McClellan-Palomar Airport

KCRQ / CLD

Carlsbad, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KCRQ 041731Z 0418/0518 27008KT P6SM BKN100 FM050100 VRB05KT P6SM FEW012 SCT150 FM050500 VRB03KT P6SM BKN008 FM051700 25005KT P6SM SCT013

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
21:00Z
+-1h
Sat
22:00Z
+0h
Sat
23:00Z
+1h
Sun
00:00Z
+2h
Sun
01:00Z
+3h
Sun
02:00Z
+4h
Sun
03:00Z
+5h
Sun
04:00Z
+6h
Sun
05:00Z
+7h
Sun
06:00Z
+8h
Sun
07:00Z
+9h
Sun
08:00Z
+10h
Sun
09:00Z
+11h
Sun
10:00Z
+12h
Sun
11:00Z
+13h
Sun
12:00Z
+14h
Sun
13:00Z
+15h
Sun
14:00Z
+16h
Sun
15:00Z
+17h
Sun
16:00Z
+18h
Wind Dir
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
Wind Speed
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
FEW012
SCT150
FEW012
SCT150
FEW012
SCT150
FEW012
SCT150
BKN008
BKN008
BKN008
BKN008
BKN008
BKN008
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
Ceiling
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌇 19:04Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:55Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:55Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:55Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:55Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:55Z
☀️
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 occurrence • AGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
270° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West (270°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 10000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050100 01:00Z - 07:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW012 SCT150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 1200 feet, Scattered clouds at 15000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050500 05:00Z - 11:00Z
IFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN008
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 800 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM051700 17:00Z - 23:00Z
VFR
Wind
250° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT013
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 1300 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.