MacDill Air Force Base

KMCF / MCF

Tampa, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KMCF 220900Z 2209/2315 07006KT 9999 FEW035 QNH3019INS BECMG 2214/2215 11010G15KT 9999 SCT040 BKN150 QNH3021INS BECMG 2305/2306 10008KT 9999 SCT040 BKN060 QNH3009INS TX26/2218Z TN18/2211Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
12:00Z
+-1h
Wed
13:00Z
+0h
Wed
14:00Z
+1h
Wed
15:00Z
+2h
Wed
16:00Z
+3h
Wed
17:00Z
+4h
Wed
18:00Z
+5h
Wed
19:00Z
+6h
Wed
20:00Z
+7h
Wed
21:00Z
+8h
Wed
22:00Z
+9h
Wed
23:00Z
+10h
Thu
00:00Z
+11h
Thu
01:00Z
+12h
Thu
02:00Z
+13h
Thu
03:00Z
+14h
Thu
04:00Z
+15h
Thu
05:00Z
+16h
Thu
06:00Z
+17h
Thu
07:00Z
+18h
Thu
08:00Z
+19h
Thu
09:00Z
+20h
Thu
10:00Z
+21h
Thu
11:00Z
+22h
Thu
12:00Z
+23h
Thu
13:00Z
+24h
Wind Dir
70°
E
70°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
Wind Speed
6 kt
6 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
8 kt
G15 kt
8 kt
G15 kt
8 kt
G15 kt
8 kt
G15 kt
8 kt
G15 kt
8 kt
G15 kt
8 kt
G15 kt
8 kt
G15 kt
8 kt
G15 kt
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
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
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
Clouds
FEW035
FEW035
SCT040
BKN150
SCT040
BKN150
SCT040
BKN150
SCT040
BKN150
SCT040
BKN150
SCT040
BKN150
SCT040
BKN150
SCT040
BKN150
SCT040
BKN150
SCT040
BKN150
SCT040
BKN150
SCT040
BKN150
SCT040
BKN150
SCT040
BKN150
SCT040
BKN150
SCT040
BKN060
SCT040
BKN060
SCT040
BKN060
SCT040
BKN060
SCT040
BKN060
SCT040
BKN060
SCT040
BKN060
SCT040
BKN060
SCT040
BKN060
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
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 VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:27Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:27Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:27Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:27Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:27Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:31Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:31Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:31Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:31Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:31Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
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
70° at 6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW035
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East-Northeast (70°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 3500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 14:00Z - 15:00Z
VFR
Wind
110° at 10 kt
Gusts: 15 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT040 BKN150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the East-Southeast (110°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 15 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet, Broken clouds at 15000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 05:00Z - 06:00Z
VFR
Wind
100° at 8 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT040 BKN060
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the East (100°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet, 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.