Mason City Municipal Airport

KMCW / MCW

Mason City, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KMCW 101729Z 1018/1118 21020G30KT P6SM SCT020 BKN130 TEMPO 1018/1021 4SM TSRA BKN022CB FM102300 25015G23KT P6SM FEW045 FEW190 PROB30 1100/1102 P6SM -TSRA BKN035CB FM110300 30009KT P6SM FEW070 FEW240 FM111300 17008KT P6SM -SHRA SCT025 BKN029 PROB30 1113/1116 4SM TSRA BKN025CB

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
18:00Z
+-1h
Wed
19:00Z
+0h
Wed
20:00Z
+1h
Wed
21:00Z
+2h
Wed
22:00Z
+3h
Wed
23:00Z
+4h
Thu
00:00Z
+5h
Thu
01:00Z
+6h
Thu
02:00Z
+7h
Thu
03:00Z
+8h
Thu
04:00Z
+9h
Thu
05:00Z
+10h
Thu
06:00Z
+11h
Thu
07:00Z
+12h
Thu
08:00Z
+13h
Thu
09:00Z
+14h
Thu
10:00Z
+15h
Thu
11:00Z
+16h
Thu
12:00Z
+17h
Thu
13:00Z
+18h
Thu
14:00Z
+19h
Thu
15:00Z
+20h
Thu
16:00Z
+21h
Wind Dir
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
250°
W
210°
SW
210°
SW
250°
W
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
170°
S
Wind Speed
20 kt
G30 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
15 kt
G23 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
15 kt
G23 kt
9 kt
G30 kt
9 kt
G30 kt
9 kt
G30 kt
9 kt
G30 kt
9 kt
G30 kt
9 kt
G30 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
8 kt
G30 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
30%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
30%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
30%
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Clouds
SCT020
BKN130
SCT020
BKN130
SCT020
BKN130
SCT020
BKN130
SCT020
BKN130
FEW045
FEW190
BKN035CB
BKN035CB
FEW045
FEW190
FEW070
FEW240
FEW070
FEW240
FEW070
FEW240
FEW070
FEW240
FEW070
FEW240
FEW070
FEW240
SCT020
BKN130
SCT020
BKN130
SCT020
BKN130
SCT020
BKN130
BKN025CB
BKN025CB
BKN025CB
SCT025
BKN029
Ceiling
13,000 ft
AGL
13,000 ft
AGL
13,000 ft
AGL
13,000 ft
AGL
13,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
13,000 ft
AGL
13,000 ft
AGL
13,000 ft
AGL
13,000 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,900 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌇 19:20Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:20Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:20Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:20Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:39Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:39Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:39Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:39Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:39Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
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 occurrence • AGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
210° at 20 kt
Gusts: 30 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT020 BKN130
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southwest (210°) at 20 kt. Gusts up to 30 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet, Broken clouds at 13000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 18:00Z - 21:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN022CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 2200 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM102300 23:00Z - 05:00Z
VFR
Wind
250° at 15 kt
Gusts: 23 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW045 FEW190
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 23 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 4500 feet, Few clouds at 19000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 00:00Z - 02:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
>6SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN035CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 3500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM110300 03:00Z - 09:00Z
VFR
Wind
300° at 9 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW070 FEW240
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 7000 feet, Few clouds at 24000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM111300 13:00Z - 19:00Z
MVFR
Wind
170° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT025 BKN029
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (170°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 2500 feet, Broken clouds at 2900 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

PROB30 13:00Z - 16:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN025CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. 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.