Sidney - Richland Regional Airport

KSDY / SDY

Sidney, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KSDY 041740Z 0418/0518 VRB06KT P6SM FEW150 FM050000 05012KT P6SM BKN150 FM051000 08010KT P6SM OVC018 FM051700 05007KT P6SM BKN035

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
19:00Z
+-1h
Wed
20:00Z
+0h
Wed
21:00Z
+1h
Wed
22:00Z
+2h
Wed
23:00Z
+3h
Thu
00:00Z
+4h
Thu
01:00Z
+5h
Thu
02:00Z
+6h
Thu
03:00Z
+7h
Thu
04:00Z
+8h
Thu
05:00Z
+9h
Thu
06:00Z
+10h
Thu
07:00Z
+11h
Thu
08:00Z
+12h
Thu
09:00Z
+13h
Thu
10:00Z
+14h
Thu
11:00Z
+15h
Thu
12:00Z
+16h
Thu
13:00Z
+17h
Thu
14:00Z
+18h
Thu
15:00Z
+19h
Thu
16:00Z
+20h
Wind Dir
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
VRB
Wind Speed
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
6 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
FEW150
FEW150
FEW150
FEW150
FEW150
BKN150
BKN150
BKN150
BKN150
BKN150
BKN150
FEW150
FEW150
FEW150
FEW150
OVC018
OVC018
OVC018
OVC018
OVC018
OVC018
FEW150
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
1,800 ft
AGL
1,800 ft
AGL
1,800 ft
AGL
1,800 ft
AGL
1,800 ft
AGL
1,800 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌇 17:31Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:27Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:27Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:27Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:27Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:27Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:32Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:32Z
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 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds will be variable in direction at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 15000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050000 00:00Z - 06:00Z
VFR
Wind
50° at 12 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northeast (50°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 15000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM051000 10:00Z - 16:00Z
MVFR
Wind
80° at 10 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
OVC018
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East (80°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Overcast skies at 1800 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM051700 17:00Z - 23:00Z
VFR
Wind
50° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN035
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northeast (50°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 3500 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.