MacDill Air Force Base

KMCF / MCF

Tampa, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KMCF 100100Z 1001/1107 10006KT 9999 BKN200 QNH3005INS BECMG 1008/1009 12006KT 9999 SCT020 BKN120 QNH3003INS BECMG 1019/1020 VRB06KT 8000 -RA VCTS BKN050CB BKN150 QNH3001INS TEMPO 1023/1024 6000 -TSRA BKN030CB BECMG 1101/1102 11006KT 9999 NSW BKN025 QNH3002INS TX34/1017Z TN25/1011Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
16:00Z
+-1h
Wed
17:00Z
+0h
Wed
18:00Z
+1h
Wed
19:00Z
+2h
Wed
20:00Z
+3h
Wed
21:00Z
+4h
Wed
22:00Z
+5h
Wed
23:00Z
+6h
Thu
00:00Z
+7h
Thu
01:00Z
+8h
Thu
02:00Z
+9h
Thu
03:00Z
+10h
Thu
04:00Z
+11h
Thu
05:00Z
+12h
Wind Dir
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
120°
SE
VRB
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
Wind Speed
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
6 km
8 km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Light Rain
-RA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
BKN200
BKN200
BKN200
BKN050CB
BKN150
BKN050CB
BKN150
BKN050CB
BKN150
BKN050CB
BKN150
BKN030CB
BKN050CB
BKN150
BKN025
BKN025
BKN025
BKN025
BKN025
Ceiling
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌇 18:54Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:54Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:54Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:54Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:54Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:05Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:05Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:05Z
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
100° at 6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East (100°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 08:00Z - 09:00Z
VFR
Wind
120° at 6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT020 BKN120
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the East-Southeast (120°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet, Broken clouds at 12000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 19:00Z - 20:00Z
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 6 kt
Visibility
8 km
Weather
Light Rain
Clouds
BKN050CB BKN150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds will be variable in direction at 6 kt. Visibility will be good at 8 km. Weather conditions: Light Rain. Broken clouds at 5000 feet, Broken clouds at 15000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 23:00Z - 00:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
6 km
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN030CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be good at 6 km. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 3000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 01:00Z - 02:00Z
MVFR
Wind
110° at 6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the East-Southeast (110°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 2500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

📚 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.