Fairchild Air Force Base

KSKA / SKA

Spokane, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KSKA 081100Z 0811/0917 VRB06KT 9999 FEW200 QNH2983INS BECMG 0816/0817 19010G18KT 9999 SCT090 BKN150 621503 QNH2967INS BECMG 0902/0904 22015G25KT 9000 -SHRA BKN060 611404 QNH2969INS BECMG 0907/0908 18012KT 8000 -SHRA BKN005 611404 QNH2965INS BECMG 0911/0912 21012G18KT 8000 -SHRA BKN005 611404 QNH2966INS TEMPO 0914/0917 VRB15G25KT 4800 -TSRA OVC005CB TX22/0823Z TN04/0813Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Mon
13:00Z
+-1h
Mon
14:00Z
+0h
Mon
15:00Z
+1h
Mon
16:00Z
+2h
Mon
17:00Z
+3h
Mon
18:00Z
+4h
Mon
19:00Z
+5h
Mon
20:00Z
+6h
Mon
21:00Z
+7h
Mon
22:00Z
+8h
Mon
23:00Z
+9h
Tue
00:00Z
+10h
Tue
01:00Z
+11h
Tue
02:00Z
+12h
Tue
03:00Z
+13h
Tue
04:00Z
+14h
Tue
05:00Z
+15h
Tue
06:00Z
+16h
Tue
07:00Z
+17h
Tue
08:00Z
+18h
Tue
09:00Z
+19h
Tue
10:00Z
+20h
Tue
11:00Z
+21h
Tue
12:00Z
+22h
Tue
13:00Z
+23h
Tue
14:00Z
+24h
Tue
15:00Z
+25h
Wind Dir
VRB
VRB
VRB
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 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
9 km
9 km
9 km
9 km
9 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
4.8 km
4.8 km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Clouds
FEW200
FEW200
FEW200
SCT090
BKN150
SCT090
BKN150
SCT090
BKN150
SCT090
BKN150
SCT090
BKN150
SCT090
BKN150
SCT090
BKN150
SCT090
BKN150
SCT090
BKN150
SCT090
BKN150
BKN060
BKN060
BKN060
BKN060
BKN060
BKN005
BKN005
BKN005
BKN005
BKN005
BKN005
BKN005
OVC005CB
OVC005CB
Ceiling
🌤️ 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
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR LIFR LIFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:25Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:25Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:25Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:25Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:25Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:33Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:33Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:33Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:33Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:33Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
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
10+ km
Clouds
FEW200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds will be variable in direction at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 16:00Z - 17:00Z
VFR
Wind
190° at 10 kt
Gusts: 18 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT090 BKN150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South (190°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 18 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 9000 feet, Broken clouds at 15000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 02:00Z - 04:00Z
VFR
Wind
220° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
9 km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN060
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 9 km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 6000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 07:00Z - 08:00Z
IFR
Wind
180° at 12 kt
Visibility
8 km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN005
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South (180°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be good at 8 km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 500 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 11:00Z - 12:00Z
IFR
Wind
210° at 12 kt
Gusts: 18 kt
Visibility
8 km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN005
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South-Southwest (210°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 18 kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 8 km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 500 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

TEMPO 14:00Z - 17:00Z
LIFR
Wind
VRB° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
4.8 km
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
OVC005CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds will be variable in direction at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be moderate at 4.8 km. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Overcast skies at 500 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument 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.