Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field)

KNUW / NUW

Oak Harbor, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KNUW 1423/1523 27007KT 9999 VCSH SCT030 BKN055 BKN090 BKN200 640509 530109 QNH3005INS TEMPO 1423/1504 VRB05KT 6000 SHRA BR BKN025 BKN050 OVC090 FM150400 25010G20KT 9999 -SHRA SCT020 BKN040 OVC075 640509 530109 QNH3006INS TEMPO 1504/1510 27015G27KT 3200 SHRA BR SCT010 BKN015 OVC035 FM151000 26015G24KT 9999 VCSH FEW030 BKN050 BKN120 BKN230 620509 530009 QNH3008INS FM151500 14010G20KT 9999 VCSH SCT020 SCT050 BKN090 BKN200 620409 530109 530909 QNH3002IN TEMPO 1518/1523 VRB10KT 8000 -SHRA SCT025 BKN050CB OVC090 TX14/1423Z TN08/1513Z FS30046

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
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
7 kt
7 kt
15 kt
G27 kt
15 kt
G27 kt
15 kt
G27 kt
15 kt
G27 kt
15 kt
G27 kt
15 kt
G27 kt
15 kt
G24 kt
15 kt
G24 kt
15 kt
G24 kt
15 kt
G24 kt
15 kt
G24 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
3.2 km
3.2 km
3.2 km
3.2 km
3.2 km
3.2 km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Showers Rain, Mist
SHRA BR
Showers Rain, Mist
SHRA BR
Showers Rain, Mist
SHRA BR
Showers Rain, Mist
SHRA BR
Showers Rain, Mist
SHRA BR
Showers Rain, Mist
SHRA BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Clouds
SCT030
BKN055
SCT030
BKN055
SCT010
BKN015
SCT010
BKN015
SCT010
BKN015
SCT010
BKN015
SCT010
BKN015
SCT010
BKN015
FEW030
BKN050
FEW030
BKN050
FEW030
BKN050
FEW030
BKN050
FEW030
BKN050
SCT020
SCT050
SCT020
SCT050
SCT020
SCT050
SCT025
BKN050CB
SCT025
BKN050CB
SCT025
BKN050CB
SCT025
BKN050CB
Ceiling
5,500 ft
AGL
5,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
9,000 ft
AGL
9,000 ft
AGL
9,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:49Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:49Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:49Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:49Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:49Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:10Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:10Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:10Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:10Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:10Z
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
270° at 7 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT030 BKN055 BKN090 BKN200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West (270°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 3000 feet, Broken clouds at 5500 feet, Broken clouds at 9000 feet, Broken clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 23:00Z - 04:00Z
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 5 kt
Visibility
6 km
Weather
Showers Rain, Mist
Clouds
BKN025 BKN050 OVC090
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds will be variable in direction at 5 kt. Visibility will be good at 6 km. Weather conditions: Showers Rain, Mist. Broken clouds at 2500 feet, Broken clouds at 5000 feet, Overcast skies at 9000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM150400 04:00Z - 10:00Z
VFR
Wind
250° at 10 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT020 BKN040 OVC075
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet, Broken clouds at 4000 feet, Overcast skies at 7500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 04:00Z - 10:00Z
IFR
Wind
270° at 15 kt
Gusts: 27 kt
Visibility
3.2 km
Weather
Showers Rain, Mist
Clouds
SCT010 BKN015 OVC035
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the West (270°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 27 kt are expected. Visibility will be moderate at 3.2 km. Weather conditions: Showers Rain, Mist. Scattered clouds at 1000 feet, Broken clouds at 1500 feet, Overcast skies at 3500 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM151000 10:00Z - 16:00Z
VFR
Wind
260° at 15 kt
Gusts: 24 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW030 BKN050 BKN120 BKN230
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (260°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 24 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 3000 feet, Broken clouds at 5000 feet, Broken clouds at 12000 feet, Broken clouds at 23000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM151500 15:00Z - 21:00Z
VFR
Wind
140° at 10 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT020 SCT050 BKN090 BKN200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southeast (140°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet, Scattered clouds at 5000 feet, Broken clouds at 9000 feet, Broken clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 18:00Z - 23:00Z
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 10 kt
Visibility
8 km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT025 BKN050CB OVC090
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds will be variable in direction at 10 kt. Visibility will be good at 8 km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 2500 feet, Broken clouds at 5000 feet, Overcast skies at 9000 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.