Yakima Air Terminal McAllister Field

KYKM / YKM

Yakima, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KYKM 141720Z 1418/1518 VRB03KT P6SM FEW250 FM142000 28011G20KT P6SM SCT250 FM150000 29015G25KT P6SM FEW250 FM150500 30010KT P6SM FEW250

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
23:00Z
+-1h
Fri
00:00Z
+0h
Fri
01:00Z
+1h
Fri
02:00Z
+2h
Fri
03:00Z
+3h
Fri
04:00Z
+4h
Fri
05:00Z
+5h
Fri
06:00Z
+6h
Fri
07:00Z
+7h
Fri
08:00Z
+8h
Fri
09:00Z
+9h
Fri
10:00Z
+10h
Fri
11:00Z
+11h
Fri
12:00Z
+12h
Fri
13:00Z
+13h
Fri
14:00Z
+14h
Fri
15:00Z
+15h
Fri
16:00Z
+16h
Wind Dir
VRB
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
3 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
10 kt
G25 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:51Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:51Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:51Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:51Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:51Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
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
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM142000 20:00Z - 02:00Z
VFR
Wind
280° at 11 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (280°) at 11 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM150000 00:00Z - 06:00Z
VFR
Wind
290° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Northwest (290°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM150500 05:00Z - 11:00Z
VFR
Wind
300° at 10 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few 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.