Fairchild Air Force Base

KSKA / SKA

Spokane, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KSKA 240300Z 2403/2509 02012KT 9999 SCT080 BKN120 QNH2997INS BECMG 2407/2408 03009KT 9999 SCT150 QNH3001INS BECMG 2415/2416 03012KT 9999 SCT120 QNH3002INS BECMG 2421/2422 VRB06KT 9999 BKN100 QNH2995INS TX14/2422Z TN03/2410Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Fri
03:00Z
+-1h
Fri
04:00Z
+0h
Fri
05:00Z
+1h
Fri
06:00Z
+2h
Fri
07:00Z
+3h
Fri
08:00Z
+4h
Fri
09:00Z
+5h
Fri
10:00Z
+6h
Fri
11:00Z
+7h
Fri
12:00Z
+8h
Fri
13:00Z
+9h
Fri
14:00Z
+10h
Fri
15:00Z
+11h
Fri
16:00Z
+12h
Fri
17:00Z
+13h
Fri
18:00Z
+14h
Fri
19:00Z
+15h
Fri
20:00Z
+16h
Fri
21:00Z
+17h
Fri
22:00Z
+18h
Fri
23:00Z
+19h
Sat
00:00Z
+20h
Sat
01:00Z
+21h
Sat
02:00Z
+22h
Sat
03:00Z
+23h
Sat
04:00Z
+24h
Sat
05:00Z
+25h
Sat
06:00Z
+26h
Sat
07:00Z
+27h
Wind Dir
20°
N
20°
N
20°
N
20°
N
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 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
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT080
BKN120
SCT080
BKN120
SCT080
BKN120
SCT080
BKN120
SCT150
SCT150
SCT150
SCT150
SCT150
SCT150
SCT150
SCT150
SCT120
SCT120
SCT120
SCT120
SCT120
SCT120
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
Ceiling
12,000 ft
AGL
12,000 ft
AGL
12,000 ft
AGL
12,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:13Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:13Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:13Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:13Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:13Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:46Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:46Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:46Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:46Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:46Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:12Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:12Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:12Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:12Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:12Z
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
20° at 12 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT080 BKN120
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the North-Northeast (20°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 8000 feet, Broken clouds at 12000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 07:00Z - 08:00Z
VFR
Wind
30° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the North-Northeast (30°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 15000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 15:00Z - 16:00Z
VFR
Wind
30° at 12 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT120
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the North-Northeast (30°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 12000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 21:00Z - 22:00Z
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.

📚 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.