Shaw Air Force Base

KSSC / SSC

Sumter, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF AMD KSSC 042120Z 0421/0521 15009KT 9999 FEW060 SCT250 QNH2991INS BECMG 0511/0512 21006KT 9999 FEW120 FEW250 QNH2993INS BECMG 0517/0518 20009KT 9999 SCT120 BKN250 QNH2987INS BECMG 0520/0521 19010G15KT 9999 VCSH SCT050 BKN120 BKN250 QNH2985INS TX36/0421Z TN24/0510Z LAST NO AMDS AFT 0421 NEXT 0507

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sun
03:00Z
+-1h
Sun
04:00Z
+0h
Sun
05:00Z
+1h
Sun
06:00Z
+2h
Sun
07:00Z
+3h
Sun
08:00Z
+4h
Sun
09:00Z
+5h
Sun
10:00Z
+6h
Sun
11:00Z
+7h
Sun
12:00Z
+8h
Sun
13:00Z
+9h
Sun
14:00Z
+10h
Sun
15:00Z
+11h
Sun
16:00Z
+12h
Sun
17:00Z
+13h
Sun
18:00Z
+14h
Sun
19:00Z
+15h
Wind Dir
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
Wind Speed
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 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
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW060
SCT250
FEW060
SCT250
FEW060
SCT250
FEW060
SCT250
FEW060
SCT250
FEW060
SCT250
FEW060
SCT250
FEW060
SCT250
FEW120
FEW250
FEW120
FEW250
FEW120
FEW250
FEW120
FEW250
FEW120
FEW250
FEW120
FEW250
SCT120
BKN250
SCT120
BKN250
SCT120
BKN250
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:54Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:54Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:54Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:54Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:05Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:05Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:05Z
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
150° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW060 SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southeast (150°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 6000 feet, Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 11:00Z - 12:00Z
VFR
Wind
210° at 6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW120 FEW250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South-Southwest (210°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 12000 feet, Few clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 17:00Z - 18:00Z
VFR
Wind
200° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT120 BKN250
📖 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 12000 feet, Broken clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 20:00Z - 21:00Z
LIFR
Wind
190° at 10 kt
Gusts: 15 kt
Visibility
0.507 km
Clouds
SCT050 BKN120 BKN250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South (190°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 15 kt are expected. Visibility will be poor at 0.507 km. Scattered clouds at 5000 feet, Broken clouds at 12000 feet, Broken clouds at 25000 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.