McChord Air Force Base

KTCM / TCM

Tacoma, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KTCM 230500Z 2305/2411 21010G15KT 9999 BKN020 OVC030 QNH3014INS BECMG 2310/2311 20005KT 9999 OVC025 QNH3019INS BECMG 2316/2317 22010G15KT 9999 BKN040 QNH3022INS BECMG 2323/2324 01005KT 9999 SCT050 QNH3014INS TX17/2323Z TN05/2313Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
05:00Z
+-1h
Thu
06:00Z
+0h
Thu
07:00Z
+1h
Thu
08:00Z
+2h
Thu
09:00Z
+3h
Thu
10:00Z
+4h
Thu
11:00Z
+5h
Thu
12:00Z
+6h
Thu
13:00Z
+7h
Thu
14:00Z
+8h
Thu
15:00Z
+9h
Thu
16:00Z
+10h
Thu
17:00Z
+11h
Thu
18:00Z
+12h
Thu
19:00Z
+13h
Thu
20:00Z
+14h
Thu
21:00Z
+15h
Thu
22:00Z
+16h
Thu
23:00Z
+17h
Fri
00:00Z
+18h
Fri
01:00Z
+19h
Fri
02:00Z
+20h
Fri
03:00Z
+21h
Fri
04:00Z
+22h
Fri
05:00Z
+23h
Fri
06:00Z
+24h
Fri
07:00Z
+25h
Fri
08:00Z
+26h
Fri
09:00Z
+27h
Wind Dir
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
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
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
Wind Speed
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
5 kt
G15 kt
5 kt
G15 kt
5 kt
G15 kt
5 kt
G15 kt
5 kt
G15 kt
5 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
5 kt
G15 kt
5 kt
G15 kt
5 kt
G15 kt
5 kt
G15 kt
5 kt
G15 kt
5 kt
G15 kt
5 kt
G15 kt
5 kt
G15 kt
5 kt
G15 kt
5 kt
G15 kt
5 kt
G15 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
BKN020
OVC030
BKN020
OVC030
BKN020
OVC030
BKN020
OVC030
BKN020
OVC030
OVC025
OVC025
OVC025
OVC025
OVC025
OVC025
BKN040
BKN040
BKN040
BKN040
BKN040
BKN040
BKN040
SCT050
SCT050
SCT050
SCT050
SCT050
SCT050
SCT050
SCT050
SCT050
SCT050
SCT050
Ceiling
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 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
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:15Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:15Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:15Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:44Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:44Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:44Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:44Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:44Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:13Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:13Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:13Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:13Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:13Z
☀️
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
MVFR
Wind
210° at 10 kt
Gusts: 15 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN020 OVC030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southwest (210°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 15 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 2000 feet, Overcast skies at 3000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 10:00Z - 11:00Z
MVFR
Wind
200° at 5 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
OVC025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Overcast skies at 2500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 16:00Z - 17:00Z
VFR
Wind
220° at 10 kt
Gusts: 15 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 15 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 23:00Z - 00:00Z
VFR
Wind
10° at 5 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the North (10°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 5000 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.