Cut Bank International Airport

KCTB / CTB

Cut Bank, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KCTB 171120Z 1712/1812 25009KT P6SM SCT250 FM171800 28020G30KT P6SM FEW250 FM180100 31015G23KT P6SM SCT050 BKN090 FM181100 34012KT P6SM BKN050

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
16:00Z
+-1h
Sat
17:00Z
+0h
Sat
18:00Z
+1h
Sat
19:00Z
+2h
Sat
20:00Z
+3h
Sat
21:00Z
+4h
Sat
22:00Z
+5h
Sat
23:00Z
+6h
Sun
00:00Z
+7h
Sun
01:00Z
+8h
Sun
02:00Z
+9h
Sun
03:00Z
+10h
Sun
04:00Z
+11h
Sun
05:00Z
+12h
Sun
06:00Z
+13h
Sun
07:00Z
+14h
Sun
08:00Z
+15h
Sun
09:00Z
+16h
Sun
10:00Z
+17h
Wind Dir
250°
W
250°
W
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
250°
W
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
Wind Speed
9kt
9kt
20kt
G30kt
20kt
G30kt
20kt
G30kt
20kt
G30kt
20kt
G30kt
20kt
G30kt
9kt
15kt
G23kt
15kt
G23kt
15kt
G23kt
15kt
G23kt
15kt
G23kt
15kt
G23kt
9kt
9kt
9kt
9kt
Visibility
>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
Clouds
SCT250
SCT250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
SCT250
SCT050
BKN090
SCT050
BKN090
SCT050
BKN090
SCT050
BKN090
SCT050
BKN090
SCT050
BKN090
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
9000ft
AGL
9000ft
AGL
9000ft
AGL
9000ft
AGL
9000ft
AGL
9000ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌇 16:39
🌇
Dusk
🌇 16:39
🌙
Night
🌇 16:39
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 07:20
🌙
Night
🌅 07:20
🌅
Dawn
🌅 07:20
☀️
Day
🌅 07:20
☀️
Day
🌅 07:20
☀️
Day
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
250° at 9 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 9kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM171800 2026-01-17 18:00:00 - 2026-01-18 00:00:00
VFR
Wind
280° at 20 kt
Gusts: 30 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (280°) at 20kt. Gusts up to 30kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM180100 2026-01-18 01:00:00 - 2026-01-18 07:00:00
VFR
Wind
310° at 15 kt
Gusts: 23 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT050 BKN090
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northwest (310°) at 15kt. Gusts up to 23kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 5000 feet, Broken clouds at 9000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM181100 2026-01-18 11:00:00 - 2026-01-18 17:00:00
VFR
Wind
340° at 12 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northwest (340°) at 12kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. 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.