Tuscaloosa National Airport

KTCL / TCL

Tuscaloosa, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KTCL 050526Z 0505/0606 00000KT P6SM BKN250 TEMPO 0505/0507 4SM HZ FM051600 27004KT P6SM SCT050 PROB30 0521/0524 4SM SHRA BKN050 FM060300 19003KT P6SM BKN250

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sun
05:00Z
+-1h
Sun
06:00Z
+0h
Sun
07:00Z
+1h
Sun
08:00Z
+2h
Sun
09:00Z
+3h
Sun
10:00Z
+4h
Sun
11:00Z
+5h
Sun
12:00Z
+6h
Sun
13:00Z
+7h
Sun
14:00Z
+8h
Sun
15:00Z
+9h
Sun
16:00Z
+10h
Sun
17:00Z
+11h
Sun
18:00Z
+12h
Sun
19:00Z
+13h
Sun
20:00Z
+14h
Sun
21:00Z
+15h
Sun
22:00Z
+16h
Sun
23:00Z
+17h
Mon
00:00Z
+18h
Mon
01:00Z
+19h
Mon
02:00Z
+20h
Mon
03:00Z
+21h
Mon
04:00Z
+22h
Wind Dir -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
-- -- -- -- -- --
190°
S
190°
S
Wind Speed -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
-- -- -- -- -- --
3 kt
3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Showers Rain
SHRA
30%
Showers Rain
SHRA
30%
Showers Rain
SHRA
30%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
SCT050
SCT050
SCT050
SCT050
SCT050
BKN050
BKN050
BKN050
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
Ceiling
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
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 MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌅 04:55Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:55Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:04Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:04Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:04Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:04Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:04Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:56Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:56Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:56Z
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
0° at 0 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the North (0°) at 0 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 05:00Z - 07:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Haze
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Haze. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM051600 16:00Z - 22:00Z
VFR
Wind
270° at 4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (270°) at 4 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 21:00Z - 00:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 5000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM060300 03:00Z - 09:00Z
VFR
Wind
190° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (190°) at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 25000 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.