Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport

KMKC / MKC

Kansas City, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KMKC 101720Z 1018/1118 21018G28KT P6SM SCT050 PROB30 1023/1103 5SM -TSRA BKN040CB FM110400 19010G18KT P6SM SCT060 BKN200 FM111400 20017G27KT P6SM BKN050

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
Wind Dir
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
Wind Speed
18 kt
G28 kt
18 kt
G28 kt
18 kt
G28 kt
18 kt
G28 kt
18 kt
G28 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
18 kt
G28 kt
18 kt
G28 kt
18 kt
G28 kt
18 kt
G28 kt
17 kt
G27 kt
17 kt
G27 kt
17 kt
G27 kt
Visibility
>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
Clouds
SCT050
SCT050
SCT050
SCT050
SCT050
SCT060
BKN200
SCT060
BKN200
SCT060
BKN200
SCT060
BKN200
SCT060
BKN200
SCT060
BKN200
SCT050
SCT050
SCT050
SCT050
BKN050
BKN050
BKN050
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:45Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:45Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:45Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:45Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:45Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
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
210° at 18 kt
Gusts: 28 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southwest (210°) at 18 kt. Gusts up to 28 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 23:00Z - 03:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
5SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN040CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be good at 5SM. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 4000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM110400 04:00Z - 10:00Z
VFR
Wind
190° at 10 kt
Gusts: 18 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT060 BKN200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (190°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 18 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 6000 feet, Broken clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM111400 14:00Z - 20:00Z
VFR
Wind
200° at 17 kt
Gusts: 27 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 17 kt. Gusts up to 27 kt are expected. 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.