Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field)

KNUW / NUW

Oak Harbor, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KNUW 081500Z 0815/0915 10008KT 9999 SCT080 BKN150 QNH2970INS FM081700 13010KT 9999 VCSH SCT035 BKN050 OVC060 640709 QNH2957INS TEMPO 0818/0900 VRB06KT 9000 -SHRA SCT025 BKN035 OVC050 BECMG 0901/0903 VRB06KT 9999 -SHRA SCT020 BKN045 OVC050 640709 QNH2958INS TEMPO 0903/0907 4800 +SHRA BKN020 OVC045 BECMG 0907/0909 25012G18KT 8000 -SHRA BR BKN015 OVC025 640709 540409 QNH2954INS TX17/0823Z TN07/0812Z FS30028

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Mon
21:00Z
+-1h
Mon
22:00Z
+0h
Mon
23:00Z
+1h
Tue
00:00Z
+2h
Tue
01:00Z
+3h
Tue
02:00Z
+4h
Tue
03:00Z
+5h
Tue
04:00Z
+6h
Tue
05:00Z
+7h
Tue
06:00Z
+8h
Tue
07:00Z
+9h
Tue
08:00Z
+10h
Tue
09:00Z
+11h
Tue
10:00Z
+12h
Tue
11:00Z
+13h
Tue
12:00Z
+14h
Tue
13:00Z
+15h
Wind Dir
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
VRB
VRB
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
Wind Speed
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
6 kt
6 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
4.8 km
4.8 km
4.8 km
4.8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Heavy Showers Rain
+SHRA
Heavy Showers Rain
+SHRA
Heavy Showers Rain
+SHRA
Heavy Showers Rain
+SHRA
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
Light Showers Rain, Mist
-SHRA BR
Clouds
SCT080
BKN150
SCT080
BKN150
SCT080
BKN150
SCT080
BKN150
SCT020
BKN045
SCT020
BKN045
BKN020
OVC045
BKN020
OVC045
BKN020
OVC045
BKN020
OVC045
BKN015
OVC025
BKN015
OVC025
BKN015
OVC025
BKN015
OVC025
BKN015
OVC025
BKN015
OVC025
BKN015
OVC025
Ceiling
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
4,500 ft
AGL
4,500 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 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
1,500 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR IFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌇 19:26Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:32Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:32Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:32Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:32Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:32Z
☀️
Day
☀️
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 occurrence • AGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
100° at 8 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT080 BKN150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East (100°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 8000 feet, Broken clouds at 15000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM081700 17:00Z - 23:00Z
VFR
Wind
130° at 10 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT035 BKN050 OVC060
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southeast (130°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 3500 feet, Broken clouds at 5000 feet, Overcast skies at 6000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 18:00Z - 00:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 6 kt
Visibility
9 km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT025 BKN035 OVC050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds will be variable in direction at 6 kt. Visibility will be good at 9 km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 2500 feet, Broken clouds at 3500 feet, Overcast skies at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 01:00Z - 03:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT020 BKN045 OVC050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds will be variable in direction at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet, Broken clouds at 4500 feet, Overcast skies at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 03:00Z - 07:00Z
IFR
Visibility
4.8 km
Weather
Heavy Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN020 OVC045
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be moderate at 4.8 km. Weather conditions: Heavy Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 2000 feet, Overcast skies at 4500 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 07:00Z - 09:00Z
MVFR
Wind
250° at 12 kt
Gusts: 18 kt
Visibility
8 km
Weather
Light Showers Rain, Mist
Clouds
BKN015 OVC025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 18 kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 8 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.

📚 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.