Massena International Airport Richards Field

KMSS / MSS

Massena, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KMSS 142327Z 1500/1524 VRB04KT P6SM -SHRA SCT025 OVC040 FM150300 VRB04KT P6SM -SHRA OVC015 FM150700 03005KT 5SM BR OVC007 FM151300 03005KT P6SM BKN007 FM151600 VRB03KT P6SM BKN022

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Fri
04:00Z
+-1h
Fri
05:00Z
+0h
Fri
06:00Z
+1h
Fri
07:00Z
+2h
Fri
08:00Z
+3h
Fri
09:00Z
+4h
Fri
10:00Z
+5h
Fri
11:00Z
+6h
Fri
12:00Z
+7h
Fri
13:00Z
+8h
Fri
14:00Z
+9h
Fri
15:00Z
+10h
Fri
16:00Z
+11h
Fri
17:00Z
+12h
Fri
18:00Z
+13h
Fri
19:00Z
+14h
Fri
20:00Z
+15h
Fri
21:00Z
+16h
Fri
22:00Z
+17h
Wind Dir
VRB
VRB
VRB
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Clouds
SCT025
OVC040
SCT025
OVC040
SCT025
OVC040
OVC007
OVC007
OVC007
OVC007
OVC007
OVC007
BKN007
BKN007
BKN007
BKN022
BKN022
BKN022
BKN022
BKN022
BKN022
SCT025
OVC040
Ceiling
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:53Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:53Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:53Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:07Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:07Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:07Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:07Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:07Z
🌙
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
VRB° at 4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT025 OVC040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds will be variable in direction at 4 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 2500 feet, Overcast skies at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM150300 03:00Z - 09:00Z
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
OVC015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 4 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Overcast skies at 1500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM150700 07:00Z - 13:00Z
IFR
Wind
30° at 5 kt
Visibility
5SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
OVC007
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northeast (30°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be good at 5SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Overcast skies at 700 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM151300 13:00Z - 19:00Z
IFR
Wind
30° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN007
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northeast (30°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 700 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM151600 16:00Z - 22:00Z
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN022
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 2200 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.