Cavern City Air Terminal

KCNM / CNM

Carlsbad, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KCNM 041125Z 0412/0512 35016G24KT P6SM SKC FM041800 01010KT P6SM FEW250 FM042200 16006KT P6SM SCT200

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
12:00Z
+-1h
Wed
13:00Z
+0h
Wed
14:00Z
+1h
Wed
15:00Z
+2h
Wed
16:00Z
+3h
Wed
17:00Z
+4h
Wed
18:00Z
+5h
Wed
19:00Z
+6h
Wed
20:00Z
+7h
Wed
21:00Z
+8h
Wed
22:00Z
+9h
Wed
23:00Z
+10h
Thu
00:00Z
+11h
Thu
01:00Z
+12h
Thu
02:00Z
+13h
Thu
03:00Z
+14h
Thu
04:00Z
+15h
Thu
05:00Z
+16h
Thu
06:00Z
+17h
Thu
07:00Z
+18h
Thu
08:00Z
+19h
Thu
09:00Z
+20h
Thu
10:00Z
+21h
Wind Dir
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
Wind Speed
16 kt
G24 kt
16 kt
G24 kt
16 kt
G24 kt
16 kt
G24 kt
16 kt
G24 kt
16 kt
G24 kt
10 kt
G24 kt
10 kt
G24 kt
10 kt
G24 kt
10 kt
G24 kt
6 kt
G24 kt
6 kt
G24 kt
6 kt
G24 kt
6 kt
G24 kt
6 kt
G24 kt
6 kt
G24 kt
16 kt
G24 kt
16 kt
G24 kt
16 kt
G24 kt
16 kt
G24 kt
16 kt
G24 kt
16 kt
G24 kt
16 kt
G24 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
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
SCT200
SCT200
SCT200
SCT200
SCT200
SCT200
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
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
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:39Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:39Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:39Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:39Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:39Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:19Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:19Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:19Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:19Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:19Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
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
350° at 16 kt
Gusts: 24 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the North (350°) at 16 kt. Gusts up to 24 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Skies will be clear. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM041800 18:00Z - 00:00Z
VFR
Wind
10° at 10 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (10°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM042200 22:00Z - 04:00Z
VFR
Wind
160° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southeast (160°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 20000 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.