Whiteman Air Force Base

KSZL / SZL

Knob Noster, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KSZL 101900Z 1019/1201 22020G30KT 9999 SCT050 BKN160 621608 510003 QNH2970INS BECMG 1023/1024 22015G25KT 6000 -TSRA OVC060CB QNH2969INS TEMPO 1100/1102 22030G40KT 3200 TSRAGR OVC040CB BECMG 1102/1103 22020G25KT 4800 -SHRA OVC050 QNH2970INS BECMG 1103/1104 20012KT 9999 NSW SCT065 QNH2966INS BECMG 1115/1116 22010G20KT 9999 BKN040 OVC100 QNH2965INS TX33/1022Z TN24/1111Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
21:00Z
+-1h
Wed
22:00Z
+0h
Wed
23:00Z
+1h
Thu
00:00Z
+2h
Thu
01:00Z
+3h
Thu
02:00Z
+4h
Thu
03:00Z
+5h
Thu
04:00Z
+6h
Thu
05:00Z
+7h
Thu
06:00Z
+8h
Thu
07:00Z
+9h
Thu
08:00Z
+10h
Thu
09:00Z
+11h
Thu
10:00Z
+12h
Thu
11:00Z
+13h
Thu
12:00Z
+14h
Thu
13:00Z
+15h
Thu
14:00Z
+16h
Thu
15:00Z
+17h
Thu
16:00Z
+18h
Thu
17:00Z
+19h
Thu
18:00Z
+20h
Thu
19:00Z
+21h
Thu
20:00Z
+22h
Thu
21:00Z
+23h
Thu
22:00Z
+24h
Thu
23:00Z
+25h
Wind Dir
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
Wind Speed
20 kt
G30 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
30 kt
G40 kt
30 kt
G40 kt
20 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 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
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
6 km
3.2 km
3.2 km
4.8 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
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Thunderstorm RAGR
TSRAGR
Thunderstorm RAGR
TSRAGR
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT050
BKN160
SCT050
BKN160
OVC060CB
OVC040CB
OVC040CB
OVC050
SCT065
SCT065
SCT065
SCT065
SCT065
SCT065
SCT065
SCT065
SCT065
SCT065
SCT065
SCT065
BKN040
OVC100
BKN040
OVC100
BKN040
OVC100
BKN040
OVC100
BKN040
OVC100
BKN040
OVC100
BKN040
OVC100
BKN040
OVC100
BKN040
OVC100
Ceiling
16,000 ft
AGL
16,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR MVFR IFR IFR IFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌇 19:13Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:46Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:46Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:46Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:46Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:46Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:13Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:13Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:13Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:13Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:13Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
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
220° at 20 kt
Gusts: 30 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT050 BKN160
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 20 kt. Gusts up to 30 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 5000 feet, Broken clouds at 16000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 23:00Z - 00:00Z
MVFR
Wind
220° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
6 km
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
OVC060CB
📖 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 6 km. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Overcast skies at 6000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 00:00Z - 02:00Z
IFR
Wind
220° at 30 kt
Gusts: 40 kt
Visibility
3.2 km
Weather
Thunderstorm RAGR
Clouds
OVC040CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 30 kt. Gusts up to 40 kt are expected. Visibility will be moderate at 3.2 km. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm RAGR. Overcast skies at 4000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 02:00Z - 03:00Z
IFR
Wind
220° at 20 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
4.8 km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
OVC050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 20 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be moderate at 4.8 km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Overcast skies at 5000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 03:00Z - 04:00Z
VFR
Wind
200° at 12 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT065
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 6500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 15:00Z - 16:00Z
VFR
Wind
220° at 10 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN040 OVC100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 4000 feet, Overcast skies 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.