Northwest Arkansas National Airport

KXNA / XNA

Fayetteville/Springdale/Rogers, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
KXNA 160520Z 1606/1706 VRB03KT P6SM FEW060 BKN200 FM161500 VRB04KT P6SM SCT050 BKN120 PROB30 1620/1624 3SM -TSRA BR BKN040CB

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Tue
07:00Z
+-1h
Tue
08:00Z
+0h
Tue
09:00Z
+1h
Tue
10:00Z
+2h
Tue
11:00Z
+3h
Tue
12:00Z
+4h
Tue
13:00Z
+5h
Tue
14:00Z
+6h
Tue
15:00Z
+7h
Tue
16:00Z
+8h
Tue
17:00Z
+9h
Tue
18:00Z
+10h
Tue
19:00Z
+11h
Tue
20:00Z
+12h
Tue
21:00Z
+13h
Tue
22:00Z
+14h
Tue
23:00Z
+15h
Wed
00:00Z
+16h
Wed
01:00Z
+17h
Wed
02:00Z
+18h
Wed
03:00Z
+19h
Wed
04:00Z
+20h
Wind Dir
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
3kt
3kt
3kt
3kt
3kt
3kt
3kt
3kt
4kt
4kt
4kt
4kt
4kt
3kt
3kt
3kt
3kt
3kt
3kt
3kt
3kt
3kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
-TSRA BR
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
-TSRA BR
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
-TSRA BR
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
-TSRA BR
30%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW060
BKN200
FEW060
BKN200
FEW060
BKN200
FEW060
BKN200
FEW060
BKN200
FEW060
BKN200
FEW060
BKN200
FEW060
BKN200
SCT050
BKN120
SCT050
BKN120
SCT050
BKN120
SCT050
BKN120
SCT050
BKN120
BKN040CB
BKN040CB
BKN040CB
BKN040CB
FEW060
BKN200
FEW060
BKN200
FEW060
BKN200
FEW060
BKN200
FEW060
BKN200
Ceiling
20000ft
AGL
20000ft
AGL
20000ft
AGL
20000ft
AGL
20000ft
AGL
20000ft
AGL
20000ft
AGL
20000ft
AGL
12000ft
AGL
12000ft
AGL
12000ft
AGL
12000ft
AGL
12000ft
AGL
4000ft
AGL
4000ft
AGL
4000ft
AGL
4000ft
AGL
20000ft
AGL
20000ft
AGL
20000ft
AGL
20000ft
AGL
20000ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌅 05:53
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
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
🌙
Night
🌅 05:54
🌙
Night
🌅 05:54
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 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW060 BKN200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds will be variable in direction at 3kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 6000 feet, Broken clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM161500 2025-09-16 15:00:00 - 2025-09-16 21:00:00
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT050 BKN120
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 4kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 5000 feet, Broken clouds at 12000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 2025-09-16 20:00:00 - 2025-09-17 00:00:00
MVFR
Visibility
3SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
Clouds
BKN040CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be good at 3SM. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain, Mist. Broken clouds at 4000 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.