City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport

KCOS / COS

Colorado Springs, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KCOS 241720Z 2418/2518 17010KT P6SM SKC TEMPO 2418/2420 18012G22KT FM242000 19015G28KT P6SM FEW130 SCT200 FM250200 36010KT P6SM SCT110 BKN200 FM250600 35015G25KT P6SM FEW110 BKN200 FM251200 35007KT P6SM BKN250 FM251500 15007KT P6SM BKN250

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Fri
18:00Z
+-1h
Fri
19:00Z
+0h
Fri
20:00Z
+1h
Fri
21:00Z
+2h
Fri
22:00Z
+3h
Fri
23:00Z
+4h
Sat
00:00Z
+5h
Sat
01:00Z
+6h
Sat
02:00Z
+7h
Sat
03:00Z
+8h
Sat
04:00Z
+9h
Sat
05:00Z
+10h
Sat
06:00Z
+11h
Sat
07:00Z
+12h
Sat
08:00Z
+13h
Sat
09:00Z
+14h
Sat
10:00Z
+15h
Sat
11:00Z
+16h
Sat
12:00Z
+17h
Sat
13:00Z
+18h
Sat
14:00Z
+19h
Sat
15:00Z
+20h
Sat
16:00Z
+21h
Wind Dir
170°
S
170°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
150°
SE
150°
SE
Wind Speed
10 kt
10 kt
15 kt
G28 kt
15 kt
G28 kt
15 kt
G28 kt
15 kt
G28 kt
15 kt
G28 kt
15 kt
G28 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>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
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
CLR
CLR
FEW130
SCT200
FEW130
SCT200
FEW130
SCT200
FEW130
SCT200
FEW130
SCT200
FEW130
SCT200
SCT110
BKN200
SCT110
BKN200
SCT110
BKN200
SCT110
BKN200
FEW110
BKN200
FEW110
BKN200
FEW110
BKN200
FEW110
BKN200
FEW110
BKN200
FEW110
BKN200
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 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 VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌇 18:39Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:39Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:39Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:19Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:19Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:19Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:19Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:19Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:40Z
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
170° at 10 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South (170°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Skies will be clear. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 18:00Z - 20:00Z
VFR
Wind
180° at 12 kt
Gusts: 22 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the South (180°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 22 kt are expected. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM242000 20:00Z - 02:00Z
VFR
Wind
190° at 15 kt
Gusts: 28 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW130 SCT200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (190°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 28 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 13000 feet, Scattered clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM250200 02:00Z - 08:00Z
VFR
Wind
360° at 10 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT110 BKN200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (360°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 11000 feet, Broken clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM250600 06:00Z - 12:00Z
VFR
Wind
350° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW110 BKN200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (350°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 11000 feet, Broken clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM251200 12:00Z - 18:00Z
VFR
Wind
350° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (350°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM251500 15:00Z - 21:00Z
VFR
Wind
150° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southeast (150°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. 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.