MacDill Air Force Base

KMCF / MCF

Tampa, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF AMD KMCF 042200Z 0422/0523 VRB06KT 9999 SCT020 SCT040 QNH2997INS BECMG 0510/0511 21006KT 9999 VCSH OVC020 QNH2999INS BECMG 0515/0516 25006KT 8000 -SHRA VCTS BKN030CB QNH2995INS TEMPO 0516/0520 VRB10G20KT 6000 -TSRA TX33/0422Z TN25/0511Z LAST NO AMDS AFT 0422 NEXT 0521

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sun
04:00Z
+-1h
Sun
05:00Z
+0h
Sun
06:00Z
+1h
Sun
07:00Z
+2h
Sun
08:00Z
+3h
Sun
09:00Z
+4h
Sun
10:00Z
+5h
Sun
11:00Z
+6h
Sun
12:00Z
+7h
Sun
13:00Z
+8h
Sun
14:00Z
+9h
Sun
15:00Z
+10h
Sun
16:00Z
+11h
Sun
17:00Z
+12h
Sun
18:00Z
+13h
Sun
19:00Z
+14h
Sun
20:00Z
+15h
Sun
21:00Z
+16h
Wind Dir
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
250°
W
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
250°
W
250°
W
Wind Speed
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
6 kt
6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
8 km
0.521 km
0.521 km
0.521 km
0.521 km
8 km
8 km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Clouds
SCT020
SCT040
SCT020
SCT040
SCT020
SCT040
SCT020
SCT040
SCT020
SCT040
SCT020
SCT040
OVC020
OVC020
OVC020
OVC020
OVC020
BKN030CB
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
BKN030CB
BKN030CB
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:05Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:05Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:05Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:05Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:54Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:54Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:54Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:54Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:54Z
🌙
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 occurrenceAGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT020 SCT040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds will be variable in direction at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet, Scattered clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 10:00Z - 11:00Z
MVFR
Wind
210° at 6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
OVC020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South-Southwest (210°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Overcast skies at 2000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 15:00Z - 16:00Z
MVFR
Wind
250° at 6 kt
Visibility
8 km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN030CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 6 kt. 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.

TEMPO 16:00Z - 20:00Z
LIFR
Wind
VRB° at 10 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
0.521 km
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds will be variable in direction at 10 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt are expected. Visibility will be poor at 0.521 km. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument 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.