Columbia Regional Airport

KCOU / COU

Columbia, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KCOU 042323Z 0500/0524 VRB04KT 5SM BR OVC004 FM050300 VRB04KT 1SM BR OVC004 PROB30 0503/0507 -TSRA SCT004 BKN050CB FM050700 VRB04KT 1/2SM FG VV002 FM051300 VRB04KT 2SM BR OVC005 FM051600 VRB04KT P6SM SCT015 BKN050

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
00:00Z
+-1h
Thu
01:00Z
+0h
Thu
02:00Z
+1h
Thu
03:00Z
+2h
Thu
04:00Z
+3h
Thu
05:00Z
+4h
Thu
06:00Z
+5h
Thu
07:00Z
+6h
Thu
08:00Z
+7h
Thu
09:00Z
+8h
Thu
10:00Z
+9h
Thu
11:00Z
+10h
Thu
12:00Z
+11h
Thu
13:00Z
+12h
Thu
14:00Z
+13h
Thu
15:00Z
+14h
Thu
16:00Z
+15h
Thu
17:00Z
+16h
Thu
18:00Z
+17h
Thu
19:00Z
+18h
Thu
20:00Z
+19h
Thu
21:00Z
+20h
Thu
22:00Z
+21h
Wind Dir
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
Visibility
5SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
1/2SM
1/2SM
1/2SM
1/2SM
1/2SM
1/2SM
2SM
2SM
2SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
5SM
Weather
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
Clouds
OVC004
OVC004
OVC004
SCT004
BKN050CB
SCT004
BKN050CB
SCT004
BKN050CB
SCT004
BKN050CB
VV002
VV002
VV002
VV002
VV002
VV002
OVC005
OVC005
OVC005
SCT015
BKN050
SCT015
BKN050
SCT015
BKN050
SCT015
BKN050
SCT015
BKN050
SCT015
BKN050
OVC004
Ceiling
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
Flight Rules LIFR LIFR LIFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR IFR IFR IFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR LIFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:22Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:22Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:22Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:22Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:22Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:37Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:37Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:37Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:37Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:37Z
🌙
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
LIFR
Wind
VRB° at 4 kt
Visibility
5SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
OVC004
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds will be variable in direction at 4 kt. Visibility will be good at 5SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Overcast skies at 400 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

FM050300 03:00Z - 09:00Z
LIFR
Wind
VRB° at 4 kt
Visibility
1SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
OVC004
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 4 kt. Visibility will be moderate at 1SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Overcast skies at 400 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

PROB30 03:00Z - 07:00Z
MVFR
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
SCT004 BKN050CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Scattered clouds at 400 feet, Broken clouds at 5000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM050700 07:00Z - 13:00Z
LIFR
Wind
VRB° at 4 kt
Visibility
1/2SM
Weather
Fog
Clouds
VV002
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 4 kt. Visibility will be moderate at 1/2SM. Weather conditions: Fog. Vertical visibility at 200 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

FM051300 13:00Z - 19:00Z
IFR
Wind
VRB° at 4 kt
Visibility
2SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
OVC005
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 4 kt. Visibility will be moderate at 2SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Overcast skies at 500 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM051600 16:00Z - 22:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT015 BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 4 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 1500 feet, Broken clouds at 5000 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.