Columbia Regional Airport

KCOU / COU

Columbia, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KCOU 172327Z 1800/1824 29012KT P6SM SCT015 BKN050 TEMPO 1800/1803 2SM -SN OVC018 FM180300 26007KT P6SM SCT100 FM181200 22011KT P6SM SCT070 FM182100 27015G25KT P6SM SCT100

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sun
00:00Z
+-1h
Sun
01:00Z
+0h
Sun
02:00Z
+1h
Sun
03:00Z
+2h
Sun
04:00Z
+3h
Sun
05:00Z
+4h
Sun
06:00Z
+5h
Sun
07:00Z
+6h
Sun
08:00Z
+7h
Sun
09:00Z
+8h
Sun
10:00Z
+9h
Sun
11:00Z
+10h
Sun
12:00Z
+11h
Sun
13:00Z
+12h
Sun
14:00Z
+13h
Sun
15:00Z
+14h
Sun
16:00Z
+15h
Sun
17:00Z
+16h
Sun
18:00Z
+17h
Sun
19:00Z
+18h
Sun
20:00Z
+19h
Sun
21:00Z
+20h
Sun
22:00Z
+21h
Wind Dir
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
270°
W
270°
W
Wind Speed
12kt
12kt
12kt
7kt
7kt
7kt
7kt
7kt
7kt
12kt
12kt
12kt
11kt
11kt
11kt
11kt
11kt
11kt
12kt
12kt
12kt
15kt
G25kt
15kt
G25kt
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
SCT015
BKN050
SCT015
BKN050
SCT015
BKN050
SCT100
SCT100
SCT100
SCT100
SCT100
SCT100
SCT015
BKN050
SCT015
BKN050
SCT015
BKN050
SCT070
SCT070
SCT070
SCT070
SCT070
SCT070
SCT015
BKN050
SCT015
BKN050
SCT015
BKN050
SCT100
SCT100
Ceiling
5000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
5000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
5000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
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
🌙
Night
🌙
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
290° at 12 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT015 BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West-Northwest (290°) at 12kt. 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.

TEMPO 2026-02-18 00:00:00 - 2026-01-18 03:00:00
IFR
Visibility
2SM
Weather
Light Snow
Clouds
OVC018
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be moderate at 2SM. Weather conditions: Light Snow. Overcast skies at 1800 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM180300 2026-01-18 03:00:00 - 2026-01-18 09:00:00
VFR
Wind
260° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (260°) at 7kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 10000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM181200 2026-01-18 12:00:00 - 2026-01-18 18:00:00
VFR
Wind
220° at 11 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT070
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 11kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 7000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM182100 2026-01-18 21:00:00 - 2026-01-19 03:00:00
VFR
Wind
270° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (270°) at 15kt. Gusts up to 25kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered 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.