City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport

KCOS / COS

Colorado Springs, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KCOS 172320Z 1800/1824 18006KT P6SM FEW200 FM180300 03006KT P6SM SKC FM180800 34008KT P6SM SKC FM181700 16007KT P6SM FEW120 SCT200 FM182200 02012KT P6SM SCT080 BKN120

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sun
02:00Z
+-1h
Sun
03:00Z
+0h
Sun
04:00Z
+1h
Sun
05:00Z
+2h
Sun
06:00Z
+3h
Sun
07:00Z
+4h
Sun
08:00Z
+5h
Sun
09:00Z
+6h
Sun
10:00Z
+7h
Sun
11:00Z
+8h
Sun
12:00Z
+9h
Sun
13:00Z
+10h
Sun
14:00Z
+11h
Sun
15:00Z
+12h
Sun
16:00Z
+13h
Sun
17:00Z
+14h
Sun
18:00Z
+15h
Sun
19:00Z
+16h
Sun
20:00Z
+17h
Sun
21:00Z
+18h
Sun
22:00Z
+19h
Wind Dir
180°
S
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
20°
N
Wind Speed
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
8kt
8kt
8kt
8kt
8kt
8kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
7kt
7kt
7kt
7kt
7kt
12kt
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
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW200
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
FEW200
FEW200
FEW200
FEW120
SCT200
FEW120
SCT200
FEW120
SCT200
FEW120
SCT200
FEW120
SCT200
SCT080
BKN120
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
12000ft
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
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 07:07
🌙
Night
🌅 07:07
🌅
Dawn
🌅 07:07
☀️
Day
🌅 07:07
☀️
Day
🌅 07:07
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 16:52
☀️
Day
🌇 16:52
☀️
Day
🌇 16:52
🌇
Dusk
🌇 16:52
🌙
Night
🌇 16:52
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
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
180° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South (180°) at 6kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM180300 2026-01-18 03:00:00 - 2026-01-18 09:00:00
VFR
Wind
30° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northeast (30°) at 6kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Skies will be clear. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM180800 2026-01-18 08:00:00 - 2026-01-18 14:00:00
VFR
Wind
340° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northwest (340°) at 8kt. 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
160° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW120 SCT200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southeast (160°) at 7kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 12000 feet, Scattered clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM182200 2026-01-18 22:00:00 - 2026-01-19 04:00:00
VFR
Wind
20° at 12 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT080 BKN120
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northeast (20°) at 12kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 8000 feet, Broken clouds at 12000 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.