Vandenberg Space Force Base

KVBG / VBG

Lompoc, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KVBG 092237Z 0922/1104 30015G20KT 8000 BR BKN007 QNH2994INS BECMG 0923/0924 30015G20KT 0800 FG VV002 QNH2986INS BECMG 1015/1016 30012KT 4800 BR BKN008 QNH2987INS BECMG 1018/1019 30010G15KT 9999 NSW SCT010 QNH2981INS BECMG 1101/1102 30012KT 4800 BR BKN010 QNH2980INS BECMG 1102/1103 VRB06KT 3200 BR BKN006 QNH2980INS TX25/1022Z TN13/1013Z LAST NO AMDS AFT 1000 NEXT 1014

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
15:00Z
+-1h
Wed
16:00Z
+0h
Wed
17:00Z
+1h
Wed
18:00Z
+2h
Wed
19:00Z
+3h
Wed
20:00Z
+4h
Wed
21:00Z
+5h
Wed
22:00Z
+6h
Wed
23:00Z
+7h
Thu
00:00Z
+8h
Thu
01:00Z
+9h
Thu
02:00Z
+10h
Wind Dir
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
Wind Speed
15 kt
G20 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
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
Visibility
8 km
4.8 km
4.8 km
4.8 km
4.8 km
4.8 km
4.8 km
4.8 km
4.8 km
4.8 km
4.8 km
4.8 km
Weather
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Clouds
BKN007
BKN008
BKN008
BKN008
BKN008
BKN008
BKN008
BKN008
BKN008
BKN008
BKN008
BKN008
Ceiling
700 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
Flight Rules IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:06Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:06Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:06Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:06Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:06Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:52Z
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
IFR
Wind
300° at 15 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
8 km
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN007
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 8 km. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 700 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 23:00Z - 00:00Z
LIFR
Wind
300° at 15 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
0.8 km
Weather
Fog
Clouds
VV002
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt are expected. Visibility will be poor at 0.8 km. Weather conditions: Fog. Vertical visibility at 200 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

BECMG 15:00Z - 16:00Z
IFR
Wind
300° at 12 kt
Visibility
4.8 km
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN008
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be moderate at 4.8 km. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 800 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 18:00Z - 19:00Z
VFR
Wind
300° at 10 kt
Gusts: 15 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT010
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 15 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 1000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 01:00Z - 02:00Z
IFR
Wind
300° at 12 kt
Visibility
4.8 km
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN010
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be moderate at 4.8 km. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 1000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 02:00Z - 03:00Z
LIFR
Wind
VRB° at 6 kt
Visibility
1.014 km
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN006
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds will be variable in direction at 6 kt. Visibility will be poor at 1.014 km. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 600 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument 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.