Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field)

KNUW / NUW

Oak Harbor, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KNUW 221500Z 2215/2315 32008KT 9999 VCSH SCT010 BKN025 OVC040 620709 QNH2985INS BECMG 2219/2221 24007KT 9999 SCT035 BKN060 BKN110 BKN200 620709 QNH2988INS FM230500 14010KT 9999 BKN035 BKN060 BKN200 600000 QNH3000INS TX13/2223Z TN09/2313Z FS30028

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
22:00Z
+-1h
Wed
23:00Z
+0h
Thu
00:00Z
+1h
Thu
01:00Z
+2h
Thu
02:00Z
+3h
Thu
03:00Z
+4h
Thu
04:00Z
+5h
Thu
05:00Z
+6h
Thu
06:00Z
+7h
Thu
07:00Z
+8h
Thu
08:00Z
+9h
Thu
09:00Z
+10h
Thu
10:00Z
+11h
Thu
11:00Z
+12h
Thu
12:00Z
+13h
Thu
13:00Z
+14h
Wind Dir
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
Wind Speed
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 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
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT010
BKN025
SCT010
BKN025
SCT010
BKN025
SCT010
BKN025
SCT010
BKN025
SCT010
BKN025
SCT010
BKN025
BKN035
BKN060
BKN035
BKN060
BKN035
BKN060
BKN035
BKN060
BKN035
BKN060
BKN035
BKN060
SCT010
BKN025
SCT010
BKN025
SCT010
BKN025
Ceiling
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
Flight Rules MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:14Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:14Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:14Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:14Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:14Z
☀️
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
MVFR
Wind
320° at 8 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT010 BKN025 OVC040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Northwest (320°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 1000 feet, Broken clouds at 2500 feet, Overcast skies at 4000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 19:00Z - 21:00Z
VFR
Wind
240° at 7 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT035 BKN060 BKN110 BKN200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West-Southwest (240°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 3500 feet, Broken clouds at 6000 feet, Broken clouds at 11000 feet, Broken clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM230500 05:00Z - 11:00Z
VFR
Wind
140° at 10 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN035 BKN060 BKN200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southeast (140°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 3500 feet, Broken clouds at 6000 feet, Broken clouds at 20000 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.