Northwest Alabama Regional Airport

KMSL / MSL

Muscle Shoals, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KMSL 042324Z 0500/0524 20009G15KT P6SM SCT040 BKN100 FM051200 17005KT P6SM BKN050 FM051400 19008G16KT P6SM SCT035 BKN200

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
01:00Z
+-1h
Thu
02:00Z
+0h
Thu
03:00Z
+1h
Thu
04:00Z
+2h
Thu
05:00Z
+3h
Thu
06:00Z
+4h
Thu
07:00Z
+5h
Thu
08:00Z
+6h
Thu
09:00Z
+7h
Thu
10:00Z
+8h
Thu
11:00Z
+9h
Thu
12:00Z
+10h
Thu
13:00Z
+11h
Thu
14:00Z
+12h
Thu
15:00Z
+13h
Thu
16:00Z
+14h
Thu
17:00Z
+15h
Thu
18:00Z
+16h
Thu
19:00Z
+17h
Thu
20:00Z
+18h
Thu
21:00Z
+19h
Thu
22:00Z
+20h
Wind Dir
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
170°
S
170°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
Wind Speed
9 kt
G15 kt
9 kt
G15 kt
9 kt
G15 kt
9 kt
G15 kt
9 kt
G15 kt
9 kt
G15 kt
9 kt
G15 kt
9 kt
G15 kt
9 kt
G15 kt
9 kt
G15 kt
9 kt
G15 kt
5 kt
G15 kt
5 kt
G15 kt
8 kt
G16 kt
8 kt
G16 kt
8 kt
G16 kt
8 kt
G16 kt
8 kt
G16 kt
8 kt
G16 kt
9 kt
G15 kt
9 kt
G15 kt
9 kt
G15 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT040
BKN100
SCT040
BKN100
SCT040
BKN100
SCT040
BKN100
SCT040
BKN100
SCT040
BKN100
SCT040
BKN100
SCT040
BKN100
SCT040
BKN100
SCT040
BKN100
SCT040
BKN100
BKN050
BKN050
SCT035
BKN200
SCT035
BKN200
SCT035
BKN200
SCT035
BKN200
SCT035
BKN200
SCT035
BKN200
SCT040
BKN100
SCT040
BKN100
SCT040
BKN100
Ceiling
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 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
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:20Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:20Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:20Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:20Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:20Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:39Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:39Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:39Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:39Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:39Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
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
200° at 9 kt
Gusts: 15 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT040 BKN100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 9 kt. Gusts up to 15 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet, Broken clouds at 10000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM051200 12:00Z - 18:00Z
VFR
Wind
170° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (170°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM051400 14:00Z - 20:00Z
VFR
Wind
190° at 8 kt
Gusts: 16 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT035 BKN200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (190°) at 8 kt. Gusts up to 16 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 3500 feet, Broken clouds at 20000 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.