Columbia Metropolitan Airport

KCAE / CAE

Columbia, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KCAE 041721Z 0418/0518 22006KT P6SM SCT250 FM050000 VRB03KT P6SM SCT250 FM050900 00000KT 2SM BR SCT003 TEMPO 0510/0513 BKN003 FM051400 19004KT P6SM BKN025

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
21:00Z
+-1h
Wed
22:00Z
+0h
Wed
23:00Z
+1h
Thu
00:00Z
+2h
Thu
01:00Z
+3h
Thu
02:00Z
+4h
Thu
03:00Z
+5h
Thu
04:00Z
+6h
Thu
05:00Z
+7h
Thu
06:00Z
+8h
Thu
07:00Z
+9h
Thu
08:00Z
+10h
Thu
09:00Z
+11h
Thu
10:00Z
+12h
Thu
11:00Z
+13h
Thu
12:00Z
+14h
Thu
13:00Z
+15h
Thu
14:00Z
+16h
Thu
15:00Z
+17h
Thu
16:00Z
+18h
Wind Dir
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
--
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
--
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
Wind Speed
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
--
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
--
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
2SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
2SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT003
BKN003
BKN003
BKN003
SCT003
BKN025
BKN025
BKN025
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR LIFR LIFR LIFR IFR MVFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:20Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:20Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:20Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:20Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:20Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:39Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:39Z
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
220° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050000 00:00Z - 06:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

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.

FM050900 09:00Z - 15:00Z
IFR
Wind
0° at 0 kt
Visibility
2SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
SCT003
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (0°) at 0 kt. Visibility will be moderate at 2SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Scattered clouds at 300 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

TEMPO 10:00Z - 13:00Z
LIFR
Clouds
BKN003
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Broken clouds at 300 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

FM051400 14:00Z - 20:00Z
MVFR
Wind
190° at 4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (190°) at 4 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.