Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

KDCA / DCA

Washington, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KDCA 142103Z 1421/1524 30012G18KT P6SM BKN060 FM150200 30010G18KT P6SM SCT050 FM151300 34013G22KT P6SM SCT050 FM152200 31006KT P6SM FEW160

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
21:00Z
+-1h
Thu
22:00Z
+0h
Thu
23:00Z
+1h
Fri
00:00Z
+2h
Fri
01:00Z
+3h
Fri
02:00Z
+4h
Fri
03:00Z
+5h
Fri
04:00Z
+6h
Fri
05:00Z
+7h
Fri
06:00Z
+8h
Fri
07:00Z
+9h
Fri
08:00Z
+10h
Fri
09:00Z
+11h
Fri
10:00Z
+12h
Fri
11:00Z
+13h
Fri
12:00Z
+14h
Fri
13:00Z
+15h
Fri
14:00Z
+16h
Fri
15:00Z
+17h
Fri
16:00Z
+18h
Fri
17:00Z
+19h
Fri
18:00Z
+20h
Fri
19:00Z
+21h
Fri
20:00Z
+22h
Fri
21:00Z
+23h
Fri
22:00Z
+24h
Wind Dir
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
310°
NW
Wind Speed
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
13 kt
G22 kt
13 kt
G22 kt
13 kt
G22 kt
13 kt
G22 kt
13 kt
G22 kt
13 kt
G22 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
6 kt
G18 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>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
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
BKN060
BKN060
BKN060
BKN060
BKN060
SCT050
SCT050
SCT050
SCT050
SCT050
SCT050
BKN060
BKN060
BKN060
BKN060
BKN060
SCT050
SCT050
SCT050
SCT050
SCT050
SCT050
BKN060
BKN060
BKN060
FEW160
Ceiling
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:00Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:00Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:00Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:00Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:00Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:59Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:59Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:59Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:59Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:59Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
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
300° at 12 kt
Gusts: 18 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN060
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 18 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 6000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM150200 02:00Z - 08:00Z
VFR
Wind
300° at 10 kt
Gusts: 18 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 18 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM151300 13:00Z - 19:00Z
VFR
Wind
340° at 13 kt
Gusts: 22 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northwest (340°) at 13 kt. Gusts up to 22 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM152200 22:00Z - 04:00Z
VFR
Wind
310° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW160
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northwest (310°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 16000 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.