Butts AAF (Fort Carson) Air Field

KFCS / FCS

Fort Carson, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KFCS 241200Z 2412/2518 27009KT 9999 SKC QNH2980INS BECMG 2418/2419 22012G18KT 9999 SKC QNH2970INS TEMPO 2420/2501 24015G25KT 520009 BECMG 2501/2502 26009KT 9999 SCT150 QNH2971INS BECMG 2505/2506 33009KT 9999 SCT170 QNH2973INS TEMPO 2510/2513 33012G18KT 520009 BECMG 2516/2517 23009KT 9999 FEW180 QNH2978INS TX22/2416Z TN03/2412Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Fri
18:00Z
+-1h
Fri
19:00Z
+0h
Fri
20:00Z
+1h
Fri
21:00Z
+2h
Fri
22:00Z
+3h
Fri
23:00Z
+4h
Sat
00:00Z
+5h
Sat
01:00Z
+6h
Sat
02:00Z
+7h
Sat
03:00Z
+8h
Sat
04:00Z
+9h
Sat
05:00Z
+10h
Sat
06:00Z
+11h
Sat
07:00Z
+12h
Sat
08:00Z
+13h
Sat
09:00Z
+14h
Sat
10:00Z
+15h
Sat
11:00Z
+16h
Sat
12:00Z
+17h
Sat
13:00Z
+18h
Sat
14:00Z
+19h
Sat
15:00Z
+20h
Sat
16:00Z
+21h
Wind Dir
270°
W
220°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
330°
NW
330°
NW
330°
NW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
Wind Speed
9 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 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
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
CLR
CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
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
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
☀️
Day
🌇 18:39Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:39Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:39Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:19Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:19Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:19Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:19Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:19Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:40Z
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
270° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West (270°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Skies will be clear. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 18:00Z - 19:00Z
VFR
Wind
220° at 12 kt
Gusts: 18 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 18 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Skies will be clear. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 20:00Z - 01:00Z
VFR
Wind
240° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the West-Southwest (240°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 01:00Z - 02:00Z
VFR
Wind
260° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West (260°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 15000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 05:00Z - 06:00Z
VFR
Wind
330° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT170
📖 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. Scattered clouds at 17000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 10:00Z - 13:00Z
VFR
Wind
330° at 12 kt
Gusts: 18 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the North-Northwest (330°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 18 kt are expected. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 16:00Z - 17:00Z
VFR
Wind
230° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW180
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Southwest (230°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 18000 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.