Vandenberg Space Force Base

KVBG / VBG

Lompoc, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KVBG 142200Z 1422/1604 30010KT 9000 BR SCT010 QNH3005INS BECMG 1500/1501 32012KT 8000 BR BKN008 QNH3001INS BECMG 1503/1504 VRB06KT 3200 BR OVC004 QNH3000INS BECMG 1505/1506 VRB06KT 0800 FG VV002 QNH2999INS BECMG 1515/1516 VRB06KT 4800 BR OVC004 QNH3000INS BECMG 1517/1518 30009KT 9999 NSW BKN006 QNH3001INS BECMG 1519/1520 30010G15KT 9999 SCT010 QNH3000INS BECMG 1601/1602 31012G18KT 9999 BKN008 QNH3000INS BECMG 1603/1604 32010G15KT 4800 BR BKN005 QNH3002INS TX18/1521Z TN10/1513Z LAST NO AMDS AFT 1500 NEXT 1514

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Fri
05:00Z
+-1h
Fri
06:00Z
+0h
Fri
07:00Z
+1h
Fri
08:00Z
+2h
Fri
09:00Z
+3h
Fri
10:00Z
+4h
Fri
11:00Z
+5h
Fri
12:00Z
+6h
Fri
13:00Z
+7h
Fri
14:00Z
+8h
Fri
15:00Z
+9h
Fri
16:00Z
+10h
Fri
17:00Z
+11h
Fri
18:00Z
+12h
Fri
19:00Z
+13h
Fri
20:00Z
+14h
Fri
21:00Z
+15h
Fri
22:00Z
+16h
Fri
23:00Z
+17h
Sat
00:00Z
+18h
Sat
01:00Z
+19h
Sat
02:00Z
+20h
Wind Dir
300°
NW
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
10 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
Visibility
9 km
0.8 km
0.8 km
0.8 km
0.8 km
0.8 km
0.8 km
0.8 km
0.8 km
0.8 km
0.8 km
0.8 km
0.8 km
0.8 km
0.8 km
0.8 km
0.8 km
0.8 km
0.8 km
0.8 km
0.8 km
0.8 km
Weather
Mist
BR
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Clouds
SCT010
VV002
VV002
VV002
VV002
VV002
VV002
VV002
VV002
VV002
VV002
VV002
VV002
VV002
VV002
VV002
VV002
VV002
VV002
VV002
VV002
VV002
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
Flight Rules VFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR
Day/Night
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:05Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:05Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:05Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:54Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:54Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:54Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:54Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:54Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
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
300° at 10 kt
Visibility
9 km
Weather
Mist
Clouds
SCT010
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be good at 9 km. Weather conditions: Mist. Scattered clouds at 1000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 00:00Z - 01:00Z
IFR
Wind
320° at 12 kt
Visibility
8 km
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN008
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Northwest (320°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be good at 8 km. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 800 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 03:00Z - 04:00Z
LIFR
Wind
VRB° at 6 kt
Visibility
3.2 km
Weather
Mist
Clouds
OVC004
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds will be variable in direction at 6 kt. Visibility will be moderate at 3.2 km. Weather conditions: Mist. Overcast skies at 400 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

BECMG 05:00Z - 06:00Z
LIFR
Wind
VRB° at 6 kt
Visibility
0.8 km
Weather
Fog
Clouds
VV002
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds will be variable in direction at 6 kt. Visibility will be poor at 0.8 km. Weather conditions: Fog. Vertical visibility at 200 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

BECMG 15:00Z - 16:00Z
LIFR
Wind
VRB° at 6 kt
Visibility
4.8 km
Weather
Mist
Clouds
OVC004
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds will be variable in direction at 6 kt. Visibility will be moderate at 4.8 km. Weather conditions: Mist. Overcast skies at 400 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

BECMG 17:00Z - 18:00Z
IFR
Wind
300° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN006
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 600 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 19:00Z - 20:00Z
VFR
Wind
300° at 10 kt
Gusts: 15 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT010
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 15 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 1000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 01:00Z - 02:00Z
IFR
Wind
310° at 12 kt
Gusts: 18 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN008
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Northwest (310°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 18 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 800 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 03:00Z - 04:00Z
LIFR
Wind
320° at 10 kt
Gusts: 15 kt
Visibility
1.514 km
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN005
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Northwest (320°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 15 kt are expected. Visibility will be moderate at 1.514 km. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 500 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.