
14 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
BKN200
BKN200
BKN200
BKN200
BKN200
OVC170
OVC170
OVC170
OVC170
OVC170
OVC170
BKN200
SCT060
OVC170
SCT060
OVC170
SCT060
OVC170
SCT060
OVC170
SCT060
OVC170
SCT060
OVC170
BKN200
OVC035
OVC035
OVC035
OVC035
OVC035
OVC035
BKN200
BKN200
BKN200
BKN200
BKN200
BKN200
BKN200
BKN200
BKN200
BKN200
BKN200
BKN200
BKN200
BKN200
BKN200
BKN200
BKN200
BKN200
BKN200
BKN200
BKN200
Ceiling
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
17,000 ft
AGL
17,000 ft
AGL
17,000 ft
AGL
17,000 ft
AGL
17,000 ft
AGL
17,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
17,000 ft
AGL
17,000 ft
AGL
17,000 ft
AGL
17,000 ft
AGL
17,000 ft
AGL
17,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌅 05:20Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:39Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:39Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:39Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:39Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:39Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:20Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:20Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:20Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:20Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:20Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:39Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:39Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:39Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:39Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:39Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:19Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:19Z
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
VFR
Wind
130° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Southeast (130°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM301200 12:00Z - 18:00Z
VFR
Wind
80° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
OVC170
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East (80°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Overcast skies at 17000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM301900 19:00Z - 01:00Z
VFR
Wind
100° at 10 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT060 OVC170
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East (100°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 6000 feet, Overcast skies at 17000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM010200 02:00Z - 08:00Z
VFR
Wind
160° at 14 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
OVC035
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southeast (160°) at 14 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Overcast skies at 3500 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.