McClellan-Palomar Airport

KCRQ / CLD

Carlsbad, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KCRQ 151132Z 1512/1612 VRB03KT P6SM OVC016 FM151700 21005KT P6SM SCT020 FM151900 24008KT P6SM FEW025 FM160100 VRB04KT P6SM BKN015

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Fri
13:00Z
+-1h
Fri
14:00Z
+0h
Fri
15:00Z
+1h
Fri
16:00Z
+2h
Fri
17:00Z
+3h
Fri
18:00Z
+4h
Fri
19:00Z
+5h
Fri
20:00Z
+6h
Fri
21:00Z
+7h
Fri
22:00Z
+8h
Fri
23:00Z
+9h
Sat
00:00Z
+10h
Sat
01:00Z
+11h
Sat
02:00Z
+12h
Sat
03:00Z
+13h
Sat
04:00Z
+14h
Sat
05:00Z
+15h
Sat
06:00Z
+16h
Sat
07:00Z
+17h
Sat
08:00Z
+18h
Sat
09:00Z
+19h
Sat
10:00Z
+20h
Wind Dir
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
210°
SW
210°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
5 kt
5 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>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
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
OVC016
OVC016
OVC016
OVC016
SCT020
SCT020
FEW025
FEW025
FEW025
FEW025
FEW025
FEW025
BKN015
BKN015
BKN015
BKN015
BKN015
BKN015
OVC016
OVC016
OVC016
OVC016
Ceiling
1,600 ft
AGL
1,600 ft
AGL
1,600 ft
AGL
1,600 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,600 ft
AGL
1,600 ft
AGL
1,600 ft
AGL
1,600 ft
AGL
Flight Rules MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:51Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:51Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:51Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:51Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:51Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:07Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:07Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:07Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:07Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:07Z
☀️
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
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
OVC016
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Overcast skies at 1600 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM151700 17:00Z - 23:00Z
VFR
Wind
210° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southwest (210°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM151900 19:00Z - 01:00Z
VFR
Wind
240° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Southwest (240°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 2500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM160100 01:00Z - 07:00Z
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 4 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 1500 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.