Rapid City Regional Airport

KRAP / RAP

Rapid City, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KRAP 051120Z 0512/0612 VRB05KT P6SM BKN200 FM051900 36010KT P6SM SCT250 FM060200 34022G35KT P6SM BKN050

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
13:00Z
+-1h
Thu
14:00Z
+0h
Thu
15:00Z
+1h
Thu
16:00Z
+2h
Thu
17:00Z
+3h
Thu
18:00Z
+4h
Thu
19:00Z
+5h
Thu
20:00Z
+6h
Thu
21:00Z
+7h
Thu
22:00Z
+8h
Thu
23:00Z
+9h
Fri
00:00Z
+10h
Fri
01:00Z
+11h
Fri
02:00Z
+12h
Fri
03:00Z
+13h
Fri
04:00Z
+14h
Fri
05:00Z
+15h
Fri
06:00Z
+16h
Fri
07:00Z
+17h
Fri
08:00Z
+18h
Fri
09:00Z
+19h
Fri
10:00Z
+20h
Wind Dir
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
VRB
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
VRB
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
5 kt
22 kt
G35 kt
22 kt
G35 kt
22 kt
G35 kt
22 kt
G35 kt
22 kt
G35 kt
22 kt
G35 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 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
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
BKN200
BKN200
BKN200
BKN200
BKN200
BKN200
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
BKN200
BKN050
BKN050
BKN050
BKN050
BKN050
BKN050
BKN200
BKN200
BKN200
Ceiling
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
20,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
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
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:34Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:34Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:34Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:34Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:34Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:24Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:24Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:24Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:24Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:24Z
☀️
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
VRB° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds will be variable in direction at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM051900 19:00Z - 01:00Z
VFR
Wind
360° at 10 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (360°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM060200 02:00Z - 08:00Z
VFR
Wind
340° at 22 kt
Gusts: 35 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northwest (340°) at 22 kt. Gusts up to 35 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 5000 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.