Fairchild Air Force Base

KSKA / SKA

Spokane, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KSKA 041900Z 0419/0601 21010G20KT 9999 FEW150 SCT220 QNH2994INS BECMG 0502/0503 26012KT 9999 FEW080 QNH2994INS BECMG 0505/0506 VRB06KT 9999 SKC QNH2998INS BECMG 0516/0517 05012KT 9999 FEW150 QNH2997INS TX30/0423Z TN12/0513Z LIMITED METWATCH 0419 TIL 0602

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sun
02:00Z
+-1h
Sun
03:00Z
+0h
Sun
04:00Z
+1h
Sun
05:00Z
+2h
Sun
06:00Z
+3h
Sun
07:00Z
+4h
Sun
08:00Z
+5h
Sun
09:00Z
+6h
Sun
10:00Z
+7h
Sun
11:00Z
+8h
Sun
12:00Z
+9h
Sun
13:00Z
+10h
Sun
14:00Z
+11h
Sun
15:00Z
+12h
Sun
16:00Z
+13h
Sun
17:00Z
+14h
Sun
18:00Z
+15h
Sun
19:00Z
+16h
Sun
20:00Z
+17h
Sun
21:00Z
+18h
Sun
22:00Z
+19h
Sun
23:00Z
+20h
Wind Dir
210°
SW
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
Wind Speed
10 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 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
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
FEW150
SCT220
FEW080
FEW080
FEW080
FEW080
FEW080
FEW080
FEW080
FEW080
FEW080
FEW080
FEW080
FEW080
FEW080
FEW080
FEW080
FEW080
FEW080
FEW080
FEW080
FEW080
FEW080
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ 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 VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:33Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:33Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:33Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:33Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:33Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:26Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:26Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:26Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:26Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:26Z
🌙
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 occurrenceAGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
210° at 10 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW150 SCT220
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southwest (210°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 15000 feet, Scattered clouds at 22000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 02:00Z - 03:00Z
VFR
Wind
260° at 12 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West (260°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 8000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 05:00Z - 06:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds will be variable in direction at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Skies will be clear. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 16:00Z - 17:00Z
LIFR
Wind
50° at 12 kt
Visibility
0.602 km
Clouds
FEW150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Northeast (50°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be poor at 0.602 km. Few clouds at 15000 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.