Kalamazoo Battle Creek International Airport

KAZO / AZO

Kalamazoo, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KAZO 050244Z 0503/0524 VRB03KT 2SM -RA BR OVC012 FM050600 VRB03KT 1 1/2SM -SHRA BR BKN004 FM051400 08005KT 3/4SM -RA BR BKN003 FM051700 09007KT 1/2SM RA FG OVC003 FM051900 08007KT 4SM -RA BKN004 FM052100 08007KT P6SM BKN007

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
03:00Z
+-1h
Thu
04:00Z
+0h
Thu
05:00Z
+1h
Thu
06:00Z
+2h
Thu
07:00Z
+3h
Thu
08:00Z
+4h
Thu
09:00Z
+5h
Thu
10:00Z
+6h
Thu
11:00Z
+7h
Thu
12:00Z
+8h
Thu
13:00Z
+9h
Thu
14:00Z
+10h
Thu
15:00Z
+11h
Thu
16:00Z
+12h
Thu
17:00Z
+13h
Thu
18:00Z
+14h
Thu
19:00Z
+15h
Thu
20:00Z
+16h
Thu
21:00Z
+17h
Thu
22:00Z
+18h
Wind Dir
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
90°
E
90°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
Wind Speed
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
Visibility
2SM
2SM
2SM
1/2SM
1/2SM
1/2SM
1/2SM
1/2SM
1/2SM
2SM
2SM
3/4SM
3/4SM
3/4SM
1/2SM
1/2SM
4SM
4SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Showers Rain, Mist
-SHRA BR
Light Showers Rain, Mist
-SHRA BR
Light Showers Rain, Mist
-SHRA BR
Light Showers Rain, Mist
-SHRA BR
Light Showers Rain, Mist
-SHRA BR
Light Showers Rain, Mist
-SHRA BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Rain, Fog
RA FG
Rain, Fog
RA FG
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
OVC012
OVC012
OVC012
BKN004
BKN004
BKN004
BKN004
BKN004
BKN004
OVC012
OVC012
BKN003
BKN003
BKN003
OVC003
OVC003
BKN004
BKN004
BKN007
BKN007
Ceiling
1,200 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
Flight Rules IFR IFR IFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR IFR IFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR IFR IFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:24Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:24Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:24Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:24Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:24Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:35Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:35Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:35Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:35Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:35Z
🌙
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
IFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
2SM
Weather
Light Rain, Mist
Clouds
OVC012
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be moderate at 2SM. Weather conditions: Light Rain, Mist. Overcast skies at 1200 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM050600 06:00Z - 12:00Z
LIFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
1/2SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain, Mist
Clouds
BKN004
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be moderate at 1/2SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain, Mist. Broken clouds at 400 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

FM051400 14:00Z - 20:00Z
LIFR
Wind
80° at 5 kt
Visibility
3/4SM
Weather
Light Rain, Mist
Clouds
BKN003
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East (80°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be good at 3/4SM. Weather conditions: Light Rain, Mist. Broken clouds at 300 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

FM051700 17:00Z - 23:00Z
LIFR
Wind
90° at 7 kt
Visibility
1/2SM
Weather
Rain, Fog
Clouds
OVC003
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East (90°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be moderate at 1/2SM. Weather conditions: Rain, Fog. Overcast skies at 300 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

FM051900 19:00Z - 01:00Z
LIFR
Wind
80° at 7 kt
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Light Rain
Clouds
BKN004
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East (80°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Light Rain. Broken clouds at 400 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

FM052100 21:00Z - 03:00Z
IFR
Wind
80° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN007
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East (80°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 700 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.