McChord Air Force Base

KTCM / TCM

Tacoma, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KTCM 081300Z 0813/0919 VRB05KT 9999 OVC080 620806 QNH2974INS BECMG 0816/0817 20005KT 9000 -RA OVC060 620609 QNH2964INS BECMG 0821/0822 06008KT 8000 -RA BKN050 OVC060 620709 510005 QNH2957INS BECMG 0901/0902 16012KT 8000 -SHRA BKN030 OVC040 610809 520005 QNH2956INS TEMPO 0902/0905 4800 BR BKN007 BECMG 0905/0906 19012G20KT 6000 -SHRA BKN005 OVC010 610809 510005 QNH2956INS TEMPO 0908/0911 20015G25KT 520005 BECMG 0914/0915 22015G25KT 9999 VCSH BKN020 OVC030 610703 520005 QNH2985INS TX14/0821Z TN08/0813Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Mon
18:00Z
+-1h
Mon
19:00Z
+0h
Mon
20:00Z
+1h
Mon
21:00Z
+2h
Mon
22:00Z
+3h
Mon
23:00Z
+4h
Tue
00:00Z
+5h
Tue
01:00Z
+6h
Tue
02:00Z
+7h
Tue
03:00Z
+8h
Tue
04:00Z
+9h
Tue
05:00Z
+10h
Tue
06:00Z
+11h
Tue
07:00Z
+12h
Tue
08:00Z
+13h
Tue
09:00Z
+14h
Tue
10:00Z
+15h
Tue
11:00Z
+16h
Tue
12:00Z
+17h
Tue
13:00Z
+18h
Tue
14:00Z
+19h
Tue
15:00Z
+20h
Tue
16:00Z
+21h
Tue
17:00Z
+22h
Wind Dir
VRB
VRB
VRB
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
160°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
Wind Speed
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
12 kt
5 kt
G25 kt
5 kt
G25 kt
5 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
4.8 km
4.8 km
4.8 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
9 km
9 km
9 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
OVC080
OVC080
OVC080
BKN050
OVC060
BKN050
OVC060
BKN050
OVC060
BKN050
OVC060
BKN030
OVC040
BKN007
BKN007
BKN007
BKN005
OVC010
BKN005
OVC010
BKN005
OVC010
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
BKN005
OVC010
BKN005
OVC010
BKN005
OVC010
BKN020
OVC030
BKN020
OVC030
BKN020
OVC030
BKN020
OVC030
Ceiling
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌇 19:25Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:25Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:25Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:25Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:34Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:34Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:34Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:34Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:34Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:25Z
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 5 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
OVC080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds will be variable in direction at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Overcast skies at 8000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 16:00Z - 17:00Z
VFR
Wind
200° at 5 kt
Visibility
9 km
Weather
Light Rain
Clouds
OVC060
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be good at 9 km. Weather conditions: Light Rain. Overcast skies at 6000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 21:00Z - 22:00Z
MVFR
Wind
60° at 8 kt
Visibility
8 km
Weather
Light Rain
Clouds
BKN050 OVC060
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the East-Northeast (60°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be good at 8 km. Weather conditions: Light Rain. Broken clouds at 5000 feet, Overcast skies at 6000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 01:00Z - 02:00Z
MVFR
Wind
160° at 12 kt
Visibility
8 km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN030 OVC040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South-Southeast (160°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be good at 8 km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 3000 feet, Overcast skies at 4000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 02:00Z - 05:00Z
IFR
Visibility
4.8 km
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN007
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be moderate at 4.8 km. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 700 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 05:00Z - 06:00Z
IFR
Wind
190° at 12 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
6 km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN005 OVC010
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South (190°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 6 km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 500 feet, Overcast skies at 1000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

TEMPO 08:00Z - 11:00Z
VFR
Wind
200° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 14:00Z - 15:00Z
MVFR
Wind
220° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN020 OVC030
📖 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 excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 2000 feet, Overcast skies at 3000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

📚 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.