Fairchild Air Force Base

KSKA / SKA

Spokane, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KSKA 141900Z 1419/1601 24015G25KT 9999 SCT040 BKN80 QNH2993INS BECMG 1502/1503 25010G15KT 9999 BKN150 QNH2996INS BECMG 1510/1511 20009KT 9999 SCT150 QNH2999INS BECMG 1516/1517 22015G25KT 9999 BKN050 620605 QNH2996INS TX17/1422Z TN05/1512Z

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
Fri
22:00Z
+19h
Fri
23:00Z
+20h
Wind Dir
240°
SW
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
Wind Speed
15 kt
G25 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 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
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
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT040
BKN150
BKN150
BKN150
BKN150
BKN150
BKN150
BKN150
BKN150
BKN150
BKN150
BKN150
BKN150
BKN150
BKN150
BKN150
BKN150
BKN150
BKN150
BKN150
BKN150
BKN150
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
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
🌙
Night
🌙
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
240° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West-Southwest (240°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 02:00Z - 03:00Z
VFR
Wind
250° at 10 kt
Gusts: 15 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 15 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 15000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 10:00Z - 11:00Z
VFR
Wind
200° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 15000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 16:00Z - 17:00Z
VFR
Wind
220° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 5000 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.