Bert Mooney Airport

KBTM / BTM

Butte, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KBTM 042326Z 0500/0524 20012KT P6SM VCSH OVC080 FM050300 32009KT 6SM -RA OVC050 FM050500 VRB04KT 5SM -RASN BR OVC025 FM050800 VRB03KT 1SM -SN OVC020 FM051800 31007KT P6SM VCSH BKN030 OVC050

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
05:00Z
+-1h
Thu
06:00Z
+0h
Thu
07:00Z
+1h
Thu
08:00Z
+2h
Thu
09:00Z
+3h
Thu
10:00Z
+4h
Thu
11:00Z
+5h
Thu
12:00Z
+6h
Thu
13:00Z
+7h
Thu
14:00Z
+8h
Thu
15:00Z
+9h
Thu
16:00Z
+10h
Thu
17:00Z
+11h
Thu
18:00Z
+12h
Thu
19:00Z
+13h
Thu
20:00Z
+14h
Thu
21:00Z
+15h
Thu
22:00Z
+16h
Wind Dir
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
Wind Speed
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
1SM
1SM
1SM
1SM
1SM
1SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Snow
-SN
Light Snow
-SN
Light Snow
-SN
Light Snow
-SN
Light Snow
-SN
Light Snow
-SN
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
OVC080
OVC080
OVC080
OVC020
OVC020
OVC020
OVC020
OVC020
OVC020
OVC080
OVC080
OVC080
OVC080
BKN030
OVC050
BKN030
OVC050
BKN030
OVC050
BKN030
OVC050
BKN030
OVC050
Ceiling
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:26Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:26Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:26Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:26Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:33Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:33Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:33Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:33Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:33Z
🌙
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
200° at 12 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
OVC080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Overcast skies at 8000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050300 03:00Z - 09:00Z
VFR
Wind
320° at 9 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Rain
Clouds
OVC050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northwest (320°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Rain. Overcast skies at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050500 05:00Z - 11:00Z
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 4 kt
Visibility
5SM
Weather
Light RASN, Mist
Clouds
OVC025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 4 kt. Visibility will be good at 5SM. Weather conditions: Light RASN, Mist. Overcast skies at 2500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM050800 08:00Z - 14:00Z
IFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
1SM
Weather
Light Snow
Clouds
OVC020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be moderate at 1SM. Weather conditions: Light Snow. Overcast skies at 2000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM051800 18:00Z - 00:00Z
VFR
Wind
310° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN030 OVC050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northwest (310°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 3000 feet, Overcast skies at 5000 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.