Wilmington International Airport

KILM / ILM

Wilmington, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KILM 042320Z 0500/0524 VRB04KT P6SM FEW200 FM050800 00000KT 1SM BR BKN006 FM051000 00000KT 1/4SM FG BKN004 FM051400 00000KT 5SM BR BKN050 FM051600 22006KT P6SM SCT120

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
02:00Z
+-1h
Thu
03:00Z
+0h
Thu
04:00Z
+1h
Thu
05:00Z
+2h
Thu
06:00Z
+3h
Thu
07:00Z
+4h
Thu
08:00Z
+5h
Thu
09:00Z
+6h
Thu
10:00Z
+7h
Thu
11:00Z
+8h
Thu
12:00Z
+9h
Thu
13:00Z
+10h
Thu
14:00Z
+11h
Thu
15:00Z
+12h
Thu
16:00Z
+13h
Thu
17:00Z
+14h
Thu
18:00Z
+15h
Thu
19:00Z
+16h
Thu
20:00Z
+17h
Thu
21:00Z
+18h
Thu
22:00Z
+19h
Wind Dir
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
VRB
Wind Speed
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
1SM
1SM
1/4SM
1/4SM
1/4SM
1/4SM
5SM
5SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW200
FEW200
FEW200
FEW200
FEW200
FEW200
BKN006
BKN006
BKN004
BKN004
BKN004
BKN004
BKN050
BKN050
SCT120
SCT120
SCT120
SCT120
SCT120
SCT120
FEW200
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
600 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:20Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:20Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:20Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:20Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:20Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:39Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:39Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:39Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:39Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:39Z
🌙
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 occurrence • AGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds will be variable in direction at 4 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050800 08:00Z - 14:00Z
IFR
Wind
0° at 0 kt
Visibility
1SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN006
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (0°) at 0 kt. Visibility will be moderate at 1SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 600 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM051000 10:00Z - 16:00Z
LIFR
Wind
0° at 0 kt
Visibility
1/4SM
Weather
Fog
Clouds
BKN004
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (0°) at 0 kt. Visibility will be moderate at 1/4SM. Weather conditions: Fog. Broken clouds at 400 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

FM051400 14:00Z - 20:00Z
MVFR
Wind
0° at 0 kt
Visibility
5SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (0°) at 0 kt. Visibility will be good at 5SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 5000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM051600 16:00Z - 22:00Z
VFR
Wind
220° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT120
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 12000 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.