McClellan-Palomar Airport

KCRQ / CLD

Carlsbad, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
KCRQ 160520Z 1606/1706 VRB04KT 6SM BR BKN006 TEMPO 1609/1613 4SM BR BKN004 FM161500 VRB03KT P6SM SCT008 FM161900 26008KT P6SM SKC

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Tue
06:00Z
+-1h
Tue
07:00Z
+0h
Tue
08:00Z
+1h
Tue
09:00Z
+2h
Tue
10:00Z
+3h
Tue
11:00Z
+4h
Tue
12:00Z
+5h
Tue
13:00Z
+6h
Tue
14:00Z
+7h
Tue
15:00Z
+8h
Tue
16:00Z
+9h
Tue
17:00Z
+10h
Tue
18:00Z
+11h
Tue
19:00Z
+12h
Tue
20:00Z
+13h
Tue
21:00Z
+14h
Tue
22:00Z
+15h
Tue
23:00Z
+16h
Wed
00:00Z
+17h
Wed
01:00Z
+18h
Wed
02:00Z
+19h
Wed
03:00Z
+20h
Wed
04:00Z
+21h
Wind Dir
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
4kt
4kt
4kt
4kt
4kt
4kt
4kt
4kt
4kt
3kt
3kt
3kt
3kt
8kt
8kt
8kt
8kt
8kt
8kt
4kt
4kt
4kt
4kt
Visibility
6SM
6SM
6SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
6SM
6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
Weather
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Clouds
BKN006
BKN006
BKN006
BKN004
BKN004
BKN004
BKN004
BKN006
BKN006
SCT008
SCT008
SCT008
SCT008
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
BKN006
BKN006
BKN006
BKN006
Ceiling
600ft
AGL
600ft
AGL
600ft
AGL
400ft
AGL
400ft
AGL
400ft
AGL
400ft
AGL
600ft
AGL
600ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
600ft
AGL
600ft
AGL
600ft
AGL
600ft
AGL
Flight Rules IFR IFR IFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR IFR IFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR IFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌅 05:53
☀️
Day
🌅 05:53
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:06
☀️
Day
🌇 18:06
☀️
Day
🌇 18:06
🌙
Night
🌇 18:06
🌙
Night
🌇 18:06
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:54
🌙
Night
🌅 05:54
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
IFR
Wind
VRB° at 4 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN006
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds will be variable in direction at 4kt. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 600 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

TEMPO 2025-09-16 09:00:00 - 2025-09-16 13:00:00
LIFR
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN004
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 400 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

FM161500 2025-09-16 15:00:00 - 2025-09-16 21:00:00
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT008
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 3kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 800 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM161900 2025-09-16 19:00:00 - 2025-09-17 01:00:00
VFR
Wind
260° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (260°) at 8kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Skies will be clear. 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.