Vandenberg Space Force Base

KVBG / VBG

Lompoc, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF AMD KVBG 041655Z 0416/0521 03010G15KT 9999 FEW006 BKN250 QNH3009NS BECMG 0418/0419 35012G20KT 9999 NSW FEW006 BKN250 510006 QNH3008INS BECMG 0420/0421 34015G25KT 9999 SCT008 SCT250 520006 QNH3003INS TEMPO 0422/0505 34025G35KT BKN008 530006 BECMG 0509/0510 35012G20KT 9999 FEW010 FEW035 510006 QNH3008INS BECMG 0515/0516 34015G28KT 9999 SKC 520006 QNH3012INS BECMG 0519/0520 33012G18KT 9999 SKC 510006 QNH3015INS TX19/0422Z TN09/0514Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
01:00Z
+-1h
Thu
02:00Z
+0h
Thu
03:00Z
+1h
Thu
04:00Z
+2h
Thu
05:00Z
+3h
Thu
06:00Z
+4h
Thu
07:00Z
+5h
Thu
08:00Z
+6h
Thu
09:00Z
+7h
Thu
10:00Z
+8h
Thu
11:00Z
+9h
Thu
12:00Z
+10h
Thu
13:00Z
+11h
Thu
14:00Z
+12h
Thu
15:00Z
+13h
Thu
16:00Z
+14h
Thu
17:00Z
+15h
Thu
18:00Z
+16h
Thu
19:00Z
+17h
Wind Dir
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
330°
NW
Wind Speed
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
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
15 kt
G28 kt
15 kt
G28 kt
15 kt
G28 kt
15 kt
G28 kt
12 kt
G18 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
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW006
BKN250
FEW006
BKN250
FEW006
BKN250
FEW006
BKN250
FEW006
BKN250
FEW006
BKN250
FEW006
BKN250
FEW006
BKN250
FEW010
FEW035
FEW010
FEW035
FEW010
FEW035
FEW010
FEW035
FEW010
FEW035
FEW010
FEW035
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
Ceiling
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:20Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:20Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:20Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:20Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:20Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:39Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:39Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:39Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:39Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:39Z
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 occurrenceAGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
30° at 10 kt
Gusts: 15 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW006 BKN250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the North-Northeast (30°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 15 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 600 feet, Broken clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 18:00Z - 19:00Z
VFR
Wind
350° at 12 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW006 BKN250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the North (350°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 600 feet, Broken clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 20:00Z - 21:00Z
VFR
Wind
340° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT008 SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the North-Northwest (340°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 800 feet, Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 22:00Z - 05:00Z
IFR
Wind
340° at 25 kt
Gusts: 35 kt
Clouds
BKN008
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the North-Northwest (340°) at 25 kt. Gusts up to 35 kt are expected. Broken clouds at 800 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 09:00Z - 10:00Z
VFR
Wind
350° at 12 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW010 FEW035
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the North (350°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 1000 feet, Few clouds at 3500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 15:00Z - 16:00Z
VFR
Wind
340° at 15 kt
Gusts: 28 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the North-Northwest (340°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 28 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Skies will be clear. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 19:00Z - 20:00Z
VFR
Wind
330° at 12 kt
Gusts: 18 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the North-Northwest (330°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 18 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Skies will be clear. 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.