Vandenberg Space Force Base

KVBG / VBG

Lompoc, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KVBG 152200Z 1522/1704 29009KT 6000 BR BKN006 QNH2990INS BECMG 1523/1524 29009KT 3200 BR OVC004 QNH2987INS BECMG 1601/1602 VRB06KT 1600 BR OVC002 QNH2989INS BECMG 1603/1604 VRB06KT 0400 FG VV001 QNH2992INS BECMG 1615/1616 33006KT 4800 BR OVC003 QNH2994INS BECMG 1618/1619 31009KT 9999 NSW OVC006 QNH2991INS BECMG 1620/1621 29009KT 9999 SCT009 QNH2988INS BECMG 1623/1624 29012KT 6000 BR BKN007 QNH2986INS BECMG 1701/1702 VRB06KT 1600 BR OVC004 QNH2989INS BECMG 1703/1704 VRB06KT 0400 FG VV001 QNH2992INS TX22/1622Z TN12/1613Z LAST NO AMDS AFT 1600 NEXT 1614

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Tue
12:00Z
+-1h
Tue
13:00Z
+0h
Tue
14:00Z
+1h
Tue
15:00Z
+2h
Tue
16:00Z
+3h
Tue
17:00Z
+4h
Tue
18:00Z
+5h
Tue
19:00Z
+6h
Tue
20:00Z
+7h
Tue
21:00Z
+8h
Tue
22:00Z
+9h
Tue
23:00Z
+10h
Wed
00:00Z
+11h
Wed
01:00Z
+12h
Wed
02:00Z
+13h
Wind Dir
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
330°
NW
330°
NW
330°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
9kt
9kt
9kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
9kt
9kt
9kt
9kt
9kt
12kt
12kt
6kt
6kt
Visibility
6 km
6 km
6 km
4.8 km
4.8 km
4.8 km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
6 km
6 km
1.6 km
1.6 km
Weather
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Clouds
BKN006
BKN006
BKN006
OVC003
OVC003
OVC003
OVC006
OVC006
SCT009
SCT009
SCT009
BKN007
BKN007
OVC004
OVC004
Ceiling
600ft
AGL
600ft
AGL
600ft
AGL
300ft
AGL
300ft
AGL
300ft
AGL
600ft
AGL
600ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
700ft
AGL
700ft
AGL
400ft
AGL
400ft
AGL
Flight Rules IFR IFR IFR LIFR LIFR LIFR IFR IFR VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR LIFR LIFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:06
☀️
Day
🌇 18:06
☀️
Day
🌇 18:06
🌙
Night
🌇 18:06
🌙
Night
🌇 18:06
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
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 occurrenceAGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
IFR
Wind
290° at 9 kt
Visibility
6 km
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN006
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West-Northwest (290°) at 9kt. Visibility will be good at 6 km. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 600 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 2025-10-15 23:00:00 - 2025-10-16 00:00:00
LIFR
Wind
290° at 9 kt
Visibility
3.2 km
Weather
Mist
Clouds
OVC004
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West-Northwest (290°) at 9kt. Visibility will be moderate at 3.2 km. Weather conditions: Mist. Overcast skies at 400 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

BECMG 2025-10-16 01:00:00 - 2025-10-16 02:00:00
LIFR
Wind
VRB° at 6 kt
Visibility
1.6 km
Weather
Mist
Clouds
OVC002
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds will be variable in direction at 6kt. Visibility will be moderate at 1.6 km. Weather conditions: Mist. Overcast skies at 200 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

BECMG 2025-10-16 03:00:00 - 2025-10-16 04:00:00
LIFR
Wind
VRB° at 6 kt
Visibility
0.4 km
Weather
Fog
Clouds
VV001
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds will be variable in direction at 6kt. Visibility will be poor at 0.4 km. Weather conditions: Fog. Vertical visibility at 100 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

BECMG 2025-09-16 15:00:00 - 2025-09-16 16:00:00
LIFR
Wind
330° at 6 kt
Visibility
4.8 km
Weather
Mist
Clouds
OVC003
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the North-Northwest (330°) at 6kt. Visibility will be moderate at 4.8 km. Weather conditions: Mist. Overcast skies at 300 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

BECMG 2025-09-16 18:00:00 - 2025-09-16 19:00:00
IFR
Wind
310° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
OVC006
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Northwest (310°) at 9kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Overcast skies at 600 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 2025-09-16 20:00:00 - 2025-09-16 21:00:00
VFR
Wind
290° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT009
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West-Northwest (290°) at 9kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 900 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 2025-09-16 23:00:00 - 2025-09-17 00:00:00
IFR
Wind
290° at 12 kt
Visibility
6 km
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN007
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West-Northwest (290°) at 12kt. Visibility will be good at 6 km. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 700 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 2025-09-17 01:00:00 - 2025-09-17 02:00:00
LIFR
Wind
VRB° at 6 kt
Visibility
1.6 km
Weather
Mist
Clouds
OVC004
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds will be variable in direction at 6kt. Visibility will be moderate at 1.6 km. Weather conditions: Mist. Overcast skies at 400 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

BECMG 2025-09-17 03:00:00 - 2025-09-17 04:00:00
LIFR
Wind
VRB° at 6 kt
Visibility
1.614 km
Weather
Fog
Clouds
VV001
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds will be variable in direction at 6kt. Visibility will be moderate at 1.614 km. Weather conditions: Fog. Vertical visibility at 100 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.