McChord Air Force Base

KTCM / TCM

Tacoma, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KTCM 050500Z 0505/0611 22010G15KT 9999 VCSH SCT020 QNH3007INS BECMG 0510/0511 24012G18KT 9999 NSW SCT015 BKN100 QNH3018INS BECMG 0518/0519 26010G15KT 9999 OVC035 620356 QNH3030INS BECMG 0605/0606 20010G15KT 9000 -RA OVC020 620409 QNH3032INS TX11/0523Z TN06/0514Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
07:00Z
+-1h
Thu
08:00Z
+0h
Thu
09:00Z
+1h
Thu
10:00Z
+2h
Thu
11:00Z
+3h
Thu
12:00Z
+4h
Thu
13:00Z
+5h
Thu
14:00Z
+6h
Thu
15:00Z
+7h
Thu
16:00Z
+8h
Thu
17:00Z
+9h
Thu
18:00Z
+10h
Thu
19:00Z
+11h
Thu
20:00Z
+12h
Thu
21:00Z
+13h
Thu
22:00Z
+14h
Thu
23:00Z
+15h
Fri
00:00Z
+16h
Fri
01:00Z
+17h
Fri
02:00Z
+18h
Fri
03:00Z
+19h
Fri
04:00Z
+20h
Fri
05:00Z
+21h
Fri
06:00Z
+22h
Fri
07:00Z
+23h
Fri
08:00Z
+24h
Fri
09:00Z
+25h
Wind Dir
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
Wind Speed
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 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
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 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
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
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
9 km
9 km
9 km
9 km
9 km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
Clouds
SCT020
SCT020
SCT020
SCT015
BKN100
SCT015
BKN100
SCT015
BKN100
SCT015
BKN100
SCT015
BKN100
SCT015
BKN100
SCT015
BKN100
SCT015
BKN100
OVC035
OVC035
OVC035
OVC035
OVC035
OVC035
OVC035
OVC035
OVC035
OVC035
OVC035
OVC020
OVC020
OVC020
OVC020
OVC020
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌅 06:26Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:26Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:33Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:33Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:33Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:33Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:33Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:25Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:25Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:25Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:25Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:25Z
☀️
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
VFR
Wind
220° at 10 kt
Gusts: 15 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 15 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 10:00Z - 11:00Z
VFR
Wind
240° at 12 kt
Gusts: 18 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT015 BKN100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West-Southwest (240°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 18 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 1500 feet, Broken clouds at 10000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 18:00Z - 19:00Z
VFR
Wind
260° at 10 kt
Gusts: 15 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
OVC035
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West (260°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 15 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Overcast skies at 3500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 05:00Z - 06:00Z
MVFR
Wind
200° at 10 kt
Gusts: 15 kt
Visibility
9 km
Weather
Light Rain
Clouds
OVC020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 15 kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 9 km. Weather conditions: Light Rain. Overcast skies at 2000 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.