Williams Field Skiway

NZWD

McMurdo Station, AQ

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF NZWD 140855Z 1409/1509 04008KT 9999 SCT025 BKN090 QNH2894INS GRID21008KT BECMG 1414/1416 08006KT 6000 -SN BR FEW005 BKN015 BKN025 BKN065 620156 QNH2873INS GRID25006KT BECMG 1500/1502 04009KT 9999 VCSH BKN020 BKN050 620205 QNH2865INS GRID21009KT

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
10:00Z
+-1h
Sat
11:00Z
+0h
Sat
12:00Z
+1h
Sat
13:00Z
+2h
Sat
14:00Z
+3h
Sat
15:00Z
+4h
Sat
16:00Z
+5h
Sat
17:00Z
+6h
Sat
18:00Z
+7h
Sat
19:00Z
+8h
Sat
20:00Z
+9h
Sat
21:00Z
+10h
Sat
22:00Z
+11h
Sat
23:00Z
+12h
Sun
00:00Z
+13h
Sun
01:00Z
+14h
Sun
02:00Z
+15h
Sun
03:00Z
+16h
Sun
04:00Z
+17h
Sun
05:00Z
+18h
Sun
06:00Z
+19h
Sun
07:00Z
+20h
Wind Dir
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
Wind Speed
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
Weather
GRID21008KT
GRID21008KT
GRID21008KT
GRID21008KT
GRID21008KT
GRID21008KT
GRID21008KT
GRID21008KT
Light Snow, Mist, GRID25006KT
-SN BR GRID25006KT
Light Snow, Mist, GRID25006KT
-SN BR GRID25006KT
Light Snow, Mist, GRID25006KT
-SN BR GRID25006KT
Light Snow, Mist, GRID25006KT
-SN BR GRID25006KT
Light Snow, Mist, GRID25006KT
-SN BR GRID25006KT
Light Snow, Mist, GRID25006KT
-SN BR GRID25006KT
Light Snow, Mist, GRID25006KT
-SN BR GRID25006KT
Light Snow, Mist, GRID25006KT
-SN BR GRID25006KT
Light Snow, Mist, GRID25006KT
-SN BR GRID25006KT
Light Snow, Mist, GRID25006KT
-SN BR GRID25006KT
GRID21009KT
GRID21009KT
GRID21009KT
GRID21009KT
GRID21009KT
GRID21009KT
GRID21009KT
GRID21009KT
GRID21009KT
GRID21009KT
GRID21009KT
GRID21009KT
GRID21009KT
GRID21009KT
GRID21009KT
GRID21009KT
Clouds
SCT025
BKN090
SCT025
BKN090
SCT025
BKN090
SCT025
BKN090
FEW005
BKN015
FEW005
BKN015
FEW005
BKN015
FEW005
BKN015
FEW005
BKN015
FEW005
BKN015
FEW005
BKN015
FEW005
BKN015
FEW005
BKN015
FEW005
BKN015
BKN020
BKN050
BKN020
BKN050
BKN020
BKN050
BKN020
BKN050
BKN020
BKN050
BKN020
BKN050
BKN020
BKN050
BKN020
BKN050
Ceiling
9,000 ft
AGL
9,000 ft
AGL
9,000 ft
AGL
9,000 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:09Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:09Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:09Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:09Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:09Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:51Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:51Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:51Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:51Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:51Z
☀️
Day
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
40° at 8 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Weather
GRID21008KT
Clouds
SCT025 BKN090
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Northeast (40°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Weather conditions: GRID21008KT. Scattered clouds at 2500 feet, Broken clouds at 9000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 14:00Z - 16:00Z
MVFR
Wind
80° at 6 kt
Visibility
6 km
Weather
Light Snow, Mist, GRID25006KT
Clouds
FEW005 BKN015 BKN025 BKN065
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the East (80°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be good at 6 km. Weather conditions: Light Snow, Mist, GRID25006KT. Few clouds at 500 feet, Broken clouds at 1500 feet, Broken clouds at 2500 feet, Broken clouds at 6500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 00:00Z - 02:00Z
MVFR
Wind
40° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Weather
GRID21009KT
Clouds
BKN020 BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Northeast (40°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Weather conditions: GRID21009KT. Broken clouds at 2000 feet, Broken clouds at 5000 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.