WxDecoder

KTCM/TCM METAR & TAF McChord Air Force Base

Tacoma, WashingtonElevation 322 ftMedium airport
CURRENT STATUS
VFR26 min old
Ceiling 4,300 ft, visibility 10 SM, rain.
FLIGHT CATEGORY
VFR
ceiling & visibility
WIND
Calm
no steady wind
VISIBILITY
10 SM
16.1 km
CEILING
4,300 ft
lowest BKN/OVC
DENSITY ALT
90 ft
-232 ft vs field
CURRENT METAR

Decoded observation

Observed 0104Z (6:04 PM local) · 26 min old

KTCM is currently VFR. Winds are calm. Visibility is 10 statute miles. The ceiling is 4,300 feet AGL. Reported weather: light rain.

WIND
Calm
No steady wind.
VISIBILITY
10 statute miles
16.1 km, good.
CEILING & SKY
Ceiling 4,300 ft
Lowest broken or overcast layer.
TEMP / DEWPOINT
13°C / 10°C
55°F / 50°F. 3°C spread.
ALTIMETER
29.99 inHg
1015.6 hPa, near standard.
WEATHER & HAZARDS
RA
Rain reported.

Codes in this report: AUTO OVC 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)
RAB04
rain began at :04 past the hour
SLP160
sea-level pressure 1016.0 hPa
$
station needs maintenance
TERMINAL AERODROME FORECAST

TAF timeline

Issued 2100Z (2:00 PM local) · valid to 0300Z (8:00 PM local)

KTCM forecast starts VFR at 21Z. Worst period is 17Z to 18Z with IFR possible (ICE, LOW CIG). Best period is 21Z to 01Z (VFR). Overall the forecast deteriorates over the period.

  • Maximum temperature 13°C expected at 0000Z on day 27.
  • Minimum temperature 9°C expected at 1300Z on day 27.
OVC0404,000 ft
OVC0404,000 ft · 5.6 SM
OVC0101,000 ft · 5.6 SM
OVC007700 ft · 5.6 SM
2100Z2:00 PM0300Z8:00 PM0900Z2:00 AM1500Z8:00 AM2100Z2:00 PM0300Z8:00 PM

Codes in this report: 9999 OVC BECMG

Tap any group to decode it.

FAA: no delays reported at TCM.

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

SUGGESTED RISK · TRAINING USE

Suggested risk level: Low

›Becoming: ceiling 700 ft AGL.

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 calm, visibility 10 SM, ceiling 4,300 ft. Forecast suggests tonight chance light rain, low near 41F, 36% chance of precipitation. Key risks: no significant hazards are highlighted right now, but always confirm against an official briefing.

DayConditionsTemp FWindGustsPrecipPilot note
Tonight Chance Light Rain 41 SE 4 kt – 36%
Tuesday Mostly Cloudy then Light Rain Likely 57/40 SW 11 kt – 97%
Wednesday Light Rain 54/35 SW 10 kt – 95%
Thursday Light Rain Likely 52/35 ENE 3 kt – 70%
Friday Chance Light Rain 52/33 N 2 kt – 25%
Saturday Partly Sunny 54/33 NNW 2 kt – 10%
Sunday Partly Sunny 55/34 W 2 kt – 12%
Monday Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Light Rain 57 N 2 kt – 17%

Source: National Weather Service (office SEW). Forecast issued 0130Z.

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
NESW1634CALMCALMCALMCALMCALM
WIND USED
Wind calm or variable
Crosswind ranking is unavailable until the wind has a steady direction.
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 10,108 ft

162/342
Dimensions
3,000 x 60 ft
Surface
Asphalt
RWY 162
RWY 342
16/34
Dimensions
10,108 x 150 ft
Surface
Asphalt
Edge lights
HIGH
RWY 16180°T
ILSLOC/GS
Approach lightsALSF1
VGSIPAPI (P4L)
Traffic patternLeft
RWY 34360°T
ILSILS
Approach lightsALSF2
VGSIPAPI (P4L)
Traffic patternRight

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
90 ft
Pressure altitude
252 ft
Field elevation
322 ft MSL
Temperature
13°C (55°F)
Dewpoint
10°C (50°F)
Altimeter
29.99 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
0103Z 6:03 PM
Sunrise
1445Z 7:45 AM
Loggable night
0134Z (6:34 PM local) → 1413Z (7:13 AM local)
end of evening to start of morning civil twilight
Position lights required
0103Z (6:03 PM local) → 1445Z (7:45 AM local)
sunset to sunrise (91.209)
Night passenger currency
0203Z (7:03 PM local) → 1345Z (6:45 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

McChord Air Force Base is in Tacoma, Washington. Field elevation 322 ft MSL. Airport facts are drawn from OurAirports and the FAA NASR dataset.

OPERATIONS & CONTACT
OwnershipAir Force owned
UsePrivate use
TypeMedium airport
ManagerBASE OPERATIONS
Manager phone253-982-5611
AttendedContinuous (24 hours)
CHARTS & AIRSPACE
ICAO / IATAKTCM / TCM
SectionalSEATTLE
Center (ARTCC)SEATTLE
Flight service (AFSS)SEATTLE
CustomsAirport of entry
RegionWashington
CountryUnited States
Coordinates47.1377, -122.4760
Distance from city3 NM S
SERVICES & LIGHTING
Control towerTowered
Field lightingSunset to sunrise
BeaconSunset to sunrise · White-green (lighted land airport)
FREQUENCIES

Communications

126.5
SEATTLE APP/DEP
A/D
27.01
ATIS
ATIS
125.15
GND
GND
34.25
PMSV METRO
PMSV
34.94
COMD POST
POST
37.22
PTD
PTD
124.8
TWR
TWR

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

AIRCRAFT ACTIVITY

KTCM traffic patterns

2026-06-12 to 2026-10-25, 52 days observed · data 2026-10-25

Medium confidence
TRAFFIC VOLUME (30-DAY)
AVG LANDINGS/DAY
3.1
AVG OPS/DAY
5
Activity trend over 13 days: falling, from 2 to 1 operations per dayOperations trend (13 days)

Busiest day: Tue · Busiest month: Aug

FLEET MIX
Airliner 63%Unknown 26%Jet 4%Piston single 4%Helicopter 3%

Mostly airliner-class aircraft.

TOP AIRCRAFT TYPES
›C17 (Airliner) · ~26 landings/mo
›UNKN (Unknown) · ~6 landings/mo
›P8 ? (Unknown) · ~4 landings/mo
›B737 (Airliner) · ~3 landings/mo
›P8 (Unknown) · ~2 landings/mo
LIKELY BASED AIRCRAFT
Low-confidence estimate

Aircraft likely based near this airport (estimate), mostly large aircraft.

›C17 (Airliner)
›UNKN (Unknown)
›B737 (Airliner)
›P8 ? (Unknown)
›P8 (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.

KGRF Gray Army Air Field
6 NM SW
VFR
KTIW Tacoma Narrows Airport
9 NM NW
VFR
KSEA Seattle–Tacoma International Airport
20 NM N
VFR
KOLM Olympia Regional Airport
20 NM SW
VFR
KRNT Renton Municipal Airport
24 NM NE
VFR
KPWT Bremerton National Airport
24 NM NW
MVFR
AIRPORT REMARKS

Operational remarks

›HOOK BAK-12B(B) (2450 FT).
›RSTD: AMC ACFT OPR RSTD DUR BIRD WATCH COND MODERATE (TKOF AND LDG PERMS ONLY WHEN DEP/ARR RTE AVOID IDENT BIRD ACT, NO LCL IFR/VFR TFC PAT ACT) AND SEVERE (TKOF AND LDG PROHWO OG/CC APVL), CTC PTD/ATIS/COMD POST FOR CURRENT BIRD WATCH COND.
›RSTD: TRAN AIRCREWS CONDUCTING LCL AREA LO-LEVEL TRNG MSN MUST RCV LCL PRO/RSTD BRIEFING FR 62 OSS/OSK AT DSN 382-3615, C253-982-3615.
›CAUTION: WHEN PERFORMING PRE-TKOF ENG RUNUP, ALIGN ACFT SO THAT DEBRIS IS NOT BLOWN TOWARD ADTAC ALERT HGR OR ADJ ACFT PRK RAMP. DUR VFR COND, ACFT MAKING LO APCH, NML TKOF, TOUCH AND GO LDG, OR MISSED APCH REMAIN AT OR BLW 1800 FT TIL DEP END OF THE RWY.
›TFC PAT: BEFORE LDG MAINT TFC PAT ALT COMMENSURATE WITH SAFETY AS LONG AS PRACTICABLE. RECTANGULAR 1800', OVERHEAD 2300'.
›CSTMS/AG/IMG: CSTMS AVBL, 1 HR PN RQR WKD 1600-0100Z++, OT 2 HR PN RQR. IMG ON CALL 24 HR PN DESIRED, 4 HR PN RQR. UNSKED ACFT ARR BTN 0900Z-1400Z++ MAY EXPERIENCE DELAYS FOR CSTMS/AG/IMG INSP.
›ATIS PHONE NUMBER C 253-982-2847. DSN 382-2847. DIGITAL-ATIS, DATA LINK ENABLED.
›FUEL: A++
›CAUTION: 1,000 FT RWY 16-34 IS CONCRETE; RWY IS GROOVED. RWY MRKD WITH WHITE NON-REFLECTIVE 90 FT X 3500 FT VFR DAY TIME ASSAULT LDG ZONE.
›RWY COND CODES (RWYCC) UNAVBL
›VOR OTS UFN
›ALL TWY EDGE LGT AND RWY 16-34 EDGE, CNTRLN, TDZ LGT EQUIPPED WITH NTSD LED FIXTURES MAY NOT BE COMPATIBLE WITH ALL NVDS OR ENHANCED FLIGHT VISION SYSTEMS.
›JASU: (MD-3M) 1(MD-3) 1(MA-1A) (AM32A-60) 1(MC-11).
›FLUID: SP PRESAIR DE-ICE-EXP 3 HR DELAY. LHOX LOX.
›OIL: O-128-133-148-156 SOAP - RESULTS RQR 24 HR, 1530-0030Z++ WKD EXC HOL, RESULTS NOT AVBL OT. TRAN ACFT REQ SOAP WILL ARR WITH HISTORICAL ENG SOAP DATA FOR TREND ANALYSIS.
›TRAN ALERT: OPR H24. DELAYS CAN BE EXP. PRK LTD. ALL TRAN ACFT RQR TRAN ALERT FOLLOW ME ASSISTANCE.
›AMP-1/AMP-3 OVERT/COVERT ASSAULT ZONE LGTS INSTL IN MIDDLE 5000 FT RY 16/34.SEE AP/1.
›RSTD: ALL ACFT INC SKED AMC MSN RQR PPR 24 HR PRIOR TO ARR. PPR'S EFFECTIVE +/- 1 HR. TRAN ACFT PARK EXTREMELY LTD. MSN PLANNERS MUST CTC AMOPS WHEN USING MCCHORD AS DIVERT BASE. AMPOS DSN 382-5611, C253-982-5611. ACFT RON MORE THAN 3 DAYS AND/OR RQR OTHER THAN NORMAL TRANS SVC MUST CTC 62 AW/XP, 253-982-5890. ALL INBD ACFT MUST CTC COMD POST (RAINIER OPS) NO LATER THAN 30 MIN PRIOR TO LDG.
›HOOK BAK-12B(B) (1668 FT).
›ONE HR NTC RQR FOR CSTMS.
OFFICIAL LINKS & SOURCES
↗Official METAR on AviationWeather.gov
↗Search NOTAMs (official FAA NOTAM Search)
↗Wikipedia
↗KTCM on OurAirports
FREQUENTLY ASKED
Does KTCM have a METAR?
Yes. KTCM has a current METAR observation, decoded into plain English on this page.
Does KTCM have a TAF?
Yes, a TAF is issued for KTCM; the decoded forecast timeline is shown above.
What is the field elevation at KTCM?
KTCM sits at 322 ft MSL, which factors into the density-altitude estimate on this page.
Is this an official preflight weather briefing for KTCM?
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.