Battle Creek Executive Airport at Kellogg Field

KBTL / BTL

Battle Creek, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KBTL 271739Z 2718/2818 21009G16KT P6SM SCT030 BKN080 FM272000 23012G18KT P6SM OVC050 TEMPO 2720/2723 4SM TSRA OVC025CB FM272300 24008KT 6SM BR BKN080 PROB30 2723/2803 4SM TSRA OVC025CB FM280300 VRB05KT 5SM BR OVC018 FM280700 36008KT 4SM BR BKN012 FM281500 36012G20KT P6SM SCT010 BKN035

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Mon
18:00Z
+-1h
Mon
19:00Z
+0h
Mon
20:00Z
+1h
Mon
21:00Z
+2h
Mon
22:00Z
+3h
Mon
23:00Z
+4h
Tue
00:00Z
+5h
Tue
01:00Z
+6h
Tue
02:00Z
+7h
Tue
03:00Z
+8h
Tue
04:00Z
+9h
Tue
05:00Z
+10h
Tue
06:00Z
+11h
Tue
07:00Z
+12h
Tue
08:00Z
+13h
Tue
09:00Z
+14h
Tue
10:00Z
+15h
Tue
11:00Z
+16h
Tue
12:00Z
+17h
Tue
13:00Z
+18h
Tue
14:00Z
+19h
Tue
15:00Z
+20h
Tue
16:00Z
+21h
Wind Dir
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
210°
SW
210°
SW
360°
N
360°
N
Wind Speed
9 kt
G16 kt
9 kt
G16 kt
9 kt
G16 kt
9 kt
G16 kt
9 kt
G16 kt
9 kt
G16 kt
9 kt
G16 kt
9 kt
G16 kt
9 kt
G16 kt
5 kt
G16 kt
5 kt
G16 kt
5 kt
G16 kt
5 kt
G16 kt
8 kt
G16 kt
8 kt
G16 kt
8 kt
G16 kt
8 kt
G16 kt
8 kt
G16 kt
8 kt
G16 kt
9 kt
G16 kt
9 kt
G16 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
30%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
30%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
30%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
30%
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT030
BKN080
SCT030
BKN080
OVC025CB
OVC025CB
OVC025CB
OVC025CB
OVC025CB
OVC025CB
OVC025CB
OVC018
OVC018
OVC018
OVC018
BKN012
BKN012
BKN012
BKN012
BKN012
BKN012
SCT030
BKN080
SCT030
BKN080
SCT010
BKN035
SCT010
BKN035
Ceiling
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
1,800 ft
AGL
1,800 ft
AGL
1,800 ft
AGL
1,800 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌇 19:06Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:06Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:06Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:06Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:53Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:53Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:53Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:53Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:53Z
☀️
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
210° at 9 kt
Gusts: 16 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT030 BKN080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southwest (210°) at 9 kt. Gusts up to 16 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 3000 feet, Broken clouds at 8000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM272000 20:00Z - 02:00Z
VFR
Wind
230° at 12 kt
Gusts: 18 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
OVC050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (230°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 18 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Overcast skies at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 20:00Z - 23:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
OVC025CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Overcast skies at 2500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM272300 23:00Z - 05:00Z
VFR
Wind
240° at 8 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Southwest (240°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 8000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 23:00Z - 03:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
OVC025CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Overcast skies at 2500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM280300 03:00Z - 09:00Z
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 5 kt
Visibility
5SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
OVC018
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 5 kt. Visibility will be good at 5SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Overcast skies at 1800 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM280700 07:00Z - 13:00Z
IFR
Wind
360° at 8 kt
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN012
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (360°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 1200 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM281500 15:00Z - 21:00Z
VFR
Wind
360° at 12 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT010 BKN035
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (360°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 1000 feet, Broken clouds at 3500 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.