Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

KDCA / DCA

Washington, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
KDCA 150521Z 1506/1612 00000KT P6SM SCT250 FM151500 07008KT P6SM BKN080 FM160400 04009KT P6SM BKN110

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Mon
08:00Z
+-1h
Mon
09:00Z
+0h
Mon
10:00Z
+1h
Mon
11:00Z
+2h
Mon
12:00Z
+3h
Mon
13:00Z
+4h
Mon
14:00Z
+5h
Mon
15:00Z
+6h
Mon
16:00Z
+7h
Mon
17:00Z
+8h
Mon
18:00Z
+9h
Mon
19:00Z
+10h
Mon
20:00Z
+11h
Mon
21:00Z
+12h
Mon
22:00Z
+13h
Mon
23:00Z
+14h
Tue
00:00Z
+15h
Tue
01:00Z
+16h
Tue
02:00Z
+17h
Tue
03:00Z
+18h
Tue
04:00Z
+19h
Tue
05:00Z
+20h
Tue
06:00Z
+21h
Tue
07:00Z
+22h
Tue
08:00Z
+23h
Tue
09:00Z
+24h
Tue
10:00Z
+25h
Wind Dir -- -- -- -- -- -- --
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
--
Wind Speed -- -- -- -- -- -- --
8kt
8kt
8kt
8kt
8kt
8kt
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
9kt
9kt
9kt
9kt
9kt
9kt
--
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
>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
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
BKN110
BKN110
BKN110
BKN110
BKN110
BKN110
SCT250
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
8000ft
AGL
8000ft
AGL
8000ft
AGL
8000ft
AGL
8000ft
AGL
8000ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
11000ft
AGL
11000ft
AGL
11000ft
AGL
11000ft
AGL
11000ft
AGL
11000ft
AGL
🌤️ 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 VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:08
☀️
Day
🌇 18:08
☀️
Day
🌇 18:08
🌙
Night
🌇 18:08
🌙
Night
🌇 18:08
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:52
🌙
Night
🌅 05:52
🌙
Night
🌅 05:52
☀️
Day
🌅 05:52
☀️
Day
🌅 05:52
☀️
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
VFR
Wind
0° at 0 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the North (0°) at 0kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM151500 2025-09-15 15:00:00 - 2025-09-15 21:00:00
VFR
Wind
70° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East-Northeast (70°) at 8kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 8000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM160400 2025-09-16 04:00:00 - 2025-09-16 10:00:00
VFR
Wind
40° at 9 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN110
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northeast (40°) at 9kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 11000 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.