Patuxent River Naval Air Station (Trapnell Field)

KNHK / NHK

Patuxent River, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KNHK 142200Z 1423/1523 33013G24KT 9999 SCT050 BKN100 QNH2982INS BECMG 1502/1503 30011G20KT 9999 SCT030 SCT100 BKN200 QNH2985INS BECMG 1510/1511 30010KT 9999 FEW030 SCT090 QNH2990INS AUTOMATED SENSOR METWATCH 1503 TIL 1508 TX20/1520Z TN11/1510Z FN20117

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Fri
02:00Z
+-1h
Fri
03:00Z
+0h
Fri
04:00Z
+1h
Fri
05:00Z
+2h
Fri
06:00Z
+3h
Fri
07:00Z
+4h
Fri
08:00Z
+5h
Fri
09:00Z
+6h
Fri
10:00Z
+7h
Fri
11:00Z
+8h
Fri
12:00Z
+9h
Fri
13:00Z
+10h
Fri
14:00Z
+11h
Fri
15:00Z
+12h
Fri
16:00Z
+13h
Fri
17:00Z
+14h
Fri
18:00Z
+15h
Fri
19:00Z
+16h
Fri
20:00Z
+17h
Fri
21:00Z
+18h
Wind Dir
330°
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
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
Wind Speed
13 kt
G24 kt
11 kt
G20 kt
11 kt
G20 kt
11 kt
G20 kt
11 kt
G20 kt
11 kt
G20 kt
11 kt
G20 kt
11 kt
G20 kt
11 kt
G20 kt
11 kt
G20 kt
11 kt
G20 kt
11 kt
G20 kt
11 kt
G20 kt
11 kt
G20 kt
11 kt
G20 kt
11 kt
G20 kt
11 kt
G20 kt
11 kt
G20 kt
11 kt
G20 kt
11 kt
G20 kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT050
BKN100
SCT030
SCT100
SCT030
SCT100
SCT030
SCT100
SCT030
SCT100
SCT030
SCT100
SCT030
SCT100
SCT030
SCT100
SCT030
SCT100
SCT030
SCT100
SCT030
SCT100
SCT030
SCT100
SCT030
SCT100
SCT030
SCT100
SCT030
SCT100
SCT030
SCT100
SCT030
SCT100
SCT030
SCT100
SCT030
SCT100
SCT030
SCT100
Ceiling
10,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:01Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:01Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:01Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:01Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:01Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:58Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:58Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:58Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:58Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:58Z
🌙
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
330° at 13 kt
Gusts: 24 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT050 BKN100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the North-Northwest (330°) at 13 kt. Gusts up to 24 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 5000 feet, Broken clouds at 10000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 02:00Z - 03:00Z
VFR
Wind
300° at 11 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT030 SCT100 BKN200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 11 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 3000 feet, Scattered clouds at 10000 feet, Broken clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 10:00Z - 11:00Z
LIFR
Wind
300° at 10 kt
Visibility
1.508 km
Clouds
FEW030 SCT090
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be moderate at 1.508 km. Few clouds at 3000 feet, Scattered clouds at 9000 feet. 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.