Ellsworth Air Force Base
KRCA / RCA
Rapid City, US
Current TAF Forecast
Detailed TAF Table
| Parameter |
Tue
06:00Z
+-1h
|
Tue
07:00Z
+0h
|
Tue
08:00Z
+1h
|
Tue
09:00Z
+2h
|
Tue
10:00Z
+3h
|
Tue
11:00Z
+4h
|
Tue
12:00Z
+5h
|
Tue
13:00Z
+6h
|
Tue
14:00Z
+7h
|
Tue
15:00Z
+8h
|
Tue
16:00Z
+9h
|
Tue
17:00Z
+10h
|
Tue
18:00Z
+11h
|
Tue
19:00Z
+12h
|
Tue
20:00Z
+13h
|
Tue
21:00Z
+14h
|
Tue
22:00Z
+15h
|
Tue
23:00Z
+16h
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wind Dir |
150°
SE
|
150°
SE
|
150°
SE
|
150°
SE
|
150°
SE
|
150°
SE
|
150°
SE
|
320°
NW
|
320°
NW
|
320°
NW
|
320°
NW
|
320°
NW
|
320°
NW
|
320°
NW
|
320°
NW
|
320°
NW
|
320°
NW
|
320°
NW
|
| Wind Speed |
12kt
|
12kt
|
12kt
|
12kt
|
12kt
|
12kt
|
12kt
|
15kt
G25kt
|
15kt
G25kt
|
15kt
G25kt
|
15kt
G25kt
|
15kt
G25kt
|
15kt
G25kt
|
15kt
G25kt
|
15kt
G25kt
|
15kt
G25kt
|
15kt
G25kt
|
15kt
G25kt
|
| Visibility |
10+ km
|
10+ km
|
10+ km
|
10+ km
|
10+ km
|
10+ km
|
10+ km
|
1.619 km
|
1.619 km
|
1.619 km
|
1.619 km
|
1.619 km
|
1.619 km
|
1.619 km
|
1.619 km
|
1.619 km
|
1.619 km
|
1.619 km
|
| Weather |
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
| Clouds |
SCT250
|
SCT250
|
SCT250
|
SCT250
|
SCT250
|
SCT250
|
SCT250
|
SCT080
|
SCT080
|
SCT080
|
SCT080
|
SCT080
|
SCT080
|
SCT080
|
SCT080
|
SCT080
|
SCT080
|
SCT080
|
| Ceiling |
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
🌤️ Unlimited
|
| Flight Rules | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Day/Night |
☀️
Day
🌅
05:51
|
☀️
Day
🌅
05:51
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
🌇
18:08
|
☀️
Day
🌇
18:08
|
☀️
Day
🌇
18:08
|
🌙
Night
🌇
18:08
|
🌙
Night
🌇
18:08
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
|
Forecast Periods
📖 Plain English Explanation:
This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southeast (150°) at 12kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.
📖 Plain English Explanation:
Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds will be variable in direction at 25kt. Gusts up to 40kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 6 km. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 8000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.
📖 Plain English Explanation:
Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Northwest (320°) at 12kt. Gusts up to 18kt are expected. Broken clouds at 6000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.
📖 Plain English Explanation:
Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Northwest (320°) at 15kt. Gusts up to 25kt are expected. Visibility will be moderate at 1.619 km. Scattered clouds at 8000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.
📚 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.