MacDill Air Force Base

KMCF / MCF

Tampa, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KMCF 050100Z 0501/0607 08010G15KT 9999 SCT042 BKN060 QNH3015INS BECMG 0505/0506 08006KT 9999 SCT035 BKN060 QNH3015INS BECMG 0520/0521 VRB03KT 8000 -SHRA VCTS SCT020 BKN040CB QNH3011INS TEMPO 0521/0523 VRB10G15KT 6000 -TSRA BKN050CB BECMG 0601/0602 09005KT 9999 NSW SCT030 BKN065 QNH3017INS TX31/0519Z TN17/0511Z

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
Wind Dir
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
VRB
VRB
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
Wind Speed
10 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 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
6 km
6 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
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT042
BKN060
SCT035
BKN060
SCT035
BKN060
SCT035
BKN060
SCT035
BKN060
SCT035
BKN060
SCT035
BKN060
SCT035
BKN060
SCT035
BKN060
SCT035
BKN060
SCT035
BKN060
SCT035
BKN060
SCT035
BKN060
SCT035
BKN060
SCT035
BKN060
SCT035
BKN060
BKN050CB
BKN050CB
SCT035
BKN060
SCT035
BKN060
SCT035
BKN060
SCT035
BKN060
SCT035
BKN060
SCT035
BKN060
SCT035
BKN060
Ceiling
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
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
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 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 MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:17Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:17Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:17Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:17Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:42Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:42Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:42Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:42Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:42Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:16Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:16Z
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
80° at 10 kt
Gusts: 15 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT042 BKN060
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East (80°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 15 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 4200 feet, Broken clouds at 6000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 05:00Z - 06:00Z
VFR
Wind
80° at 6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT035 BKN060
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the East (80°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 3500 feet, Broken clouds at 6000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 20:00Z - 21:00Z
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
8 km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT020 BKN040CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be good at 8 km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet, Broken clouds at 4000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 21:00Z - 23:00Z
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 10 kt
Gusts: 15 kt
Visibility
6 km
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN050CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds will be variable in direction at 10 kt. Gusts up to 15 kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 6 km. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 5000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 01:00Z - 02:00Z
VFR
Wind
90° at 5 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT030 BKN065
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the East (90°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 3000 feet, Broken clouds at 6500 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.