Fairchild Air Force Base

KSKA / SKA

Spokane, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KSKA 050300Z 0503/0609 25012KT 9999 FEW120 QNH2994INS BECMG 0505/0506 VRB06KT 9999 SKC QNH2997INS BECMG 0516/0517 25012KT 9999 FEW150 QNH2997INS BECMG 0602/0603 03006KT 9999 SKC QNH2999INS TX31/0523Z TN12/0513Z LIMITED METWATCH 0503 TIL 0602

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
Sun
22:00Z
+15h
Sun
23:00Z
+16h
Mon
00:00Z
+17h
Mon
01:00Z
+18h
Mon
02:00Z
+19h
Mon
03:00Z
+20h
Mon
04:00Z
+21h
Mon
05:00Z
+22h
Mon
06:00Z
+23h
Mon
07:00Z
+24h
Wind Dir
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
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
Wind Speed
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 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
0.602 km
0.602 km
0.602 km
0.602 km
0.602 km
0.602 km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW120
FEW120
FEW120
FEW120
FEW120
FEW120
FEW120
FEW120
FEW120
FEW120
FEW150
FEW150
FEW150
FEW150
FEW150
FEW150
FEW150
FEW150
FEW150
FEW150
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ 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 LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR
Day/Night
☀️
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
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:33Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:33Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:33Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:33Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:33Z
☀️
Day
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
250° at 12 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW120
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 12000 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
VFR
Wind
250° at 12 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 15000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 02:00Z - 03:00Z
LIFR
Wind
30° at 6 kt
Visibility
0.602 km
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the North-Northeast (30°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be poor at 0.602 km. Skies will be clear. 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.