Patuxent River Naval Air Station (Trapnell Field)
KNHK / NHK
Patuxent River, US
Current TAF Forecast
Detailed TAF Table
| Parameter |
Tue
01:00Z
+-1h
|
Tue
02:00Z
+0h
|
Tue
03:00Z
+1h
|
Tue
04:00Z
+2h
|
Tue
05:00Z
+3h
|
Tue
06:00Z
+4h
|
Tue
07:00Z
+5h
|
Tue
08:00Z
+6h
|
Tue
09:00Z
+7h
|
Tue
10:00Z
+8h
|
Tue
11:00Z
+9h
|
Tue
12:00Z
+10h
|
Tue
13:00Z
+11h
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wind Dir |
60°
NE
|
40°
NE
|
40°
NE
|
40°
NE
|
40°
NE
|
40°
NE
|
40°
NE
|
40°
NE
|
VRB
|
VRB
|
VRB
|
VRB
|
VRB
|
| Wind Speed |
11kt
G20kt
|
12kt
G22kt
|
12kt
G22kt
|
18kt
G28kt
|
18kt
G28kt
|
18kt
G28kt
|
18kt
G28kt
|
18kt
G28kt
|
20kt
G35kt
|
20kt
G35kt
|
20kt
G35kt
|
20kt
G35kt
|
20kt
G35kt
|
| Visibility |
10+ km
|
10+ km
|
10+ km
|
8 km
|
8 km
|
8 km
|
8 km
|
8 km
|
4.8 km
|
4.8 km
|
4.8 km
|
4.8 km
|
4.8 km
|
| Weather |
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
Light Showers Rain, Mist
-SHRA BR
|
Light Showers Rain, Mist
-SHRA BR
|
Light Showers Rain, Mist
-SHRA BR
|
Light Showers Rain, Mist
-SHRA BR
|
Light Showers Rain, Mist
-SHRA BR
|
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
|
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
|
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
|
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
|
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
|
| Clouds |
FEW060
SCT160
|
SCT025
BKN060
|
SCT025
BKN060
|
SCT020
BKN035
|
SCT020
BKN035
|
SCT020
BKN035
|
SCT020
BKN035
|
SCT020
BKN035
|
BKN006CB
OVC012
|
BKN006CB
OVC012
|
BKN006CB
OVC012
|
BKN006CB
OVC012
|
BKN006CB
OVC012
|
| Ceiling |
25000ft
AGL
|
6000ft
AGL
|
6000ft
AGL
|
3500ft
AGL
|
3500ft
AGL
|
3500ft
AGL
|
3500ft
AGL
|
3500ft
AGL
|
600ft
AGL
|
600ft
AGL
|
600ft
AGL
|
600ft
AGL
|
600ft
AGL
|
| Flight Rules | VFR | VFR | VFR | MVFR | MVFR | MVFR | MVFR | MVFR | LIFR | LIFR | LIFR | LIFR | LIFR |
| Day/Night |
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
🌅
05:52
|
🌙
Night
🌅
05:52
|
🌙
Night
🌅
05:52
|
☀️
Day
🌅
05:52
|
☀️
Day
🌅
05:52
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
Forecast Periods
📖 Plain English Explanation:
This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East-Northeast (60°) at 11kt. Gusts up to 20kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 6000 feet, Scattered clouds at 16000 feet, Broken clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.
📖 Plain English Explanation:
Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Northeast (40°) at 12kt. Gusts up to 22kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 2500 feet, Broken clouds at 6000 feet, Overcast skies at 15000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.
📖 Plain English Explanation:
Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be good at 8 km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain, Mist. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet, Broken clouds at 3500 feet, Overcast skies at 11000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.
📖 Plain English Explanation:
Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Northeast (40°) at 15kt. Gusts up to 25kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 1200 feet, Overcast skies at 2000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.
📖 Plain English Explanation:
Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds will be variable in direction at 20kt. Gusts up to 35kt are expected. Visibility will be moderate at 4.8 km. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 600 feet, Overcast skies at 1200 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.
📖 Plain English Explanation:
Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Northeast (40°) at 18kt. Gusts up to 28kt are expected. Visibility will be moderate at 1.608 km. Weather conditions: Light Rain. Overcast skies at 500 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument 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.