Patuxent River Naval Air Station (Trapnell Field)

KNHK / NHK

Patuxent River, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KNHK 211500Z 2115/2215 10007KT 9999 SKC QNH3033INS BECMG 2117/2118 13010KT 9999 FEW120 FEW250 QNH3017INS BECMG 2205/2206 20012KT 9999 BKN150 QNH3001INS TX14/2120Z TN10/2210Z FN20065

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Tue
21:00Z
+-1h
Tue
22:00Z
+0h
Tue
23:00Z
+1h
Wed
00:00Z
+2h
Wed
01:00Z
+3h
Wed
02:00Z
+4h
Wed
03:00Z
+5h
Wed
04:00Z
+6h
Wed
05:00Z
+7h
Wed
06:00Z
+8h
Wed
07:00Z
+9h
Wed
08:00Z
+10h
Wed
09:00Z
+11h
Wed
10:00Z
+12h
Wed
11:00Z
+13h
Wed
12:00Z
+14h
Wed
13:00Z
+15h
Wind Dir
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
Wind Speed
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 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
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
BKN150
BKN150
BKN150
BKN150
BKN150
BKN150
BKN150
BKN150
BKN150
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ 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
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:23Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:23Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:23Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:23Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:23Z
☀️
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
100° at 7 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East (100°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Skies will be clear. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 17:00Z - 18:00Z
VFR
Wind
130° at 10 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW120 FEW250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Southeast (130°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 12000 feet, Few clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 05:00Z - 06:00Z
VFR
Wind
200° at 12 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 15000 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.