Mason City Municipal Airport

KMCW / MCW

Mason City, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KMCW 142341Z 1500/1524 17015G26KT P6SM BKN080 TEMPO 1500/1501 6SM -TSRA OVC035CB FM150200 16016G24KT P6SM BKN080 FM150800 18012KT P6SM SCT120 FM151200 20009KT P6SM FEW250 FM152000 23008KT P6SM FEW250

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Fri
01:00Z
+-1h
Fri
02:00Z
+0h
Fri
03:00Z
+1h
Fri
04:00Z
+2h
Fri
05:00Z
+3h
Fri
06:00Z
+4h
Fri
07:00Z
+5h
Fri
08:00Z
+6h
Fri
09:00Z
+7h
Fri
10:00Z
+8h
Fri
11:00Z
+9h
Fri
12:00Z
+10h
Fri
13:00Z
+11h
Fri
14:00Z
+12h
Fri
15:00Z
+13h
Fri
16:00Z
+14h
Fri
17:00Z
+15h
Fri
18:00Z
+16h
Fri
19:00Z
+17h
Fri
20:00Z
+18h
Fri
21:00Z
+19h
Fri
22:00Z
+20h
Wind Dir
170°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
170°
S
170°
S
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
Wind Speed
15 kt
G26 kt
16 kt
G24 kt
16 kt
G24 kt
16 kt
G24 kt
16 kt
G24 kt
16 kt
G24 kt
16 kt
G24 kt
12 kt
G26 kt
12 kt
G26 kt
12 kt
G26 kt
12 kt
G26 kt
9 kt
G26 kt
9 kt
G26 kt
9 kt
G26 kt
9 kt
G26 kt
9 kt
G26 kt
9 kt
G26 kt
15 kt
G26 kt
15 kt
G26 kt
8 kt
G26 kt
8 kt
G26 kt
8 kt
G26 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
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
SCT120
SCT120
SCT120
SCT120
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
BKN080
BKN080
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
Ceiling
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ 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
Day/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
☀️
Day
🌇 19:04Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:04Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:04Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:04Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:04Z
🌙
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
170° at 15 kt
Gusts: 26 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South (170°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 26 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 8000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 00:00Z - 01:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
OVC035CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Overcast skies at 3500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM150200 02:00Z - 08:00Z
VFR
Wind
160° at 16 kt
Gusts: 24 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southeast (160°) at 16 kt. Gusts up to 24 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 8000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM150800 08:00Z - 14:00Z
VFR
Wind
180° at 12 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT120
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (180°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 12000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM151200 12:00Z - 18:00Z
VFR
Wind
200° at 9 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM152000 20:00Z - 02:00Z
VFR
Wind
230° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (230°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 25000 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.