Merced Regional Macready Field

KMCE / MCE

Merced, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KMCE 172102Z 1721/1818 00000KT 1/4SM FG VV001 TEMPO 1721/1723 2SM BR BKN002 FM172300 VRB04KT 2SM BR SCT003 FM180100 VRB04KT 3SM BR BKN130 TEMPO 1801/1805 1/2SM FG BKN002 FM180500 00000KT 1/4SM FG VV002

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
22:00Z
+-1h
Sat
23:00Z
+0h
Sun
00:00Z
+1h
Sun
01:00Z
+2h
Sun
02:00Z
+3h
Sun
03:00Z
+4h
Sun
04:00Z
+5h
Sun
05:00Z
+6h
Sun
06:00Z
+7h
Sun
07:00Z
+8h
Sun
08:00Z
+9h
Sun
09:00Z
+10h
Sun
10:00Z
+11h
Sun
11:00Z
+12h
Sun
12:00Z
+13h
Sun
13:00Z
+14h
Sun
14:00Z
+15h
Sun
15:00Z
+16h
Sun
16:00Z
+17h
Wind Dir --
VRB
VRB
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Wind Speed --
4kt
4kt
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Visibility
1/4SM
2SM
2SM
1/2SM
1/2SM
1/2SM
1/2SM
1/4SM
1/4SM
1/4SM
1/4SM
1/4SM
1/4SM
1/4SM
1/4SM
1/4SM
1/4SM
1/4SM
1/4SM
Weather
Fog
FG
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Clouds
VV001
SCT003
SCT003
BKN002
BKN002
BKN002
BKN002
VV002
VV002
VV002
VV002
VV002
VV002
VV001
VV001
VV001
VV001
VV001
VV001
Ceiling
100ft 🌫️
Indefinite
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
200ft
AGL
200ft
AGL
200ft
AGL
200ft
AGL
200ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200ft 🌫️
Indefinite
100ft 🌫️
Indefinite
100ft 🌫️
Indefinite
100ft 🌫️
Indefinite
100ft 🌫️
Indefinite
100ft 🌫️
Indefinite
100ft 🌫️
Indefinite
Flight Rules LIFR IFR IFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 07:04
🌙
Night
🌅 07:04
🌅
Dawn
🌅 07:04
☀️
Day
🌅 07:04
☀️
Day
🌅 07:04
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 16:55
☀️
Day
🌇 16:55
☀️
Day
🌇 16:55
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
LIFR
Wind
0° at 0 kt
Visibility
1/4SM
Weather
Fog
Clouds
VV001
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the North (0°) at 0kt. Visibility will be moderate at 1/4SM. Weather conditions: Fog. Vertical visibility at 100 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

TEMPO 2026-02-17 21:00:00 - 2026-01-17 23:00:00
LIFR
Visibility
2SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN002
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be moderate at 2SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 200 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

FM172300 2026-01-17 23:00:00 - 2026-01-18 05:00:00
IFR
Wind
VRB° at 4 kt
Visibility
2SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
SCT003
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 4kt. Visibility will be moderate at 2SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Scattered clouds at 300 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM180100 2026-01-18 01:00:00 - 2026-01-18 07:00:00
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 4 kt
Visibility
3SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN130
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 4kt. Visibility will be good at 3SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 13000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 2026-01-18 01:00:00 - 2026-01-18 05:00:00
LIFR
Visibility
1/2SM
Weather
Fog
Clouds
BKN002
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be moderate at 1/2SM. Weather conditions: Fog. Broken clouds at 200 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

FM180500 2026-01-18 05:00:00 - 2026-01-18 11:00:00
LIFR
Wind
0° at 0 kt
Visibility
1/4SM
Weather
Fog
Clouds
VV002
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (0°) at 0kt. Visibility will be moderate at 1/4SM. Weather conditions: Fog. Vertical visibility at 200 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.