Childress Municipal Airport

KCDS / CDS

Childress, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KCDS 171720Z 1718/1818 34011KT P6SM OVC080 FM181200 23010KT P6SM SKC WS008/25040KT FM181700 27015KT P6SM SKC

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
21:00Z
+-1h
Sat
22:00Z
+0h
Sat
23:00Z
+1h
Sun
00:00Z
+2h
Sun
01:00Z
+3h
Sun
02:00Z
+4h
Sun
03:00Z
+5h
Sun
04:00Z
+6h
Sun
05:00Z
+7h
Sun
06:00Z
+8h
Sun
07:00Z
+9h
Sun
08:00Z
+10h
Sun
09:00Z
+11h
Sun
10:00Z
+12h
Sun
11:00Z
+13h
Sun
12:00Z
+14h
Sun
13:00Z
+15h
Sun
14:00Z
+16h
Sun
15:00Z
+17h
Sun
16:00Z
+18h
Wind Dir
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
Wind Speed
11kt
11kt
11kt
11kt
11kt
11kt
11kt
11kt
11kt
11kt
11kt
11kt
11kt
11kt
11kt
10kt
10kt
10kt
10kt
10kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
OVC080
OVC080
OVC080
OVC080
OVC080
OVC080
OVC080
OVC080
OVC080
OVC080
OVC080
OVC080
OVC080
OVC080
OVC080
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
Ceiling
8000ft
AGL
8000ft
AGL
8000ft
AGL
8000ft
AGL
8000ft
AGL
8000ft
AGL
8000ft
AGL
8000ft
AGL
8000ft
AGL
8000ft
AGL
8000ft
AGL
8000ft
AGL
8000ft
AGL
8000ft
AGL
8000ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 07:00
🌙
Night
🌅 07:00
🌅
Dawn
🌅 07:00
☀️
Day
🌅 07:00
☀️
Day
🌅 07:00
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 16:59
☀️
Day
🌇 16:59
☀️
Day
🌇 16:59
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
340° at 11 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
OVC080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the North-Northwest (340°) at 11kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Overcast skies at 8000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM181200 2026-01-18 12:00:00 - 2026-01-18 18:00:00
VFR
Wind
230° at 10 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (230°) at 10kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Skies will be clear. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM181700 2026-01-18 17:00:00 - 2026-01-18 23:00:00
VFR
Wind
270° at 15 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (270°) at 15kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Skies will be clear. 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.