McChord Air Force Base

KTCM / TCM

Tacoma, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KTCM 150500Z 1505/1611 21010G15KT 9999 VCSH SCT006 SCT015 BKN023 OVC080 610505 QNH3010INS BECMG 1507/1508 20012KT 9999 NSW FEW025 BKN035 620409 QNH3013INS BECMG 1517/1518 21012G20KT 9000 -SHRA FEW008 SCT015 BKN025 OVC050 610409 510005 QNH3002INS BECMG 1602/1603 20010G15KT 9999 VCSH BKN022 OVC040 610406 QNH3002INS TX11/1523Z TN08/1513Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Fri
08:00Z
+-1h
Fri
09:00Z
+0h
Fri
10:00Z
+1h
Fri
11:00Z
+2h
Fri
12:00Z
+3h
Fri
13:00Z
+4h
Fri
14:00Z
+5h
Fri
15:00Z
+6h
Fri
16:00Z
+7h
Fri
17:00Z
+8h
Fri
18:00Z
+9h
Fri
19:00Z
+10h
Fri
20:00Z
+11h
Fri
21:00Z
+12h
Fri
22:00Z
+13h
Fri
23:00Z
+14h
Sat
00:00Z
+15h
Sat
01:00Z
+16h
Sat
02:00Z
+17h
Sat
03:00Z
+18h
Sat
04:00Z
+19h
Sat
05:00Z
+20h
Sat
06:00Z
+21h
Sat
07:00Z
+22h
Sat
08:00Z
+23h
Sat
09:00Z
+24h
Wind Dir
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
Wind Speed
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 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
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
9 km
9 km
9 km
9 km
9 km
9 km
9 km
9 km
9 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
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT006
SCT015
SCT006
SCT015
SCT006
SCT015
SCT006
SCT015
SCT006
SCT015
SCT006
SCT015
SCT006
SCT015
SCT006
SCT015
SCT006
SCT015
FEW008
SCT015
FEW008
SCT015
FEW008
SCT015
FEW008
SCT015
FEW008
SCT015
FEW008
SCT015
FEW008
SCT015
FEW008
SCT015
FEW008
SCT015
BKN022
OVC040
BKN022
OVC040
BKN022
OVC040
BKN022
OVC040
BKN022
OVC040
BKN022
OVC040
BKN022
OVC040
BKN022
OVC040
Ceiling
2,300 ft
AGL
2,300 ft
AGL
2,300 ft
AGL
2,300 ft
AGL
2,300 ft
AGL
2,300 ft
AGL
2,300 ft
AGL
2,300 ft
AGL
2,300 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
Flight Rules MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:09Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:09Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:09Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:09Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:09Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:49Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:49Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:49Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:49Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:49Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
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
MVFR
Wind
210° at 10 kt
Gusts: 15 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT006 SCT015 BKN023 OVC080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southwest (210°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 15 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 600 feet, Scattered clouds at 1500 feet, Broken clouds at 2300 feet, Overcast skies at 8000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 07:00Z - 08:00Z
VFR
Wind
200° at 12 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW025 BKN035
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 2500 feet, Broken clouds at 3500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 17:00Z - 18:00Z
MVFR
Wind
210° at 12 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
9 km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
FEW008 SCT015 BKN025 OVC050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South-Southwest (210°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 9 km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Few clouds at 800 feet, Scattered clouds at 1500 feet, Broken clouds at 2500 feet, Overcast skies at 5000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 02:00Z - 03:00Z
MVFR
Wind
200° at 10 kt
Gusts: 15 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN022 OVC040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 15 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 2200 feet, Overcast skies at 4000 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.