Cavern City Air Terminal

KCNM / CNM

Carlsbad, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KCNM 151734Z 1518/1618 14008KT P6SM FEW025 BKN040 FM152200 16008KT P6SM FEW040 SCT200

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Mon
18:00Z
+-1h
Mon
19:00Z
+0h
Mon
20:00Z
+1h
Mon
21:00Z
+2h
Mon
22:00Z
+3h
Mon
23:00Z
+4h
Tue
00:00Z
+5h
Tue
01:00Z
+6h
Tue
02:00Z
+7h
Tue
03:00Z
+8h
Tue
04:00Z
+9h
Tue
05:00Z
+10h
Tue
06:00Z
+11h
Tue
07:00Z
+12h
Tue
08:00Z
+13h
Tue
09:00Z
+14h
Tue
10:00Z
+15h
Tue
11:00Z
+16h
Tue
12:00Z
+17h
Tue
13:00Z
+18h
Tue
14:00Z
+19h
Tue
15:00Z
+20h
Tue
16:00Z
+21h
Wind Dir
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
Wind Speed
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 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
FEW025
BKN040
FEW025
BKN040
FEW025
BKN040
FEW025
BKN040
FEW040
SCT200
FEW040
SCT200
FEW040
SCT200
FEW040
SCT200
FEW040
SCT200
FEW040
SCT200
FEW025
BKN040
FEW025
BKN040
FEW025
BKN040
FEW025
BKN040
FEW025
BKN040
FEW025
BKN040
FEW025
BKN040
FEW025
BKN040
FEW025
BKN040
FEW025
BKN040
FEW025
BKN040
FEW025
BKN040
FEW025
BKN040
Ceiling
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 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
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌇 19:03Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:03Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:03Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:03Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:56Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:56Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:56Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:56Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:56Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
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
140° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW025 BKN040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Southeast (140°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 2500 feet, Broken clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM152200 22:00Z - 04:00Z
VFR
Wind
160° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW040 SCT200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southeast (160°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 4000 feet, 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.