Alpnach Air Base

LSMA

Alpnach, CH

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF LSMA 161625Z 1617/1723 06008KT 9999 SCT045 PROB40 TEMPO 1617/1620 SHRA FEW070TCU PROB30 TEMPO 1617/1618 9999 TSRA FEW045CB PROB40 TEMPO 1700/1709 CAVOK PROB40 TEMPO 1712/1716 SHRA FEW070TCU

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
09:00Z
+-1h
Wed
10:00Z
+0h
Wed
11:00Z
+1h
Wed
12:00Z
+2h
Wed
13:00Z
+3h
Wed
14:00Z
+4h
Wed
15:00Z
+5h
Wed
16:00Z
+6h
Wed
17:00Z
+7h
Wed
18:00Z
+8h
Wed
19:00Z
+9h
Wed
20:00Z
+10h
Wed
21:00Z
+11h
Wind Dir
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
Wind Speed
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 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
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Showers Rain
SHRA
40%
Showers Rain
SHRA
40%
Showers Rain
SHRA
40%
Showers Rain
SHRA
40%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT045
SCT045
SCT045
FEW070TCU
FEW070TCU
FEW070TCU
FEW070TCU
SCT045
SCT045
SCT045
SCT045
SCT045
SCT045
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
7,000 ft ⛈️
TCU Base
7,000 ft ⛈️
TCU Base
7,000 ft ⛈️
TCU Base
7,000 ft ⛈️
TCU Base
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:27Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:27Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:27Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:27Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:27Z
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
60° at 8 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT045
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East-Northeast (60°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 4500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB40 TEMPO 17:00Z - 20:00Z
MVFR
Weather
Showers Rain
Clouds
FEW070TCU
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 40% probability of: Weather conditions: Showers Rain. Few clouds at 7000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

PROB30 TEMPO 17:00Z - 18:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
10+ km
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
FEW045CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Few clouds at 4500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

PROB40 TEMPO 00:00Z - 09:00Z
VFR
Visibility
>10km
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 40% probability of: Visibility will be excellent at more than 10km. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB40 TEMPO 12:00Z - 16:00Z
MVFR
Weather
Showers Rain
Clouds
FEW070TCU
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 40% probability of: Weather conditions: Showers Rain. Few clouds at 7000 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.