Ellsworth Air Force Base

KRCA / RCA

Rapid City, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KRCA 050300Z 0503/0609 22006KT 9999 FEW100 QNH2965INS BECMG 0521/0522 35006KT 9999 BKN080 QNH2958INS TEMPO 0522/0604 35010G20KT 4800 -RA BKN020 TX20/0519Z TN02/0509Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
11:00Z
+-1h
Thu
12:00Z
+0h
Thu
13:00Z
+1h
Thu
14:00Z
+2h
Thu
15:00Z
+3h
Thu
16:00Z
+4h
Thu
17:00Z
+5h
Thu
18:00Z
+6h
Thu
19:00Z
+7h
Thu
20:00Z
+8h
Thu
21:00Z
+9h
Thu
22:00Z
+10h
Thu
23:00Z
+11h
Fri
00:00Z
+12h
Fri
01:00Z
+13h
Fri
02:00Z
+14h
Fri
03:00Z
+15h
Fri
04:00Z
+16h
Fri
05:00Z
+17h
Fri
06:00Z
+18h
Fri
07:00Z
+19h
Wind Dir
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
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
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
4.8 km
4.8 km
4.8 km
4.8 km
4.8 km
4.8 km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ 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 Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW100
FEW100
FEW100
FEW100
FEW100
FEW100
FEW100
FEW100
FEW100
FEW100
BKN080
BKN020
BKN020
BKN020
BKN020
BKN020
BKN020
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
8,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
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
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
350° at 6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the North (350°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 8000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 22:00Z - 04:00Z
IFR
Wind
350° at 10 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
4.8 km
Weather
Light Rain
Clouds
BKN020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the North (350°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt are expected. Visibility will be moderate at 4.8 km. Weather conditions: Light Rain. Broken clouds at 2000 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.