Charleston International Airport

KCHS / CHS

Charleston, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KCHS 212337Z 2200/2224 12009KT P6SM SCT250 FM220300 00000KT P6SM SCT250 FM220900 00000KT 6SM MIFG SCT250 TEMPO 2210/2212 5SM BR FEW004 FM221300 23006KT P6SM SCT250 FM221900 18010G17KT P6SM FEW250

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
01:00Z
+-1h
Wed
02:00Z
+0h
Wed
03:00Z
+1h
Wed
04:00Z
+2h
Wed
05:00Z
+3h
Wed
06:00Z
+4h
Wed
07:00Z
+5h
Wed
08:00Z
+6h
Wed
09:00Z
+7h
Wed
10:00Z
+8h
Wed
11:00Z
+9h
Wed
12:00Z
+10h
Wed
13:00Z
+11h
Wed
14:00Z
+12h
Wed
15:00Z
+13h
Wed
16:00Z
+14h
Wed
17:00Z
+15h
Wed
18:00Z
+16h
Wed
19:00Z
+17h
Wed
20:00Z
+18h
Wed
21:00Z
+19h
Wed
22:00Z
+20h
Wind Dir
120°
SE
120°
SE
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
120°
SE
120°
SE
--
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
Wind Speed
9 kt
9 kt
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
9 kt
9 kt
--
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
10 kt
G17 kt
10 kt
G17 kt
10 kt
G17 kt
10 kt
G17 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
6SM
5SM
5SM
6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Shallow Fog
MIFG
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Shallow Fog
MIFG
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
FEW004
FEW004
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:27Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:27Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:27Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:27Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:27Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:32Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:32Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:32Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:32Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:32Z
🌙
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
120° at 9 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East-Southeast (120°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM220300 03:00Z - 09:00Z
VFR
Wind
0° at 0 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (0°) at 0 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM220900 09:00Z - 15:00Z
VFR
Wind
0° at 0 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Shallow Fog
Clouds
SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (0°) at 0 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Shallow Fog. Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 10:00Z - 12:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
5SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
FEW004
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be good at 5SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Few clouds at 400 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM221300 13:00Z - 19:00Z
VFR
Wind
230° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (230°) 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.

FM221900 19:00Z - 01:00Z
VFR
Wind
180° at 10 kt
Gusts: 17 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (180°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 17 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 25000 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.