City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport

KCOS / COS

Colorado Springs, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KCOS 252334Z 2600/2624 32015G30KT P6SM -TSRA SCT100CB BKN150 TEMPO 2600/2601 VRB20G35KT -TSRA BKN100CB FM260200 01012KT P6SM SCT120 BKN200 FM260400 01007KT P6SM SCT140 BKN200 FM261500 04012KT P6SM SCT100 SCT200 FM262200 05010KT P6SM VCSH BKN100

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sun
03:00Z
+-1h
Sun
04:00Z
+0h
Sun
05:00Z
+1h
Sun
06:00Z
+2h
Sun
07:00Z
+3h
Sun
08:00Z
+4h
Sun
09:00Z
+5h
Sun
10:00Z
+6h
Sun
11:00Z
+7h
Sun
12:00Z
+8h
Sun
13:00Z
+9h
Sun
14:00Z
+10h
Sun
15:00Z
+11h
Sun
16:00Z
+12h
Sun
17:00Z
+13h
Sun
18:00Z
+14h
Sun
19:00Z
+15h
Sun
20:00Z
+16h
Sun
21:00Z
+17h
Sun
22:00Z
+18h
Wind Dir
320°
NW
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
320°
NW
50°
NE
Wind Speed
15 kt
G30 kt
7 kt
G30 kt
7 kt
G30 kt
7 kt
G30 kt
7 kt
G30 kt
7 kt
G30 kt
7 kt
G30 kt
15 kt
G30 kt
15 kt
G30 kt
15 kt
G30 kt
15 kt
G30 kt
15 kt
G30 kt
12 kt
G30 kt
12 kt
G30 kt
12 kt
G30 kt
12 kt
G30 kt
12 kt
G30 kt
12 kt
G30 kt
15 kt
G30 kt
10 kt
G30 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT100CB
BKN150
SCT140
BKN200
SCT140
BKN200
SCT140
BKN200
SCT140
BKN200
SCT140
BKN200
SCT140
BKN200
SCT100CB
BKN150
SCT100CB
BKN150
SCT100CB
BKN150
SCT100CB
BKN150
SCT100CB
BKN150
SCT100
SCT200
SCT100
SCT200
SCT100
SCT200
SCT100
SCT200
SCT100
SCT200
SCT100
SCT200
SCT100CB
BKN150
BKN100
Ceiling
15,000 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
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
15,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:57Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:57Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:57Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:57Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:02Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:02Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:02Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:02Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:02Z
🌙
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 occurrence • AGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
MVFR
Wind
320° at 15 kt
Gusts: 30 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
SCT100CB BKN150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Northwest (320°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 30 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Scattered clouds at 10000 feet, Broken clouds at 15000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 00:00Z - 01:00Z
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 20 kt
Gusts: 35 kt
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN100CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds will be variable in direction at 20 kt. Gusts up to 35 kt are expected. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 10000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM260200 02:00Z - 08:00Z
VFR
Wind
10° at 12 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT120 BKN200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (10°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 12000 feet, Broken clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM260400 04:00Z - 10:00Z
VFR
Wind
10° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT140 BKN200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (10°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 14000 feet, Broken clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM261500 15:00Z - 21:00Z
VFR
Wind
40° at 12 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT100 SCT200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northeast (40°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 10000 feet, Scattered clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM262200 22:00Z - 04:00Z
VFR
Wind
50° at 10 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northeast (50°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 10000 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.