Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field)

KNUW / NUW

Oak Harbor, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KNUW 242300Z 2423/2523 26010G20KT 9999 FEW040 FEW150 QNH2984INS TEMPO 2504/2508 25012G24KT FEW010 SCT020 BKN040 BECMG 2508/2510 16010KT 9999 VCSH SCT010 BKN020 OVC040 QNH2986INS TEMPO 2510/2516 VRB06KT 9000 -SHRA BR SCT005 BKN010 OVC020 BECMG 2518/2520 17010KT 9999 NSW SCT020 BKN040 BKN080 QNH2990INS TX20/2423Z TN13/2512Z FS30228

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
02:00Z
+-1h
Sat
03:00Z
+0h
Sat
04:00Z
+1h
Sat
05:00Z
+2h
Sat
06:00Z
+3h
Sat
07:00Z
+4h
Sat
08:00Z
+5h
Sat
09:00Z
+6h
Sat
10:00Z
+7h
Sat
11:00Z
+8h
Sat
12:00Z
+9h
Sat
13:00Z
+10h
Sat
14:00Z
+11h
Sat
15:00Z
+12h
Sat
16:00Z
+13h
Sat
17:00Z
+14h
Sat
18:00Z
+15h
Sat
19:00Z
+16h
Sat
20:00Z
+17h
Sat
21:00Z
+18h
Wind Dir
260°
W
260°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
160°
S
160°
S
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
160°
S
160°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
Wind Speed
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G24 kt
12 kt
G24 kt
12 kt
G24 kt
12 kt
G24 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
6 kt
G20 kt
6 kt
G20 kt
6 kt
G20 kt
6 kt
G20 kt
6 kt
G20 kt
6 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
Visibility
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
Weather
☀️ 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
Clouds
FEW040
FEW150
FEW040
FEW150
FEW010
SCT020
FEW010
SCT020
FEW010
SCT020
FEW010
SCT020
SCT010
BKN020
SCT010
BKN020
SCT005
BKN010
SCT005
BKN010
SCT005
BKN010
SCT005
BKN010
SCT005
BKN010
SCT005
BKN010
SCT010
BKN020
SCT010
BKN020
SCT020
BKN040
SCT020
BKN040
SCT020
BKN040
SCT020
BKN040
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 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 MVFR MVFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:44Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:44Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:44Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:44Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:44Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:15Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:15Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:15Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:15Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:15Z
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 10 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW040 FEW150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West (260°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 4000 feet, Few clouds at 15000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 04:00Z - 08:00Z
VFR
Wind
250° at 12 kt
Gusts: 24 kt
Clouds
FEW010 SCT020 BKN040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 24 kt are expected. Few clouds at 1000 feet, Scattered clouds at 2000 feet, Broken clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 08:00Z - 10:00Z
MVFR
Wind
160° at 10 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT010 BKN020 OVC040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South-Southeast (160°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 1000 feet, Broken clouds at 2000 feet, Overcast skies at 4000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 10:00Z - 16:00Z
IFR
Wind
VRB° at 6 kt
Visibility
9 km
Weather
Light Showers Rain, Mist
Clouds
SCT005 BKN010 OVC020
📖 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, Mist. Scattered clouds at 500 feet, Broken clouds at 1000 feet, Overcast skies at 2000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 18:00Z - 20:00Z
VFR
Wind
170° at 10 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT020 BKN040 BKN080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South (170°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet, Broken clouds at 4000 feet, Broken clouds at 8000 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.