Whiteman Air Force Base

KSZL / SZL

Knob Noster, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF AMD KSZL 040742Z 0407/0509 20009KT 9999 SKC QNH2997INS TEMPO 0407/0409 30012G25KT 6000 TSRA BKN030CB BECMG 0413/0414 23010G15KT 9999 BKN070 QNH2992INS TEMPO 0415/0417 23015G25KT 6000 -TSRA BKN030CB BECMG 0421/0422 27009KT 9999 SCT040 QNH2991INS BECMG 0502/0503 34009KT 9999 SCT040 QNH2993INS TEMPO 0503/0505 02015G25KT 6000 -TSRA BKN030CB TX34/0422Z TN23/0412Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
09:00Z
+-1h
Sat
10:00Z
+0h
Sat
11:00Z
+1h
Sat
12:00Z
+2h
Sat
13:00Z
+3h
Sat
14:00Z
+4h
Sat
15:00Z
+5h
Sat
16:00Z
+6h
Sat
17:00Z
+7h
Sat
18:00Z
+8h
Sat
19:00Z
+9h
Sat
20:00Z
+10h
Sat
21:00Z
+11h
Sat
22:00Z
+12h
Sat
23:00Z
+13h
Sun
00:00Z
+14h
Sun
01:00Z
+15h
Sun
02:00Z
+16h
Sun
03:00Z
+17h
Sun
04:00Z
+18h
Sun
05:00Z
+19h
Sun
06:00Z
+20h
Sun
07:00Z
+21h
Wind Dir
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
340°
N
20°
N
20°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
Wind Speed
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
9 kt
G15 kt
9 kt
G15 kt
9 kt
G15 kt
9 kt
G15 kt
9 kt
G15 kt
9 kt
G15 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
9 kt
G15 kt
9 kt
G15 kt
9 kt
G15 kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
6 km
6 km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
6 km
6 km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
BKN070
BKN070
BKN030CB
BKN030CB
BKN070
BKN070
BKN070
BKN070
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
BKN030CB
BKN030CB
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
7,000 ft
AGL
7,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
7,000 ft
AGL
7,000 ft
AGL
7,000 ft
AGL
7,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:13Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:13Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:13Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:13Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:13Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:46Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:46Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:46Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:46Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:46Z
☀️
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 occurrenceAGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
200° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Skies will be clear. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 07:00Z - 09:00Z
MVFR
Wind
300° at 12 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
6 km
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN030CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 6 km. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 3000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 13:00Z - 14:00Z
VFR
Wind
230° at 10 kt
Gusts: 15 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN070
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Southwest (230°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 15 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 7000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 15:00Z - 17:00Z
MVFR
Wind
230° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
6 km
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN030CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the Southwest (230°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 6 km. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 3000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 21:00Z - 22:00Z
VFR
Wind
270° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West (270°) at 9 kt. 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
340° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the North-Northwest (340°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 03:00Z - 05:00Z
MVFR
Wind
20° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
6 km
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN030CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the North-Northeast (20°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 6 km. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 3000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

📚 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.