McConnell Air Force Base

KIAB / IAB

Wichita, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KIAB 050200Z 0502/0608 VRB05KT 9999 OVC040 QNH2996INS BECMG 0504/0505 VRB06KT 9999 BKN012 OVC020 QNH2992INS BECMG 0508/0509 15004KT 8000 BR OVC006 QNH2992INS TEMPO 0510/0514 3200 BR BKN002 BECMG 0514/0515 17009KT 9999 NSW SCT020 BKN250 QNH2979INS BECMG 0600/0601 17010G15KT 9000 -SHRA VCTS BKN005CB OVC010 QNH2978INS BECMG 0605/0606 VRB20G40KT 1600 +TSRA BKN005CB OVC010 QNH2970INS TX18/0521Z TN06/0513Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
05:00Z
+-1h
Thu
06:00Z
+0h
Thu
07:00Z
+1h
Thu
08:00Z
+2h
Thu
09:00Z
+3h
Thu
10:00Z
+4h
Thu
11:00Z
+5h
Thu
12:00Z
+6h
Thu
13:00Z
+7h
Thu
14:00Z
+8h
Thu
15:00Z
+9h
Thu
16:00Z
+10h
Thu
17:00Z
+11h
Thu
18:00Z
+12h
Thu
19:00Z
+13h
Thu
20:00Z
+14h
Thu
21:00Z
+15h
Thu
22:00Z
+16h
Thu
23:00Z
+17h
Fri
00:00Z
+18h
Fri
01:00Z
+19h
Fri
02:00Z
+20h
Fri
03:00Z
+21h
Fri
04:00Z
+22h
Fri
05:00Z
+23h
Fri
06:00Z
+24h
Wind Dir
VRB
VRB
VRB
150°
SE
150°
SE
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
4 kt
4 kt
6 kt
G40 kt
6 kt
G40 kt
6 kt
G40 kt
6 kt
G40 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
20 kt
G40 kt
20 kt
G40 kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
8 km
8 km
3.2 km
3.2 km
3.2 km
3.2 km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
9 km
9 km
9 km
9 km
9 km
1.6 km
1.6 km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ 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
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Heavy Thunderstorm Rain
+TSRA
Heavy Thunderstorm Rain
+TSRA
Clouds
OVC040
OVC040
OVC040
OVC006
OVC006
BKN002
BKN002
BKN002
BKN002
SCT020
BKN250
SCT020
BKN250
SCT020
BKN250
SCT020
BKN250
SCT020
BKN250
SCT020
BKN250
SCT020
BKN250
SCT020
BKN250
SCT020
BKN250
SCT020
BKN250
BKN005CB
OVC010
BKN005CB
OVC010
BKN005CB
OVC010
BKN005CB
OVC010
BKN005CB
OVC010
BKN005CB
OVC010
BKN005CB
OVC010
Ceiling
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
200 ft
AGL
200 ft
AGL
200 ft
AGL
200 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:22Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:22Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:22Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:22Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:37Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:37Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:37Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:37Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:37Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:21Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:21Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:21Z
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
VRB° at 5 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
OVC040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds will be variable in direction at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Overcast skies at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 04:00Z - 05:00Z
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN012 OVC020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds will be variable in direction at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 1200 feet, Overcast skies at 2000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 08:00Z - 09:00Z
IFR
Wind
150° at 4 kt
Visibility
8 km
Weather
Mist
Clouds
OVC006
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South-Southeast (150°) at 4 kt. Visibility will be good at 8 km. Weather conditions: Mist. Overcast skies at 600 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

TEMPO 10:00Z - 14:00Z
LIFR
Visibility
3.2 km
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN002
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be moderate at 3.2 km. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 200 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

BECMG 14:00Z - 15:00Z
VFR
Wind
170° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT020 BKN250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South (170°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet, Broken clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 00:00Z - 01:00Z
LIFR
Wind
170° at 10 kt
Gusts: 15 kt
Visibility
9 km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN005CB OVC010
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South (170°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 15 kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 9 km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 500 feet, Overcast skies at 1000 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

BECMG 05:00Z - 06:00Z
LIFR
Wind
VRB° at 20 kt
Gusts: 40 kt
Visibility
1.6 km
Weather
Heavy Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN005CB OVC010
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds will be variable in direction at 20 kt. Gusts up to 40 kt are expected. Visibility will be moderate at 1.6 km. Weather conditions: Heavy Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 500 feet, Overcast skies at 1000 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument 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.