Columbia Metropolitan Airport

KCAE / CAE

Columbia, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KCAE 270520Z 2706/2806 VRB03KT P6SM SCT250 FM270800 00000KT 4SM BR SCT200 TEMPO 2709/2713 1SM BR BKN003 FM271400 30006KT P6SM SCT040 FM280000 VRB03KT P6SM SCT030 SCT200

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Mon
07:00Z
+-1h
Mon
08:00Z
+0h
Mon
09:00Z
+1h
Mon
10:00Z
+2h
Mon
11:00Z
+3h
Mon
12:00Z
+4h
Mon
13:00Z
+5h
Mon
14:00Z
+6h
Mon
15:00Z
+7h
Mon
16:00Z
+8h
Mon
17:00Z
+9h
Mon
18:00Z
+10h
Mon
19:00Z
+11h
Mon
20:00Z
+12h
Mon
21:00Z
+13h
Mon
22:00Z
+14h
Mon
23:00Z
+15h
Tue
00:00Z
+16h
Tue
01:00Z
+17h
Tue
02:00Z
+18h
Tue
03:00Z
+19h
Tue
04:00Z
+20h
Wind Dir
VRB
 --
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
 --
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
3 kt
 --
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
 --
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
4SM
1SM
1SM
1SM
1SM
4SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT250
SCT200
BKN003
BKN003
BKN003
BKN003
SCT200
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT030
SCT200
SCT030
SCT200
SCT030
SCT200
SCT030
SCT200
SCT030
SCT200
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR MVFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌅 05:04Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:55Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:55Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:55Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:55Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:55Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:05Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:05Z
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
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM270800 08:00Z - 14:00Z
MVFR
Wind
0° at 0 kt
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
SCT200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (0°) at 0 kt. Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Scattered clouds at 20000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 09:00Z - 13:00Z
LIFR
Visibility
1SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN003
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be moderate at 1SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 300 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

FM271400 14:00Z - 20:00Z
VFR
Wind
300° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM280000 00:00Z - 06:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT030 SCT200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 3000 feet, Scattered clouds at 20000 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.