China Lake Naws (Armitage Field) Airport

KNID

China Lake, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KNID 0423/0523 26012KT 9999 FEW160 FEW250 520009 540909 QNH2982INS TEMPO 0502/0508 25018G25KT FM051100 33015KT 9999 FEW150 FEW220 520009 540909 QNH2984INS TEMPO 0514/0520 35018G25KT AUTOMATED SENSOR METWATCH 0423 TIL 0515 TX19/0522Z TN04/0514Z FS30217 Z TN12/0511Z

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
Wind Dir
260°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
330°
NW
330°
NW
330°
NW
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
Wind Speed
12 kt
18 kt
G25 kt
18 kt
G25 kt
18 kt
G25 kt
18 kt
G25 kt
18 kt
G25 kt
18 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
15 kt
15 kt
15 kt
18 kt
G25 kt
18 kt
G25 kt
18 kt
G25 kt
18 kt
G25 kt
18 kt
G25 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
0.515 km
0.515 km
0.515 km
0.515 km
0.515 km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW160
FEW250
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
FEW160
FEW250
FEW160
FEW250
FEW160
FEW250
FEW150
FEW220
FEW150
FEW220
FEW150
FEW220
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:21Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:21Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:21Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:21Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:21Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:38Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:38Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:38Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:38Z
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
260° at 12 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW160 FEW250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West (260°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 16000 feet, Few clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 02:00Z - 08:00Z
VFR
Wind
250° at 18 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 18 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM051100 11:00Z - 17:00Z
VFR
Wind
330° at 15 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW150 FEW220
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northwest (330°) at 15 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 15000 feet, Few clouds at 22000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 14:00Z - 20:00Z
LIFR
Wind
350° at 18 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
0.515 km
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the North (350°) at 18 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be poor at 0.515 km. 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.