USAF Academy Airfield

KAFF / AFF

Colorado Springs, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KAFF 151902Z 1519/1701 16014KT 9999 FEW100 FEW250 QNH3016INS BECMG 1523/1524 16014KT 9999 VCSH BKN100 BKN250 QNH3016INS BECMG 1602/1603 35009KT 9999 NSW SCT100 510104 QNH3022INS BECMG 1615/1616 14009KT 9999 FEW100 SCT200 QNH3020INS WND 040V220 BECMG 1620/1621 14009KT 9999 VCSH FEW070 BKN100 BKN200 QNH3020INS WND 040V220 DRY MICROBURST CONDS EXIST TEMPO 1621/1623 VRB20G35KT -SHRA VCTS SCT070 BKN090CB BKN200 BECMG 1622/1623 36012G20KT 9999 VCTS FEW070 BKN090CB BKN200 QNH3020INS TEMPO 1623/1701 VRB18G30KT -TSRA SCT060 BKN080CB TX26/1522Z TN07/1612Z LAST NO AMDS AFT 1601 NEXT 1611

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Tue
07:00Z
+-1h
Tue
08:00Z
+0h
Tue
09:00Z
+1h
Tue
10:00Z
+2h
Tue
11:00Z
+3h
Tue
12:00Z
+4h
Tue
13:00Z
+5h
Tue
14:00Z
+6h
Tue
15:00Z
+7h
Tue
16:00Z
+8h
Tue
17:00Z
+9h
Tue
18:00Z
+10h
Tue
19:00Z
+11h
Tue
20:00Z
+12h
Tue
21:00Z
+13h
Tue
22:00Z
+14h
Tue
23:00Z
+15h
Wind Dir
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
VRB
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
14kt
14kt
14kt
14kt
14kt
14kt
14kt
14kt
9kt
9kt
9kt
9kt
9kt
9kt
20kt
G35kt
20kt
G35kt
18kt
G30kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
1.611 km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Clouds
FEW100
FEW250
FEW100
FEW250
FEW100
FEW250
FEW100
FEW250
FEW100
FEW250
FEW100
FEW250
FEW100
FEW250
FEW100
FEW250
FEW100
SCT200
FEW100
SCT200
FEW100
SCT200
FEW100
SCT200
FEW100
SCT200
FEW070
BKN100
SCT070
BKN090CB
SCT070
BKN090CB
SCT060
BKN080CB
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
10000ft
AGL
9000ft
AGL
9000ft
AGL
8000ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR IFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌅 05:52
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:07
☀️
Day
🌇 18:07
☀️
Day
🌇 18:07
🌙
Night
🌇 18:07
🌙
Night
🌇 18:07
🌙
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 occurrenceAGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
160° at 14 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW100 FEW250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southeast (160°) at 14kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 10000 feet, Few clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 2025-10-15 23:00:00 - 2025-10-16 00:00:00
VFR
Wind
160° at 14 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN100 BKN250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South-Southeast (160°) at 14kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 10000 feet, Broken clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 2025-10-16 02:00:00 - 2025-10-16 03:00:00
VFR
Wind
350° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the North (350°) at 9kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 10000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 2025-09-16 15:00:00 - 2025-09-16 16:00:00
VFR
Wind
140° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW100 SCT200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Southeast (140°) at 9kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 10000 feet, Scattered clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 2025-09-16 20:00:00 - 2025-09-16 21:00:00
VFR
Wind
140° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW070 BKN100 BKN200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Southeast (140°) at 9kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 7000 feet, Broken clouds at 10000 feet, Broken clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 2025-09-16 21:00:00 - 2025-09-16 23:00:00
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 20 kt
Gusts: 35 kt
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT070 BKN090CB BKN200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds will be variable in direction at 20kt. Gusts up to 35kt are expected. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 7000 feet, Broken clouds at 9000 feet, Broken clouds at 20000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 2025-09-16 22:00:00 - 2025-09-16 23:00:00
MVFR
Wind
360° at 12 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW070 BKN090CB BKN200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the North (360°) at 12kt. Gusts up to 20kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 7000 feet, Broken clouds at 9000 feet, Broken clouds at 20000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 2025-09-16 23:00:00 - 2025-09-17 01:00:00
IFR
Wind
VRB° at 18 kt
Gusts: 30 kt
Visibility
1.611 km
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
SCT060 BKN080CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds will be variable in direction at 18kt. Gusts up to 30kt are expected. Visibility will be moderate at 1.611 km. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Scattered clouds at 6000 feet, Broken clouds at 8000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

📚 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.