Malmstrom Air Force Base

KGFA / GFA

Great Falls, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KGFA 152100Z 1521/1703 26012KT 9999 SCT065 QNH3002INS BECMG 1600/1601 VRB15G25KT 9000 -SHRA VCTS SCT060 BKN090CB QNH3008INS BECMG 1604/1605 VRB06KT 9999 NSW SCT060 BKN100 QNH3010INS BECMG 1615/1616 VRB06KT 8000 BR BKN080 QNH3030INS BECMG 1623/1624 VRB06KT 9999 NSW SCT100 QNH3029INS TX23/1522Z TN12/1613Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Tue
03:00Z
+-1h
Tue
04:00Z
+0h
Tue
05:00Z
+1h
Tue
06:00Z
+2h
Tue
07:00Z
+3h
Tue
08:00Z
+4h
Tue
09:00Z
+5h
Tue
10:00Z
+6h
Tue
11:00Z
+7h
Tue
12:00Z
+8h
Tue
13:00Z
+9h
Tue
14:00Z
+10h
Tue
15:00Z
+11h
Tue
16:00Z
+12h
Tue
17:00Z
+13h
Tue
18:00Z
+14h
Tue
19:00Z
+15h
Tue
20:00Z
+16h
Tue
21:00Z
+17h
Tue
22:00Z
+18h
Tue
23:00Z
+19h
Wed
00:00Z
+20h
Wed
01:00Z
+21h
Wind Dir
260°
W
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
12kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT065
SCT060
BKN100
SCT060
BKN100
SCT060
BKN100
SCT060
BKN100
SCT060
BKN100
SCT060
BKN100
SCT060
BKN100
SCT060
BKN100
SCT060
BKN100
SCT060
BKN100
SCT060
BKN100
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
SCT100
SCT100
SCT100
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
10000ft
AGL
10000ft
AGL
10000ft
AGL
10000ft
AGL
10000ft
AGL
10000ft
AGL
10000ft
AGL
10000ft
AGL
10000ft
AGL
10000ft
AGL
10000ft
AGL
8000ft
AGL
8000ft
AGL
8000ft
AGL
8000ft
AGL
8000ft
AGL
8000ft
AGL
8000ft
AGL
8000ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:51
🌙
Night
🌅 05:51
🌙
Night
🌅 05:51
☀️
Day
🌅 05:51
☀️
Day
🌅 05:51
☀️
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
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
260° at 12 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT065
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West (260°) at 12kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 6500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 2025-10-16 00:00:00 - 2025-10-16 01:00:00
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
9 km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT060 BKN090CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds will be variable in direction at 15kt. Gusts up to 25kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 9 km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 6000 feet, Broken clouds at 9000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 2025-09-16 04:00:00 - 2025-09-16 05:00:00
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT060 BKN100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds will be variable in direction at 6kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 6000 feet, Broken clouds at 10000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 2025-09-16 15:00:00 - 2025-09-16 16:00:00
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 6 kt
Visibility
8 km
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds will be variable in direction at 6kt. Visibility will be good at 8 km. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 8000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 2025-09-16 23:00:00 - 2025-09-17 00:00:00
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds will be variable in direction at 6kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 10000 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.