McClellan-Palomar Airport

KCRQ / CLD

Carlsbad, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KCRQ 211124Z 2112/2212 VRB03KT P6SM BKN018 TEMPO 2112/2116 SCT018 FM211600 VRB04KT P6SM SCT020 FM211900 23009KT P6SM SCT025 SCT050 FM220000 25010G18KT P6SM VCSH SCT020 BKN035 TEMPO 2201/2205 -SHRA BKN018 FM220500 28005KT P6SM SCT025 BKN035

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Tue
16:00Z
+-1h
Tue
17:00Z
+0h
Tue
18:00Z
+1h
Tue
19:00Z
+2h
Tue
20:00Z
+3h
Tue
21:00Z
+4h
Tue
22:00Z
+5h
Tue
23:00Z
+6h
Wed
00:00Z
+7h
Wed
01:00Z
+8h
Wed
02:00Z
+9h
Wed
03:00Z
+10h
Wed
04:00Z
+11h
Wed
05:00Z
+12h
Wed
06:00Z
+13h
Wed
07:00Z
+14h
Wed
08:00Z
+15h
Wed
09:00Z
+16h
Wed
10:00Z
+17h
Wind Dir
VRB
VRB
VRB
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
250°
W
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
Wind Speed
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
3 kt
G18 kt
3 kt
G18 kt
3 kt
G18 kt
3 kt
G18 kt
5 kt
G18 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
Visibility
>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
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
BKN018
BKN018
BKN018
SCT025
SCT050
SCT025
SCT050
SCT025
SCT050
SCT025
SCT050
SCT025
SCT050
SCT020
BKN035
BKN018
BKN018
BKN018
BKN018
SCT025
BKN035
SCT025
BKN035
SCT025
BKN035
SCT025
BKN035
SCT025
BKN035
SCT025
BKN035
Ceiling
1,800 ft
AGL
1,800 ft
AGL
1,800 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
3,500 ft
AGL
1,800 ft
AGL
1,800 ft
AGL
1,800 ft
AGL
1,800 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
Flight Rules MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌇 18:31Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:31Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:31Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:31Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:31Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:27Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:27Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:27Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:27Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:27Z
☀️
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 occurrenceAGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN018
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 1800 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 12:00Z - 16:00Z
VFR
Clouds
SCT018
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Scattered clouds at 1800 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM211600 16:00Z - 22:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 4 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM211900 19:00Z - 01:00Z
VFR
Wind
230° at 9 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT025 SCT050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (230°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 2500 feet, Scattered clouds at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM220000 00:00Z - 06:00Z
VFR
Wind
250° at 10 kt
Gusts: 18 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT020 BKN035
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 18 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet, Broken clouds at 3500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 01:00Z - 05:00Z
MVFR
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN018
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 1800 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM220500 05:00Z - 11:00Z
VFR
Wind
280° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT025 BKN035
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (280°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 2500 feet, Broken clouds 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.