Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
KDCA / DCA
Washington, US
Current TAF Forecast
Detailed TAF Table
| Parameter |
Mon
10:00Z
+-1h
|
Mon
11:00Z
+0h
|
Mon
12:00Z
+1h
|
Mon
13:00Z
+2h
|
Mon
14:00Z
+3h
|
Mon
15:00Z
+4h
|
Mon
16:00Z
+5h
|
Mon
17:00Z
+6h
|
Mon
18:00Z
+7h
|
Mon
19:00Z
+8h
|
Mon
20:00Z
+9h
|
Mon
21:00Z
+10h
|
Mon
22:00Z
+11h
|
Mon
23:00Z
+12h
|
Tue
00:00Z
+13h
|
Tue
01:00Z
+14h
|
Tue
02:00Z
+15h
|
Tue
03:00Z
+16h
|
Tue
04:00Z
+17h
|
Tue
05:00Z
+18h
|
Tue
06:00Z
+19h
|
Tue
07:00Z
+20h
|
Tue
08:00Z
+21h
|
Tue
09:00Z
+22h
|
Tue
10:00Z
+23h
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wind Dir |
50°
NE
|
50°
NE
|
350°
N
|
350°
N
|
350°
N
|
350°
N
|
260°
W
|
260°
W
|
260°
W
|
260°
W
|
260°
W
|
260°
W
|
290°
W
|
290°
W
|
290°
W
|
290°
W
|
290°
W
|
290°
W
|
50°
NE
|
50°
NE
|
50°
NE
|
300°
NW
|
300°
NW
|
300°
NW
|
300°
NW
|
| Wind Speed |
7kt
|
7kt
|
5kt
|
5kt
|
5kt
|
5kt
|
9kt
|
9kt
|
9kt
|
9kt
|
9kt
|
9kt
|
11kt
G20kt
|
11kt
G20kt
|
11kt
G20kt
|
11kt
G20kt
|
11kt
G20kt
|
11kt
G20kt
|
7kt
|
7kt
|
7kt
|
8kt
|
8kt
|
8kt
|
8kt
|
| 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
|
| Weather |
Light Rain
-RA
|
Light Rain
-RA
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
Light Rain
-RA
|
Light Rain
-RA
|
Light Rain
-RA
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
| Clouds |
OVC050
|
OVC050
|
OVC050
|
OVC050
|
OVC050
|
OVC050
|
BKN040
|
BKN040
|
BKN040
|
BKN040
|
BKN040
|
BKN040
|
FEW050
SCT120
|
FEW050
SCT120
|
FEW050
SCT120
|
FEW050
SCT120
|
FEW050
SCT120
|
FEW050
SCT120
|
OVC050
|
OVC050
|
OVC050
|
FEW250
|
FEW250
|
FEW250
|
FEW250
|
| Ceiling |
5000ft
AGL
|
5000ft
AGL
|
5000ft
AGL
|
5000ft
AGL
|
5000ft
AGL
|
5000ft
AGL
|
4000ft
AGL
|
4000ft
AGL
|
4000ft
AGL
|
4000ft
AGL
|
4000ft
AGL
|
4000ft
AGL
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
5000ft
AGL
|
5000ft
AGL
|
5000ft
AGL
|
🌤️ 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 | VFR | VFR |
| Day/Night |
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
🌇
17:09
|
☀️
Day
🌇
17:09
|
☀️
Day
🌇
17:09
|
🌙
Night
🌇
17:09
|
🌙
Night
🌇
17:09
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
🌅
06:51
|
🌙
Night
🌅
06:51
|
🌙
Night
🌅
06:51
|
☀️
Day
🌅
06:51
|
☀️
Day
🌅
06:51
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
Forecast Periods
📖 Plain English Explanation:
This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Northeast (50°) at 7kt. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Rain. Overcast skies at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.
📖 Plain English Explanation:
Winds from the North (350°) at 5kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Overcast skies at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.
📖 Plain English Explanation:
Winds from the West (260°) at 9kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.
📖 Plain English Explanation:
Winds from the West-Northwest (290°) at 11kt. Gusts up to 20kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 5000 feet, Scattered clouds at 12000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.
📖 Plain English Explanation:
Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 8kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 25000 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.