Raleigh Durham International Airport

KRDU / RDU

Raleigh/Durham, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KRDU 150538Z 1506/1606 12008KT P6SM FEW250 FM151500 13011KT P6SM BKN050 TEMPO 1518/1521 15014G22KT 6SM -SHRA OVC050 FM152100 13011KT 6SM -RA OVC025 FM160000 12010KT 4SM -SHRA OVC004 WS019/20040KT FM160300 15012KT 3SM BR OVC004 WS019/20040KT TEMPO 1603/1606 1 1/2SM BR OVC004

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sun
11:00Z
+-1h
Sun
12:00Z
+0h
Sun
13:00Z
+1h
Sun
14:00Z
+2h
Sun
15:00Z
+3h
Sun
16:00Z
+4h
Sun
17:00Z
+5h
Sun
18:00Z
+6h
Sun
19:00Z
+7h
Sun
20:00Z
+8h
Sun
21:00Z
+9h
Sun
22:00Z
+10h
Sun
23:00Z
+11h
Mon
00:00Z
+12h
Mon
01:00Z
+13h
Mon
02:00Z
+14h
Mon
03:00Z
+15h
Mon
04:00Z
+16h
Wind Dir
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
Wind Speed
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
11 kt
11 kt
11 kt
14 kt
G22 kt
14 kt
G22 kt
14 kt
G22 kt
11 kt
11 kt
11 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
8 kt
8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
1/2SM
1/2SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
Light Rain
-RA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Clouds
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
BKN050
BKN050
BKN050
OVC050
OVC050
OVC050
OVC025
OVC025
OVC025
OVC004
OVC004
OVC004
OVC004
OVC004
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:50Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:50Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:50Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:50Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:50Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:08Z
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
120° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East-Southeast (120°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM151500 15:00Z - 21:00Z
VFR
Wind
130° at 11 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southeast (130°) at 11 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 18:00Z - 21:00Z
VFR
Wind
150° at 14 kt
Gusts: 22 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
OVC050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the South-Southeast (150°) at 14 kt. Gusts up to 22 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Overcast skies at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM152100 21:00Z - 03:00Z
MVFR
Wind
130° at 11 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Rain
Clouds
OVC025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southeast (130°) at 11 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Rain. Overcast skies at 2500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM160000 00:00Z - 06:00Z
LIFR
Wind
120° at 10 kt
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
OVC004
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East-Southeast (120°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Overcast skies at 400 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

FM160300 03:00Z - 09:00Z
LIFR
Wind
150° at 12 kt
Visibility
3SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
OVC004
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southeast (150°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be good at 3SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Overcast skies at 400 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

TEMPO 03:00Z - 06:00Z
LIFR
Visibility
1/2SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
OVC004
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be moderate at 1/2SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Overcast skies at 400 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument 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.