WxDecoder

KMCF/MCF METAR & TAF MacDill Air Force Base

Tampa, FloridaElevation 14 ftMedium airport
CURRENT STATUS
VFR55 min old
No ceiling, visibility 10 SM.
FLIGHT CATEGORY
VFR
ceiling & visibility
WIND
030@12
gust 19 kt
VISIBILITY
10 SM
16.1 km
CEILING
None
no BKN/OVC layer
DENSITY ALT
689 ft
+675 ft vs field
CURRENT METAR

Decoded observation

Observed 0055Z (8:55 PM local) · 55 min old

KMCF is currently VFR. Winds are from the northeast at 12 knots gusting 19. Visibility is 10 statute miles. There is no ceiling.

WIND
30° at 12 kt, gust 19
Gusts 7 kt above the steady wind.
VISIBILITY
10 statute miles
16.1 km, good.
CEILING & SKY
CLR
FEW and SCT layers are not ceilings.
TEMP / DEWPOINT
22°C / 17°C
72°F / 63°F. 5°C spread.
ALTIMETER
30.08 inHg
1018.6 hPa, above standard.
WEATHER & HAZARDS
No significant hazards
No precipitation or obscuration reported.

Codes in this report: AUTO CLR RMK AO2

Hover or tap any group for a plain-English explanation.

REMARKS: DECODED
AO2
automated station with a precipitation discriminator (can tell rain from snow)
SLP189
sea-level pressure 1018.9 hPa
T02230170
precise temperature 22.3°C, dew point 17.0°C
$
station needs maintenance
TERMINAL AERODROME FORECAST

TAF timeline

Issued 0100Z (9:00 PM local) · valid to 0700Z (3:00 AM local)

KMCF forecast starts VFR at 01Z. Worst period is 05Z to 06Z with VFR possible (GUST, GUST). Best period is 01Z to 05Z (VFR). Conditions are roughly steady over the period.

  • Maximum temperature 29°C expected at 1900Z on day 26.
  • Minimum temperature 20°C expected at 0900Z on day 26.
VFR
VFR
VFR
VFR
0100Z9:00 PM0700Z3:00 AM1300Z9:00 AM1900Z3:00 PM0100Z9:00 PM0700Z3:00 AM

Codes in this report: 9999 SCT BECMG FEW

Tap any group to decode it.

FAA: no delays reported at MCF.

Source: FAA System Operations (ASWS). Operational status only; verify with official FAA sources and NOTAMs.

SUGGESTED RISK · TRAINING USE

Suggested risk level: Low

›No significant weather concerns in the current report.

A suggested risk level for training and situational awareness only, not a go/no-go authority. Verify with official sources and apply your personal minimums.

FORECAST & PILOT NOTES · SUPPLEMENTAL

Extended forecast and pilot notes

Current aviation conditions show flight category VFR, wind from 30° at 12 kt, gusting 19 kt, visibility 10 SM, ceiling none. Forecast suggests tonight partly cloudy, low near 69F, 8% chance of precipitation. Key risks: strong winds in the forecast; thunderstorms in the forecast.

PILOT WEATHER NOTES
Strong winds in the forecastWeather.gov
Wednesday: winds up to 25 kt. Re-check crosswind components closer to departure.
Thunderstorms in the forecastWeather.gov
Friday: Sunny then Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms. Watch for developing convection and plan alternates.
DayConditionsTemp FWindGustsPrecipPilot note
Tonight Partly Cloudy 69 NNE 16 kt 23 kt 8%
Monday Sunny 84/67 NE 16 kt 23 kt 6%
Tuesday Sunny 84/69 NE 16 kt 23 kt 5%
Wednesday Sunny 84/73 NE 17 kt 25 kt 4% Strong winds in the forecast
Thursday Mostly Sunny then Isolated Rain Showers 85/72 NE 16 kt 21 kt 21%
Friday Sunny then Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms 85/72 NE 14 kt – 26% Thunderstorms in the forecast
Saturday Mostly Sunny then Scattered Rain Showers 85/71 ENE 12 kt – 28%
Sunday Scattered Rain Showers 84 ENE 8 kt – 39%

Source: National Weather Service (office TBW). Forecast issued 0149Z.

Radar

Radar data: NOAA/NWS MRMS composite reflectivity. For situational awareness only, not a substitute for an official weather briefing.

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RUNWAYS & WIND
1 runway · crosswind ranking
ON-FIELD METAR
NESW0422 30°30°12G19 kt30°30° 12G1930°
READING THE BARB · SWIPE FOR MORE →
Calm
5 kt
10 kt
15 kt
20 kt
25 kt
30 kt
35 kt
40 kt
45 kt
50 kt
65 kt
75 kt
100 kt
105 kt
Half feather = 5 kt, full = 10 kt, filled pennant = 50 kt; add them up. The staff points the direction the wind blows from.
WIND USED
030° at 12 kt, gust 19
Components computed from the current on-field METAR wind.
RECOMMENDED
RWY 0412 kt headwind · 2 kt crosswind
RUNWAYS BY WIND · best end
04
HEAD
12 kt
CROSS
2 kt L
BEST
22
HEAD
12 kt tail
CROSS
2 kt R
OK
Components are estimates from the current METAR wind and runway heading. Verify with the Chart Supplement and NOTAMs.
RUNWAYS

Runway detail & declared distances

2 runways · longest 11,421 ft

05/23
Dimensions
11,421 x 151 ft
Surface
Asphalt (good)
Edge lights
HIGH
RWY 05
ILSLOC/GS
Approach lightsALSF1
VGSIPAPI (P4L)
Traffic patternLeft
RWY 23
ILSLOC/GS
Approach lightsALSF1
VGSIPAPI (P4L)
Traffic patternLeft
H1
Dimensions
100 x 100 ft
Surface
Concrete (excellent)
RWY H1

Runway data from the FAA NASR dataset (effective 2026-06-11). Verify with the current Chart Supplement and NOTAMs.

FIELD CONDITIONS

Performance & density altitude

Density altitude
689 ft
Pressure altitude
-146 ft
Field elevation
14 ft MSL
Temperature
22°C (72°F)
Dewpoint
17°C (63°F)
Altimeter
30.08 inHg

Density altitude estimates how the aircraft performs versus standard atmosphere. Higher density altitude reduces climb performance and increases takeoff distance.

DAYLIGHT & NIGHT

Sun & logging windows

Sunset
2251Z 6:51 PM
Sunrise
1136Z 7:36 AM
Loggable night
2315Z (7:15 PM local) → 1113Z (7:13 AM local)
end of evening to start of morning civil twilight
Position lights required
2251Z (6:51 PM local) → 1136Z (7:36 AM local)
sunset to sunrise (91.209)
Night passenger currency
2351Z (7:51 PM local) → 1036Z (6:36 AM local)
1 hr after sunset to 1 hr before sunrise (61.57(b))

FAA definitions, shown in Zulu with airport-local time. Verify for your operation.

AIRPORT INFORMATION

Facility & services

MacDill Air Force Base is in Tampa, Florida. Field elevation 14 ft MSL. Airport facts are drawn from OurAirports and the FAA NASR dataset.

OPERATIONS & CONTACT
OwnershipAir Force owned
UsePrivate use
TypeMedium airport
ManagerCHIEF OF AFLD MANAGEMENT
AttendedContinuous (24 hours)
CHARTS & AIRSPACE
ICAO / IATAKMCF / MCF
SectionalMIAMI
Center (ARTCC)MIAMI
Flight service (AFSS)SAINT PETERSBURG
RegionFlorida
CountryUnited States
Coordinates27.8493, -82.5212
Distance from city4 NM S
SERVICES & LIGHTING
FuelJet A · Jet A+
Control towerTowered
Field lightingSee remarks
BeaconSunset to sunrise · White-green (lighted land airport)
FREQUENCIES

Communications

124.95
TAMPA APP
APP
133.825
ATIS
ATIS
119.65
TAMPA DEP
DEP
118.575
GND
GND
34.46
PMSV METRO
PMSV
138.95
6 AMW COMD POST
POST
37.22
PTD
PTD
123.7
TWR
TWR

Not all tower/ground/approach frequencies are in our datasets. Verify with the FAA Chart Supplement.

AIRCRAFT ACTIVITY

KMCF traffic patterns

2026-06-12 to 2026-10-23, 64 days observed · data 2026-10-23

High confidence
TRAFFIC VOLUME (30-DAY)
AVG LANDINGS/DAY
8.1
AVG OPS/DAY
12.4
Activity trend over 17 days: rising, from 6 to 34 operations per dayOperations trend (17 days)

Busiest day: Thu · Busiest month: Sep

FLEET MIX
Unknown 53%Helicopter 19%Piston single 13%Airliner 6%Turboprop 6%Jet 2%

Fleet composition unclear from available data.

TOP AIRCRAFT TYPES
›K35R (Unknown) · ~32 landings/mo
›H60 (Helicopter) · ~30 landings/mo
›C182 (Piston single) · ~15 landings/mo
›F5 (Unknown) · ~10 landings/mo
›T34T (Unknown) · ~10 landings/mo
LIKELY BASED AIRCRAFT
Low-confidence estimate

Aircraft likely based near this airport (estimate), mostly aircraft of unknown type.

›K35R (Unknown)
›H60 (Helicopter)
›C560 (Unknown)
›C27J (Unknown)
›UNKN (Unknown)

This is an estimate based on repeated flight patterns, not registration data. Do not rely on it to identify specific aircraft or owners.

Data limitations (4)
›ADS-B coverage is incomplete; counts are an observed lower bound, not official totals.
›Some aircraft do not transmit usable ADS-B and are not counted.
›Aircraft types and based estimates are inferred and may be wrong.
›This is not official ATC, FAA, or airport data.
NEARBY AIRPORTS

Weather reference stations

Current flight category at nearby reporting stations.

KTPF Peter O Knight Airport
6 NM NE
VFR
KSPG Albert Whitted Airport
8 NM SW
VFR
KTPA Tampa International Airport
8 NM N
VFR
KPIE St. Petersburg Clearwater International Airport
10 NM NW
VFR
KCLW Clearwater Air Park
15 NM NW
UNKNOWN
KSRQ Sarasota Bradenton International Airport
27 NM S
VFR
AIRPORT REMARKS

Operational remarks

›CSTMS/AG/IMG: SEE FLIP AP/1.
›CAUTION: COMMERCIAL ACFT CROSS APCH TO MACDILL AFB ENROUTE TO TAMPA INTL ARPT AT AND ABV 2100 FT. ON INST APCH TO RWY 05 USE CAUTION DUR OVFT OF ALBERT WHITTED ARPT DUE TO LGT TFC BLW APCH LEG 6 NM SW. MAINT RWY AND TWY CNTRLINE WHEN EXITING RWY.
›CAUTION: ON INST APCH TO RWY 23 USE CAUTION DUR OVFT OF PETER O. KNIGHT ARPT DUE TO LGT ACFT TFC BLW APCH LEG 4 NM NE.
›RSTD: AVOID OVFT OF ST. PETERSBURG LAND MASS BY AT LEAST 1.5 NM. PPR - BASE OPS DSN 968-2929/2350, C813-828-2350/2929, FOR PPR NR, FOR SVC AND OTHER RSTD. PPR ISSUED UP TO 7 DAYS PRIOR TO ARR. ALL ACFT DEP MACDILL AFB MUST HAVE FLP ON FILE IN AMOPS PRIOR TO TKOF.
›TRAN ALERT: OPR 1100-0300Z++. LAVATORY SVC ONLY PPR. LTD TRAN PRK FOR TACTICAL ACFT; EXP SVC DELAY FOR TACTICAL ACFT. UNABLE TO SVC ACFT WITH ORDINANCE. TRAN ALERT IS CONTRACT MAINT. TRAN ACFT MUST LAND BY 0230Z++ EXC VIP. ALL FTR TYPE/TRAINER ACFT MUST LAND BY 0200Z++. NO MULTIPLE IFR/VFR APCH FOR TRAN ACFT AFTER 0230Z++. TRAN ALERT CAN SUPPORT MINIMAL TRAN ACFT FOR LCL OR OUT AND BACK TRAN FLTS WITH PRIOR APVL.
›FLUID: LPOX LOX
›FUEL: AIR CARD RQRD FOR AVN FUEL OR U.S. CASH; CASH FUEL PPR - FUELS DSN 968-2074.
›JASU: (A/M32A-86) (AM32-95) (M32A-60)
›AG: SEE GLOBAL HF SYSTEMS LISTING IN FIH.
›RSTD: ACFT OPR RSTD DUR BIRD WATCH COND MODERATE (TKOF OR LDG PERMS ONLY WHEN DEP AND ARR RTE AVOID IDENT BIRD ACT. NO LCL IFR/VFR TFC PAT ACT) AND SEVERE (TKOF AND LDG PROH WO OG/CC APVL), CTC ATIS, TWR, COMD POST, OR BASE OPS FOR CURRENT BIRD WATCH COND.
›CAUTION: NSTD OVNR MRK MACDILL AFB ON RWY 05/23 ENDS. NSTD MRKS NORTH/SOUTH RAMPS, WING-TIP OBST LINES FOR TRNG.
›CAUTION: BIRDBATH ONLY USED FOR P-3, C-130, E-3A, KC-135 & B-737 ACFT NO FTR OR COPTER UNLESS APVD BY AFM.
›CAUTION: BIRD HAZ; EXP HVY BIRD ACT FM 1 NOV - 28 FEB DURG PHASE II BASH PERIOD; 24 HR BIRD WATCH ALERT IN EFCT.
›HOOK BAK-12B(B) (1397 FT). N BAK-12B AVBL MON-FRI 1300Z-2030Z++; 45 MIN PN TO CNCT CABLE, UNABVL DRG WKEND AND FEDERAL HOL.
›HOOK BAK-12B(B) (1338 FT). N BAK-12B AVBL 1300-2030Z+++ MON-FRI, 45MIN PN RQR TO CONNECT CABLE, UNAVBL DUR WKEND AND FEDERAL HOL. S BAK-12B UNAVBL.
›TFC PAT: RECTANGULAR 1100 FT; OVHD 1600 FT. DRG VFR COND TKOF & TGL MNTN 1100 FT TIL DER. HELI 600 FT.
›HIRL RWY 5/23 OPR WHEN TWR OPN.
›MKD 150 FT WIDE WITH 50 FT WT BRG SHOULDERS EACH SIDE.
›FIRST 1000 FT CONC MID 9420 FT ASPH.
›BEARING STRENGTH: ST175; SBTT429; TRT494; TDT700.
›TXY AND RAMP RESTRICTIONS - ACFT WITH WINGSPAN GREATER THAN 170FT RQR WING WALKERS AT THE INT OF THE BRAVO APRON AND TXY KILO DUE TO LIGHT POLE OBSTN. LIGHT POLE IS LOCATED 129 FT NORTH OF TXY KILO CNTRLN. WIDE BODY ACFT WITH WINGSPANS GREATER THAN 132.7 FT WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO TXY ON TXY LANES LOCATED ON THE ALPHA APN WITHOUT WING-WALKERS.
›MISC: CLASS D ASP REVERTS TO CLASS G WHEN TWR IS CLSD.
›COMMUNICATIONS-PTD: UNSVC. CTC AMOPS C813-828-0002.
›PMSV O/S UFN. PLS CTC 6 OSS/OSW WX AT (813) 828-4405 FOR WX INFO.
›RSTD: DEPLOYED UNIT CMPLX APN (DELTA/DUCC RAMP) CLSD.
›RSTD: HELIPAD H1 (100 FT X 100 FT CON) USA RES AVN SUPPORT FAC MACDILL USE ONLY.
›CAUTION: ACFT MAKING 180 DEG TURNS ON RWY USE HAMMERHEADS LAST 1000 FT AT EACH END.
›TSNT AIRCREWS MAY CTC 9 OWS FOR WX BRIEF - DSN 965-0939.
›ALL ACFT REQ TO PARK ON ARMY APN MUST CTC ASF MACDILL C813-828-3180/3183 UP TO 7 DAYS PRIOR TO ARR/MNM NOTICE IS 24 HR PRIOR TO ARR.
›CAUTION: USE CTN DURG TAXIING OPS AT NIGHT ON SPOTS A1-A4 DUE TO REMOVED APN LGTG.
›RSTD: CARGO/HVY ACFT LNDG ON BAK-12 CABLES NA.
›ALL SERIES B-747 & A-380 MUST ARRIVE WITH A TOW BAR.
›MISC: CLASS B AIRSPACE SVC AUTO TERMINATES WHEN ACFT IS INSTR TO CTC TWR.
›REMARKS - MISC - MACDILL CRASH FIRE RESPONSE (CFR) IS AN ACFT RESCUE AND FIREFIGHTING (ARFF) AFLD CAT 8 WITH 11,000 GAL CAP. STEADY ARFF COND FOR MACDILL AFB IS A REDUCED LEVEL OF SVC (RLS) FOR CAT 1-9 WK DAY 1030Z- 2000Z++ (0630L-1600L) AND CRITICAL LEVEL OF SVC (CLS) FOR CAT 8-9 WK NGT 2000Z-1030Z++ (1600L-0630L), RLS CAT 1-7 WKEND, CLS CAT 8-9 WKEND AND CLS CAT 10 WKLY.
›RSTD: ALL ACFT MUST LAND BY PPR APPROVED TIME OR CALL WITH DEVIATIONS OR PPR IS INVALID; EXC FOR VIP.
›CAUTION: NUMEROUS VOIDS/SINKHOLES ON AFLD; REMAIN ON TWY CNTRLN.
›RSTD: ALL AIRCREW DEP CIV ARPT OR GUARD/RESERVE BASE CALL COMD POST 1 HR PRIOR TO TAKEOFF WITH PAX/CARGO/ETA INFO.
›RSTD: ALL DV & TSNT ACFT CTC MACDILL CMD POST 311.0 OR DSN 968-4361/4362 (C813-828-4361) 3 HR PRIOR TO ARR & 30 MIN PRIOR TO ARR WITH DV CODES, CUSTOMS INFO & SPACE-A PAX INFO.
›MISC: WX OBSN AVBL H24 VIA AUTO SYS DSN 968-2627. DUR WX FLT CLOSURES REMOTE BRIEFING SVC AVBL FR 26 OWS DSN 331-2651, C318-529-2651. WHEN POSSIBLE 2 HR ADV NTC FOR ALL RQR BRIEFINGS.
›AN/FMQ-19 AUTOMATED OBSERVING SYS IN USE; AUGMENTED BY HUMAN OBSN WHEN NEC DUR AFLD HRS.
›RSTD: CTC BASE OPS DSN 968-2929/2350, C813-8282350/2929, FOR PPR NR, FOR SVC AND OTHER RSTD.
›MISC: WHEN NVD OPS IN EFCT CTC TWR 10 MIN PRIOR TO ARR OR DEP FOR AFLD LGT ADJ - INFO DSN 968-2120/4822.
›CAUTION: UNCTL VFR TFC IN VCNTY OF KMCF BLW 1200 FT.
OFFICIAL LINKS & SOURCES
↗Official METAR on AviationWeather.gov
↗Search NOTAMs (official FAA NOTAM Search)
↗Official airport website
↗Wikipedia
↗KMCF on OurAirports
FREQUENTLY ASKED
Does KMCF have a METAR?
Yes. KMCF has a current METAR observation, decoded into plain English on this page.
Does KMCF have a TAF?
Yes, a TAF is issued for KMCF; the decoded forecast timeline is shown above.
What is the field elevation at KMCF?
KMCF sits at 14 ft MSL, which factors into the density-altitude estimate on this page.
Is this an official preflight weather briefing for KMCF?
No. wxdecoder.com is for education and situational awareness only. It is not an official weather briefing or a substitute for official sources, NOTAM review, and pilot judgment.
This app is for aviation weather education, training, and situational awareness only. It is not a substitute for an official weather briefing, approved flight-planning software, flight service, dispatch procedures, current FAA regulations, or pilot judgment. Always verify weather with official sources before flight.