Butts AAF (Fort Carson) Air Field

KFCS / FCS

Fort Carson, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KFCS 042000Z 0420/0602 16012KT 9999 SKC QNH3002INS BECMG 0507/0508 33009KT 9999 FEW250 QNH2990INS BECMG 0516/0517 16009KT 9999 FEW100 SCT220 QNH2977INS TEMPO 0521/0601 23012G18KT 520309 BECMG 0601/0602 30009KT 9999 SKC QNH2965INS TX13/0421Z TN00/0511Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
23:00Z
+-1h
Thu
00:00Z
+0h
Thu
01:00Z
+1h
Thu
02:00Z
+2h
Thu
03:00Z
+3h
Thu
04:00Z
+4h
Thu
05:00Z
+5h
Thu
06:00Z
+6h
Thu
07:00Z
+7h
Thu
08:00Z
+8h
Thu
09:00Z
+9h
Thu
10:00Z
+10h
Thu
11:00Z
+11h
Thu
12:00Z
+12h
Thu
13:00Z
+13h
Thu
14:00Z
+14h
Thu
15:00Z
+15h
Thu
16:00Z
+16h
Thu
17:00Z
+17h
Thu
18:00Z
+18h
Thu
19:00Z
+19h
Thu
20:00Z
+20h
Thu
21:00Z
+21h
Thu
22:00Z
+22h
Thu
23:00Z
+23h
Fri
00:00Z
+24h
Wind Dir
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
330°
NW
330°
NW
330°
NW
330°
NW
330°
NW
330°
NW
330°
NW
330°
NW
330°
NW
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
Wind Speed
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ 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
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW100
SCT220
FEW100
SCT220
FEW100
SCT220
FEW100
SCT220
FEW100
SCT220
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ 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 VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
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
🌙
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
160° at 12 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southeast (160°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Skies will be clear. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 07:00Z - 08:00Z
VFR
Wind
330° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the North-Northwest (330°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 16:00Z - 17:00Z
VFR
Wind
160° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW100 SCT220
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South-Southeast (160°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 10000 feet, Scattered clouds at 22000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 21:00Z - 01:00Z
VFR
Wind
230° at 12 kt
Gusts: 18 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the Southwest (230°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 18 kt are expected. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 01:00Z - 02:00Z
VFR
Wind
300° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Skies will be clear. 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.