Ellsworth Air Force Base

KRCA / RCA

Rapid City, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KRCA 051100Z 0511/0617 22006KT 9999 FEW100 QNH2962INS BECMG 0521/0522 33010G15KT 9999 SCT080 QNH2958INS BECMG 0600/0601 34015G25KT 8000 -RA SCT120 BKN150 QNH2962INS BECMG 0604/0605 35020G32KT 6000 -RASN BKN080 620802 520008 QNH2975INS TEMPO 0605/0617 35025G35KT 4800 -RASN TX18/0521Z TN02/0511Z

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
Fri
11:00Z
+21h
Fri
12:00Z
+22h
Fri
13:00Z
+23h
Fri
14:00Z
+24h
Fri
15:00Z
+25h
Wind Dir
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
330°
NW
330°
NW
330°
NW
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
Wind Speed
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
20 kt
G32 kt
25 kt
G35 kt
25 kt
G35 kt
25 kt
G35 kt
25 kt
G35 kt
25 kt
G35 kt
25 kt
G35 kt
25 kt
G35 kt
25 kt
G35 kt
25 kt
G35 kt
25 kt
G35 kt
25 kt
G35 kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
6 km
4.8 km
4.8 km
4.8 km
4.8 km
4.8 km
4.8 km
4.8 km
4.8 km
4.8 km
4.8 km
4.8 km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
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
Clouds
FEW100
FEW100
FEW100
FEW100
FEW100
FEW100
FEW100
FEW100
SCT080
SCT080
SCT080
SCT120
BKN150
SCT120
BKN150
SCT120
BKN150
SCT120
BKN150
BKN080
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR
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
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:35Z
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
220° at 6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 10000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 21:00Z - 22:00Z
VFR
Wind
330° at 10 kt
Gusts: 15 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the North-Northwest (330°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 15 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 8000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 00:00Z - 01:00Z
MVFR
Wind
340° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
8 km
Weather
Light Rain
Clouds
SCT120 BKN150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the North-Northwest (340°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 8 km. Weather conditions: Light Rain. Scattered clouds at 12000 feet, Broken clouds at 15000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 04:00Z - 05:00Z
MVFR
Wind
350° at 20 kt
Gusts: 32 kt
Visibility
6 km
Weather
Light RASN
Clouds
BKN080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the North (350°) at 20 kt. Gusts up to 32 kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 6 km. Weather conditions: Light RASN. Broken clouds at 8000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 05:00Z - 17:00Z
IFR
Wind
350° at 25 kt
Gusts: 35 kt
Visibility
4.8 km
Weather
Light RASN
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the North (350°) at 25 kt. Gusts up to 35 kt are expected. Visibility will be moderate at 4.8 km. Weather conditions: Light RASN. 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.