McChord Air Force Base

KTCM / TCM

Tacoma, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KTCM 242100Z 2421/2603 26009KT 9999 SKC QNH2987INS BECMG 2508/2509 22006KT 9999 SCT010 OVC015 QNH2993INS BECMG 2512/2513 21006KT 9999 OVC015 520406 QNH2993INS BECMG 2516/2517 22012G18KT 9999 BKN020 OVC030 520406 QNH2996INS BECMG 2522/2523 23010G15KT 9999 SCT035 OVC050 QNH2998INS TX27/2500Z TN14/2512Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Fri
23:00Z
+-1h
Sat
00:00Z
+0h
Sat
01:00Z
+1h
Sat
02:00Z
+2h
Sat
03:00Z
+3h
Sat
04:00Z
+4h
Sat
05:00Z
+5h
Sat
06:00Z
+6h
Sat
07:00Z
+7h
Sat
08:00Z
+8h
Sat
09:00Z
+9h
Sat
10:00Z
+10h
Sat
11:00Z
+11h
Sat
12:00Z
+12h
Sat
13:00Z
+13h
Sat
14:00Z
+14h
Sat
15:00Z
+15h
Sat
16:00Z
+16h
Sat
17:00Z
+17h
Sat
18:00Z
+18h
Sat
19:00Z
+19h
Sat
20:00Z
+20h
Sat
21:00Z
+21h
Sat
22:00Z
+22h
Sat
23:00Z
+23h
Sun
00:00Z
+24h
Sun
01:00Z
+25h
Wind Dir
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
Wind Speed
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 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
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
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
SCT010
OVC015
SCT010
OVC015
SCT010
OVC015
SCT010
OVC015
OVC015
OVC015
OVC015
OVC015
BKN020
OVC030
BKN020
OVC030
BKN020
OVC030
BKN020
OVC030
BKN020
OVC030
BKN020
OVC030
SCT035
OVC050
SCT035
OVC050
SCT035
OVC050
SCT035
OVC050
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:45Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:45Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:45Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:45Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:45Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:14Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:14Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:14Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:14Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:14Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
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
260° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West (260°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Skies will be clear. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 08:00Z - 09:00Z
MVFR
Wind
220° at 6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT010 OVC015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 1000 feet, Overcast skies at 1500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 12:00Z - 13:00Z
MVFR
Wind
210° at 6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
OVC015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South-Southwest (210°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Overcast skies at 1500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 16:00Z - 17:00Z
MVFR
Wind
220° at 12 kt
Gusts: 18 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN020 OVC030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 18 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 22:00Z - 23:00Z
VFR
Wind
230° at 10 kt
Gusts: 15 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT035 OVC050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Southwest (230°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 15 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 3500 feet, Overcast skies 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.