Buffalo Niagara International Airport

KBUF / BUF

Buffalo, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KBUF 041120Z 0412/0512 23012G20KT P6SM BKN012 FM041300 23010KT P6SM SCT060 BKN120 TEMPO 0413/0416 6SM -SHRA OVC050 FM041700 24008KT 6SM -SHRA BKN060 PROB30 0417/0422 3SM TSRA BKN040CB FM042200 24006KT P6SM BKN060 PROB30 0422/0501 6SM -SHRA OVC050 FM050100 06004KT P6SM BKN080 FM050900 07005KT P6SM BKN025

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
12:00Z
+-1h
Sat
13:00Z
+0h
Sat
14:00Z
+1h
Sat
15:00Z
+2h
Sat
16:00Z
+3h
Sat
17:00Z
+4h
Sat
18:00Z
+5h
Sat
19:00Z
+6h
Sat
20:00Z
+7h
Sat
21:00Z
+8h
Sat
22:00Z
+9h
Sat
23:00Z
+10h
Sun
00:00Z
+11h
Sun
01:00Z
+12h
Sun
02:00Z
+13h
Sun
03:00Z
+14h
Sun
04:00Z
+15h
Sun
05:00Z
+16h
Sun
06:00Z
+17h
Sun
07:00Z
+18h
Sun
08:00Z
+19h
Sun
09:00Z
+20h
Sun
10:00Z
+21h
Wind Dir
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
230°
SW
230°
SW
70°
E
70°
E
Wind Speed
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
4 kt
G20 kt
4 kt
G20 kt
4 kt
G20 kt
4 kt
G20 kt
4 kt
G20 kt
4 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
5 kt
G20 kt
5 kt
G20 kt
Visibility
>6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
>6SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
☀️ Clear
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
30%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
30%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
30%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
30%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
30%
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
30%
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
30%
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
30%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
BKN012
OVC050
OVC050
OVC050
SCT060
BKN120
BKN040CB
BKN040CB
BKN040CB
BKN040CB
BKN040CB
OVC050
OVC050
OVC050
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN012
BKN012
BKN025
BKN025
Ceiling
1,200 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
12,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
Flight Rules MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:20Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:20Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:20Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:20Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:20Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:40Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:40Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:40Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:40Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:40Z
☀️
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
MVFR
Wind
230° at 12 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN012
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Southwest (230°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 1200 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM041300 13:00Z - 19:00Z
VFR
Wind
230° at 10 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT060 BKN120
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (230°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 6000 feet, Broken clouds at 12000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 13:00Z - 16:00Z
VFR
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
OVC050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Overcast skies at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM041700 17:00Z - 23:00Z
VFR
Wind
240° at 8 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN060
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Southwest (240°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 6000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 17:00Z - 22:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
3SM
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN040CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be good at 3SM. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 4000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM042200 22:00Z - 04:00Z
VFR
Wind
240° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN060
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Southwest (240°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 6000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 22:00Z - 01:00Z
VFR
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
OVC050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Overcast skies at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050100 01:00Z - 07:00Z
VFR
Wind
60° at 4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East-Northeast (60°) at 4 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 8000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050900 09:00Z - 15:00Z
MVFR
Wind
70° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East-Northeast (70°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 2500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

📚 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.