Spangdahlem Air Base

ETAD / SPM

Trier, DE

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF AMD ETAD 141505Z 1415/1518 29010G20KT 8000 -SHRA BKN030 510303 QNH2944INS BECMG 1417/1418 27006KT 9999 NSW SCT040 QNH2944INS BECMG 1506/1507 35006KT 8000 -RA BKN015 620204 QNH2957INS BECMG 1512/1513 32010G15KT 9999 NSW BKN040 QNH2959INS TX12/1513Z TN03/1504Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
18:00Z
+-1h
Thu
19:00Z
+0h
Thu
20:00Z
+1h
Thu
21:00Z
+2h
Thu
22:00Z
+3h
Thu
23:00Z
+4h
Fri
00:00Z
+5h
Fri
01:00Z
+6h
Fri
02:00Z
+7h
Fri
03:00Z
+8h
Fri
04:00Z
+9h
Fri
05:00Z
+10h
Fri
06:00Z
+11h
Fri
07:00Z
+12h
Fri
08:00Z
+13h
Fri
09:00Z
+14h
Fri
10:00Z
+15h
Fri
11:00Z
+16h
Fri
12:00Z
+17h
Fri
13:00Z
+18h
Fri
14:00Z
+19h
Fri
15:00Z
+20h
Fri
16:00Z
+21h
Wind Dir
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
Wind Speed
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
6 kt
G20 kt
6 kt
G20 kt
6 kt
G20 kt
6 kt
G20 kt
6 kt
G20 kt
6 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
Visibility
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
BKN030
BKN030
BKN030
BKN030
BKN030
BKN030
BKN030
BKN030
BKN030
BKN030
BKN030
BKN030
BKN015
BKN015
BKN015
BKN015
BKN015
BKN015
BKN040
BKN040
BKN040
BKN040
BKN040
Ceiling
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 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
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌇 19:11Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:11Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:11Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:11Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:47Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:47Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:47Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:47Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:47Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
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
MVFR
Wind
290° at 10 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
8 km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West-Northwest (290°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 8 km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 3000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 17:00Z - 18:00Z
VFR
Wind
270° at 6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West (270°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 06:00Z - 07:00Z
MVFR
Wind
350° at 6 kt
Visibility
8 km
Weather
Light Rain
Clouds
BKN015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the North (350°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be good at 8 km. Weather conditions: Light Rain. Broken clouds at 1500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 12:00Z - 13:00Z
VFR
Wind
320° at 10 kt
Gusts: 15 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Northwest (320°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 15 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) 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.