Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

KDCA / DCA

Washington, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KDCA 040538Z 0406/0512 19005KT P6SM SKC FM041000 33004KT P6SM SCT250 FM041900 25007KT P6SM SCT050 BKN250 PROB30 0420/0424 4SM -TSRA OVC030CB FM050300 00000KT P6SM SCT050 BKN200 WS020/27035KT FM050900 00000KT P6SM FEW050 SCT200

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
08:00Z
+-1h
Sat
09:00Z
+0h
Sat
10:00Z
+1h
Sat
11:00Z
+2h
Sat
12:00Z
+3h
Sat
13:00Z
+4h
Sat
14:00Z
+5h
Sat
15:00Z
+6h
Sat
16:00Z
+7h
Sat
17:00Z
+8h
Sat
18:00Z
+9h
Sat
19:00Z
+10h
Sat
20:00Z
+11h
Sat
21:00Z
+12h
Sat
22:00Z
+13h
Sat
23:00Z
+14h
Sun
00:00Z
+15h
Sun
01:00Z
+16h
Sun
02:00Z
+17h
Sun
03:00Z
+18h
Sun
04:00Z
+19h
Sun
05:00Z
+20h
Sun
06:00Z
+21h
Sun
07:00Z
+22h
Sun
08:00Z
+23h
Sun
09:00Z
+24h
Sun
10:00Z
+25h
Wind Dir
190°
S
190°
S
330°
NW
330°
NW
330°
NW
330°
NW
330°
NW
330°
NW
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
250°
W
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
250°
W
190°
S
190°
S
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Wind Speed
5 kt
5 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
7 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
7 kt
5 kt
5 kt
 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
CLR
CLR
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
CLR
CLR
CLR
SCT050
BKN250
OVC030CB
OVC030CB
OVC030CB
OVC030CB
SCT050
BKN250
CLR
CLR
SCT050
BKN200
SCT050
BKN200
SCT050
BKN200
SCT050
BKN200
SCT050
BKN200
SCT050
BKN200
FEW050
SCT200
FEW050
SCT200
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
25,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:13Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:13Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:13Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:13Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:13Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:46Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:46Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:46Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:46Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:46Z
☀️
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
190° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South (190°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Skies will be clear. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM041000 10:00Z - 16:00Z
VFR
Wind
330° at 4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northwest (330°) at 4 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM041900 19:00Z - 01:00Z
VFR
Wind
250° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT050 BKN250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 5000 feet, Broken clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 20:00Z - 00:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
OVC030CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Overcast skies at 3000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM050300 03:00Z - 09:00Z
VFR
Wind
0° at 0 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT050 BKN200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (0°) at 0 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 5000 feet, Broken clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050900 09:00Z - 15:00Z
VFR
Wind
0° at 0 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW050 SCT200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (0°) at 0 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 5000 feet, Scattered clouds at 20000 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.