Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field)

KNUW / NUW

Oak Harbor, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF AMD KNUW 050005Z 0500/0523 23010KT 9999 FEW025 QNH3012INS TEMPO 0502/0506 25013G22KT BECMG 0506/0508 27010KT 9999 SCT040 QNH3013INS FM051100 VRB06KT 9999 BKN035 BKN050 QNH3015INS FM051700 33009KT 9999 FEW020 SCT050 QNH3017INS AUTOMATED SENSOR METWATCH 0500 TIL 0507 TX19/0522Z TN11/0513Z AMD 0005 FS30232

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sun
06:00Z
+-1h
Sun
07:00Z
+0h
Sun
08:00Z
+1h
Sun
09:00Z
+2h
Sun
10:00Z
+3h
Sun
11:00Z
+4h
Sun
12:00Z
+5h
Sun
13:00Z
+6h
Sun
14:00Z
+7h
Sun
15:00Z
+8h
Sun
16:00Z
+9h
Sun
17:00Z
+10h
Sun
18:00Z
+11h
Sun
19:00Z
+12h
Sun
20:00Z
+13h
Sun
21:00Z
+14h
Wind Dir
230°
SW
230°
SW
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
Wind Speed
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 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
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW025
FEW025
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌅 04:32Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:27Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:27Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:27Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:27Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:27Z
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
230° at 10 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Southwest (230°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 2500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 02:00Z - 06:00Z
VFR
Wind
250° at 13 kt
Gusts: 22 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 13 kt. Gusts up to 22 kt are expected. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 06:00Z - 08:00Z
VFR
Wind
270° at 10 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West (270°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM051100 11:00Z - 17:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN035 BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 3500 feet, Broken clouds at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM051700 17:00Z - 23:00Z
LIFR
Wind
330° at 9 kt
Visibility
0.005 km
Clouds
FEW020 SCT050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northwest (330°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be poor at 0.005 km. Few clouds at 2000 feet, Scattered clouds at 5000 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.