The Eastern Iowa Airport

KCID / CID

Cedar Rapids, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KCID 271958Z 2720/2818 27012G18KT P6SM FEW050 FEW120 FM280200 32010KT P6SM SCT250 FM280600 02005KT 6SM HZ BKN250 FM281200 05008KT 6SM HZ BKN250

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Mon
20:00Z
+-1h
Mon
21:00Z
+0h
Mon
22:00Z
+1h
Mon
23:00Z
+2h
Tue
00:00Z
+3h
Tue
01:00Z
+4h
Tue
02:00Z
+5h
Tue
03:00Z
+6h
Tue
04:00Z
+7h
Tue
05:00Z
+8h
Tue
06:00Z
+9h
Tue
07:00Z
+10h
Tue
08:00Z
+11h
Tue
09:00Z
+12h
Tue
10:00Z
+13h
Tue
11:00Z
+14h
Tue
12:00Z
+15h
Tue
13:00Z
+16h
Tue
14:00Z
+17h
Tue
15:00Z
+18h
Tue
16:00Z
+19h
Wind Dir
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
20°
N
20°
N
20°
N
20°
N
20°
N
20°
N
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
Wind Speed
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
5 kt
G18 kt
5 kt
G18 kt
5 kt
G18 kt
5 kt
G18 kt
5 kt
G18 kt
5 kt
G18 kt
8 kt
G18 kt
8 kt
G18 kt
8 kt
G18 kt
8 kt
G18 kt
8 kt
G18 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>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
Haze
HZ
Haze
HZ
Haze
HZ
Haze
HZ
Haze
HZ
Haze
HZ
Haze
HZ
Haze
HZ
Haze
HZ
Haze
HZ
Haze
HZ
Clouds
FEW050
FEW120
FEW050
FEW120
FEW050
FEW120
FEW050
FEW120
FEW050
FEW120
FEW050
FEW120
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌇 19:06Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:06Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:54Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:54Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:54Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:54Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:54Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
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
VFR
Wind
270° at 12 kt
Gusts: 18 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW050 FEW120
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West (270°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 18 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 5000 feet, Few clouds at 12000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM280200 02:00Z - 08:00Z
VFR
Wind
320° at 10 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northwest (320°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM280600 06:00Z - 12:00Z
VFR
Wind
20° at 5 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Haze
Clouds
BKN250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northeast (20°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Haze. Broken clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM281200 12:00Z - 18:00Z
VFR
Wind
50° at 8 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Haze
Clouds
BKN250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northeast (50°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Haze. Broken 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.