Ellsworth Air Force Base

KRCA / RCA

Rapid City, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF COR KRCA 241913Z 2419/2601 VRB06KT 6000 -RASN BKN015 OVC030 620159 QNH2981INS BECMG 2500/2501 VRB06KT 9999 NSW BKN100 QNH2990INS TEMPO 2517/2521 9000 -SHRA BKN040 BECMG 2520/2521 15010G15KT 9999 OVC040 QNH2994INS TX04/2519Z TN00/2506Z LAST NO AMDS AFT 2419 NEXT 2703

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
01:00Z
+-1h
Sat
02:00Z
+0h
Sat
03:00Z
+1h
Sat
04:00Z
+2h
Sat
05:00Z
+3h
Sat
06:00Z
+4h
Sat
07:00Z
+5h
Sat
08:00Z
+6h
Sat
09:00Z
+7h
Sat
10:00Z
+8h
Sat
11:00Z
+9h
Sat
12:00Z
+10h
Sat
13:00Z
+11h
Sat
14:00Z
+12h
Sat
15:00Z
+13h
Sat
16:00Z
+14h
Sat
17:00Z
+15h
Sat
18:00Z
+16h
Sat
19:00Z
+17h
Sat
20:00Z
+18h
Sat
21:00Z
+19h
Sat
22:00Z
+20h
Sat
23:00Z
+21h
Wind Dir
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
Wind Speed
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
Visibility
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
9 km
9 km
9 km
9 km
2.703 km
2.703 km
2.703 km
Weather
Light RASN
-RASN
Light RASN
-RASN
Light RASN
-RASN
Light RASN
-RASN
Light RASN
-RASN
Light RASN
-RASN
Light RASN
-RASN
Light RASN
-RASN
Light RASN
-RASN
Light RASN
-RASN
Light RASN
-RASN
Light RASN
-RASN
Light RASN
-RASN
Light RASN
-RASN
Light RASN
-RASN
Light RASN
-RASN
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
BKN015
OVC030
BKN015
OVC030
BKN015
OVC030
BKN015
OVC030
BKN015
OVC030
BKN015
OVC030
BKN015
OVC030
BKN015
OVC030
BKN015
OVC030
BKN015
OVC030
BKN015
OVC030
BKN015
OVC030
BKN015
OVC030
BKN015
OVC030
BKN015
OVC030
BKN015
OVC030
BKN040
BKN040
BKN040
BKN040
OVC040
OVC040
OVC040
Ceiling
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:15Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:15Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:15Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:15Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:15Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:44Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:44Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:44Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:44Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:44Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
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
VRB° at 6 kt
Visibility
6 km
Weather
Light RASN
Clouds
BKN015 OVC030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds will be variable in direction at 6 kt. Visibility will be good at 6 km. Weather conditions: Light RASN. Broken clouds at 1500 feet, Overcast skies at 3000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 00:00Z - 01:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds will be variable in direction at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 10000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 17:00Z - 21:00Z
VFR
Visibility
9 km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be good at 9 km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 20:00Z - 21:00Z
IFR
Wind
150° at 10 kt
Gusts: 15 kt
Visibility
2.703 km
Clouds
OVC040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South-Southeast (150°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 15 kt are expected. Visibility will be moderate at 2.703 km. Overcast skies at 4000 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.