Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

KDCA / DCA

Washington, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KDCA 212056Z 2121/2224 19013G17KT P6SM SCT180 FM220500 18010G18KT P6SM BKN100 WS020/21040KT FM221000 19007KT P6SM FEW060 BKN100 PROB30 2213/2215 6SM -SHRA BKN060 OVC100 FM221500 25006KT P6SM BKN045 FM221900 29007G15KT P6SM FEW045 SCT060 PROB30 2222/2224 6SM -SHRA BKN060

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Tue
23:00Z
+-1h
Wed
00:00Z
+0h
Wed
01:00Z
+1h
Wed
02:00Z
+2h
Wed
03:00Z
+3h
Wed
04:00Z
+4h
Wed
05:00Z
+5h
Wed
06:00Z
+6h
Wed
07:00Z
+7h
Wed
08:00Z
+8h
Wed
09:00Z
+9h
Wed
10:00Z
+10h
Wed
11:00Z
+11h
Wed
12:00Z
+12h
Wed
13:00Z
+13h
Wed
14:00Z
+14h
Wed
15:00Z
+15h
Wed
16:00Z
+16h
Wed
17:00Z
+17h
Wed
18:00Z
+18h
Wed
19:00Z
+19h
Wed
20:00Z
+20h
Wed
21:00Z
+21h
Wed
22:00Z
+22h
Wind Dir
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
190°
S
Wind Speed
13 kt
G17 kt
13 kt
G17 kt
13 kt
G17 kt
13 kt
G17 kt
13 kt
G17 kt
13 kt
G17 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
7 kt
G17 kt
7 kt
G17 kt
7 kt
G17 kt
13 kt
G17 kt
13 kt
G17 kt
6 kt
G17 kt
6 kt
G17 kt
6 kt
G17 kt
6 kt
G17 kt
7 kt
G15 kt
7 kt
G15 kt
7 kt
G15 kt
13 kt
G17 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
6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
30%
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
30%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
30%
Clouds
SCT180
SCT180
SCT180
SCT180
SCT180
SCT180
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
FEW060
BKN100
FEW060
BKN100
FEW060
BKN100
BKN060
OVC100
BKN060
OVC100
BKN045
BKN045
BKN045
BKN045
FEW045
SCT060
FEW045
SCT060
FEW045
SCT060
BKN060
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
4,500 ft
AGL
4,500 ft
AGL
4,500 ft
AGL
4,500 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
6,000 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 VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:22Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:22Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:22Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:22Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:22Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:37Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:37Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:37Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:37Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:37Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
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
190° at 13 kt
Gusts: 17 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT180
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South (190°) at 13 kt. Gusts up to 17 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 18000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM220500 05:00Z - 11:00Z
VFR
Wind
180° at 10 kt
Gusts: 18 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (180°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 18 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 10000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM221000 10:00Z - 16:00Z
VFR
Wind
190° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW060 BKN100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (190°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 6000 feet, Broken clouds at 10000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 13:00Z - 15:00Z
VFR
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN060 OVC100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 6000 feet, Overcast skies at 10000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM221500 15:00Z - 21:00Z
VFR
Wind
250° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN045
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 4500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM221900 19:00Z - 01:00Z
VFR
Wind
290° at 7 kt
Gusts: 15 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW045 SCT060
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Northwest (290°) at 7 kt. Gusts up to 15 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 4500 feet, Scattered clouds at 6000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 22:00Z - 00:00Z
VFR
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN060
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 6000 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.