Fairchild Air Force Base

KSKA / SKA

Spokane, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KSKA 160300Z 1603/1709 08006KT 9999 BKN100 QNH3023INS BECMG 1617/1618 08012G18KT 9999 FEW250 QNH3017INS BECMG 1701/1702 VRB06KT 9999 FEW250 QNH3016INS TX25/1623Z TN09/1612Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Tue
05:00Z
+-1h
Tue
06:00Z
+0h
Tue
07:00Z
+1h
Tue
08:00Z
+2h
Tue
09:00Z
+3h
Tue
10:00Z
+4h
Tue
11:00Z
+5h
Tue
12:00Z
+6h
Tue
13:00Z
+7h
Tue
14:00Z
+8h
Tue
15:00Z
+9h
Tue
16:00Z
+10h
Tue
17:00Z
+11h
Tue
18:00Z
+12h
Tue
19:00Z
+13h
Tue
20:00Z
+14h
Tue
21:00Z
+15h
Tue
22:00Z
+16h
Tue
23:00Z
+17h
Wed
00:00Z
+18h
Wed
01:00Z
+19h
Wed
02:00Z
+20h
Wed
03:00Z
+21h
Wed
04:00Z
+22h
Wed
05:00Z
+23h
Wed
06:00Z
+24h
Wed
07:00Z
+25h
Wind Dir
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
12kt
G18kt
12kt
G18kt
12kt
G18kt
12kt
G18kt
12kt
G18kt
12kt
G18kt
12kt
G18kt
12kt
G18kt
6kt
G18kt
6kt
G18kt
6kt
G18kt
6kt
G18kt
6kt
G18kt
6kt
G18kt
6kt
G18kt
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
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
Clouds
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
Ceiling
10000ft
AGL
10000ft
AGL
10000ft
AGL
10000ft
AGL
10000ft
AGL
10000ft
AGL
10000ft
AGL
10000ft
AGL
10000ft
AGL
10000ft
AGL
10000ft
AGL
10000ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
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
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:51
☀️
Day
🌅 05:51
☀️
Day
🌅 05:51
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:08
☀️
Day
🌇 18:08
☀️
Day
🌇 18:08
🌙
Night
🌇 18:08
🌙
Night
🌇 18:08
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:52
🌙
Night
🌅 05:52
🌙
Night
🌅 05:52
☀️
Day
🌅 05:52
☀️
Day
🌅 05:52
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
80° at 6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East (80°) at 6kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 10000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 2025-09-16 17:00:00 - 2025-09-16 18:00:00
VFR
Wind
80° at 12 kt
Gusts: 18 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the East (80°) at 12kt. Gusts up to 18kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 2025-09-17 01:00:00 - 2025-09-17 02:00:00
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds will be variable in direction at 6kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 25000 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.