Palmdale Regional Airport / USAF Plant 42 Airport

KPMD / PMD

Palmdale, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KPMD 211724Z 2118/2218 22015G25KT P6SM VCSH BKN070 FM212000 23022G32KT P6SM -SHRA SCT025 BKN060 FM220100 23020G30KT P6SM SCT060 FM220400 26014KT P6SM SCT250 FM221600 27018KT P6SM SKC

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Tue
19:00Z
+-1h
Tue
20:00Z
+0h
Tue
21:00Z
+1h
Tue
22:00Z
+2h
Tue
23:00Z
+3h
Wed
00:00Z
+4h
Wed
01:00Z
+5h
Wed
02:00Z
+6h
Wed
03:00Z
+7h
Wed
04:00Z
+8h
Wed
05:00Z
+9h
Wed
06:00Z
+10h
Wed
07:00Z
+11h
Wed
08:00Z
+12h
Wed
09:00Z
+13h
Wed
10:00Z
+14h
Wed
11:00Z
+15h
Wed
12:00Z
+16h
Wed
13:00Z
+17h
Wed
14:00Z
+18h
Wed
15:00Z
+19h
Wed
16:00Z
+20h
Wind Dir
220°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
270°
W
Wind Speed
15 kt
G25 kt
22 kt
G32 kt
22 kt
G32 kt
22 kt
G32 kt
22 kt
G32 kt
22 kt
G32 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
14 kt
G25 kt
14 kt
G25 kt
14 kt
G25 kt
14 kt
G25 kt
14 kt
G25 kt
14 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
18 kt
G25 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
BKN070
SCT025
BKN060
SCT025
BKN060
SCT025
BKN060
SCT025
BKN060
SCT025
BKN060
SCT060
SCT060
SCT060
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
BKN070
BKN070
BKN070
BKN070
BKN070
BKN070
CLR
Ceiling
7,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
7,000 ft
AGL
7,000 ft
AGL
7,000 ft
AGL
7,000 ft
AGL
7,000 ft
AGL
7,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:32Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:32Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:26Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:26Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:26Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:26Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:26Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:33Z
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
220° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN070
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 7000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM212000 20:00Z - 02:00Z
VFR
Wind
230° at 22 kt
Gusts: 32 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT025 BKN060
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (230°) at 22 kt. Gusts up to 32 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 2500 feet, Broken clouds at 6000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM220100 01:00Z - 07:00Z
VFR
Wind
230° at 20 kt
Gusts: 30 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT060
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (230°) at 20 kt. Gusts up to 30 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 6000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM220400 04:00Z - 10:00Z
VFR
Wind
260° at 14 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (260°) at 14 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM221600 16:00Z - 22:00Z
VFR
Wind
270° at 18 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (270°) at 18 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Skies will be clear. 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.