Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field)

KNUW / NUW

Oak Harbor, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KNUW 0415/0515 VRB06KT 9999 VCSH SCT015 BKN030 OVC050 QNH2975INS TEMPO 0415/0420 09008KT 6000 -SHRA BR BKN015 OVC025 FM042000 27008G15KT 9999 VCSH SCT015 BKN030 BKN100 540009 QNH2985INS FM050200 27022G34KT 9000 -SHRA BR BKN015 OVC040 540009 QNH2992INS FM051400 27018G25KT 9999 VCSH FEW015 BKN040 540009 QNH3002INS TX12/0423Z TN02/0513Z FS30028

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
17:00Z
+-1h
Wed
18:00Z
+0h
Wed
19:00Z
+1h
Wed
20:00Z
+2h
Wed
21:00Z
+3h
Wed
22:00Z
+4h
Wed
23:00Z
+5h
Thu
00:00Z
+6h
Thu
01:00Z
+7h
Thu
02:00Z
+8h
Thu
03:00Z
+9h
Thu
04:00Z
+10h
Thu
05:00Z
+11h
Thu
06:00Z
+12h
Thu
07:00Z
+13h
Thu
08:00Z
+14h
Thu
09:00Z
+15h
Thu
10:00Z
+16h
Thu
11:00Z
+17h
Thu
12:00Z
+18h
Thu
13:00Z
+19h
Thu
14:00Z
+20h
Thu
15:00Z
+21h
Thu
16:00Z
+22h
Thu
17:00Z
+23h
Thu
18:00Z
+24h
Wind Dir
VRB
VRB
VRB
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
Wind Speed
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
8 kt
G15 kt
8 kt
G15 kt
8 kt
G15 kt
8 kt
G15 kt
8 kt
G15 kt
8 kt
G15 kt
22 kt
G34 kt
22 kt
G34 kt
22 kt
G34 kt
22 kt
G34 kt
22 kt
G34 kt
22 kt
G34 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 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
9 km
9 km
9 km
9 km
9 km
9 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
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
Light Showers Rain, Mist
-SHRA BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT015
BKN030
SCT015
BKN030
SCT015
BKN030
SCT015
BKN030
SCT015
BKN030
SCT015
BKN030
SCT015
BKN030
SCT015
BKN030
SCT015
BKN030
BKN015
OVC040
BKN015
OVC040
BKN015
OVC040
BKN015
OVC040
BKN015
OVC040
BKN015
OVC040
SCT015
BKN030
SCT015
BKN030
SCT015
BKN030
SCT015
BKN030
SCT015
BKN030
SCT015
BKN030
FEW015
BKN040
FEW015
BKN040
FEW015
BKN040
FEW015
BKN040
FEW015
BKN040
Ceiling
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌇 17:31Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:31Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:31Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:27Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:27Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:27Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:27Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:27Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:32Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:32Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:32Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:32Z
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
VRB° at 6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT015 BKN030 OVC050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds will be variable in direction at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 1500 feet, Broken clouds at 3000 feet, Overcast skies at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 15:00Z - 20:00Z
MVFR
Wind
90° at 8 kt
Visibility
6 km
Weather
Light Showers Rain, Mist
Clouds
BKN015 OVC025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the East (90°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be good at 6 km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain, Mist. Broken clouds at 1500 feet, Overcast skies at 2500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM042000 20:00Z - 02:00Z
VFR
Wind
270° at 8 kt
Gusts: 15 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT015 BKN030 BKN100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (270°) at 8 kt. Gusts up to 15 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 1500 feet, Broken clouds at 3000 feet, Broken clouds at 10000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050200 02:00Z - 08:00Z
MVFR
Wind
270° at 22 kt
Gusts: 34 kt
Visibility
9 km
Weather
Light Showers Rain, Mist
Clouds
BKN015 OVC040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (270°) at 22 kt. Gusts up to 34 kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 9 km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain, Mist. Broken clouds at 1500 feet, Overcast skies at 4000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM051400 14:00Z - 20:00Z
VFR
Wind
270° at 18 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW015 BKN040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (270°) at 18 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 1500 feet, Broken clouds at 4000 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.