George Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport

KIAH / IAH

Houston, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KIAH 221736Z 2218/2324 13007KT P6SM VCSH SCT020 BKN080 FM221900 13007KT P6SM -SHRA VCTS SCT025CB BKN035 TEMPO 2219/2223 VRB15G25KT 4SM TSRA BKN020CB FM222300 15008KT P6SM VCSH FEW020 BKN040 FM230500 14005KT 4SM BR SCT007 BKN015 TEMPO 2309/2313 1SM BR OVC005 FM231600 16009KT P6SM SCT020 BKN040 FM232000 15014G22KT P6SM SCT040 BKN060

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
21:00Z
+-1h
Wed
22:00Z
+0h
Wed
23:00Z
+1h
Thu
00:00Z
+2h
Thu
01:00Z
+3h
Thu
02:00Z
+4h
Thu
03:00Z
+5h
Thu
04:00Z
+6h
Thu
05:00Z
+7h
Thu
06:00Z
+8h
Thu
07:00Z
+9h
Thu
08:00Z
+10h
Thu
09:00Z
+11h
Thu
10:00Z
+12h
Thu
11:00Z
+13h
Thu
12:00Z
+14h
Thu
13:00Z
+15h
Thu
14:00Z
+16h
Thu
15:00Z
+17h
Thu
16:00Z
+18h
Thu
17:00Z
+19h
Thu
18:00Z
+20h
Thu
19:00Z
+21h
Thu
20:00Z
+22h
Thu
21:00Z
+23h
Thu
22:00Z
+24h
Wind Dir
130°
SE
130°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
Wind Speed
7 kt
7 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
14 kt
G22 kt
14 kt
G22 kt
14 kt
G22 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
1SM
1SM
1SM
1SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT020
BKN080
SCT020
BKN080
FEW020
BKN040
FEW020
BKN040
FEW020
BKN040
FEW020
BKN040
FEW020
BKN040
FEW020
BKN040
SCT007
BKN015
SCT007
BKN015
SCT007
BKN015
SCT007
BKN015
OVC005
OVC005
OVC005
OVC005
SCT020
BKN080
SCT020
BKN080
SCT020
BKN080
SCT020
BKN040
SCT020
BKN040
SCT020
BKN040
SCT020
BKN040
SCT040
BKN060
SCT040
BKN060
SCT040
BKN060
Ceiling
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR IFR IFR IFR IFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:29Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:29Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:29Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:29Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:29Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:30Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:30Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:30Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:30Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:30Z
🌙
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 occurrence • AGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
130° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT020 BKN080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Southeast (130°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet, Broken clouds at 8000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM221900 19:00Z - 01:00Z
MVFR
Wind
130° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT025CB BKN035
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southeast (130°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 2500 feet, Broken clouds at 3500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 19:00Z - 23:00Z
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN020CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds will be variable in direction at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 2000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM222300 23:00Z - 05:00Z
VFR
Wind
150° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW020 BKN040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southeast (150°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 2000 feet, Broken clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM230500 05:00Z - 11:00Z
MVFR
Wind
140° at 5 kt
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
SCT007 BKN015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southeast (140°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Scattered clouds at 700 feet, Broken clouds at 1500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 09:00Z - 13:00Z
IFR
Visibility
1SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
OVC005
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be moderate at 1SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Overcast skies at 500 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM231600 16:00Z - 22:00Z
VFR
Wind
160° at 9 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT020 BKN040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southeast (160°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet, Broken clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM232000 20:00Z - 02:00Z
VFR
Wind
150° at 14 kt
Gusts: 22 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT040 BKN060
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southeast (150°) at 14 kt. Gusts up to 22 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet, Broken clouds at 6000 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.