Philip Billard Municipal Airport

KTOP / TOP

Topeka, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KTOP 101720Z 1018/1118 19015G27KT P6SM FEW040 FM102300 20012G20KT P6SM VCTS SCT040 BKN150CB TEMPO 1023/1102 4SM TSRA BR BKN030CB FM110300 19007KT P6SM SCT200 FM110900 19012G24KT P6SM FEW080

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
Wind Dir
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
200°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
Wind Speed
15 kt
G27 kt
15 kt
G27 kt
15 kt
G27 kt
15 kt
G27 kt
15 kt
G27 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
7 kt
G27 kt
7 kt
G27 kt
7 kt
G27 kt
7 kt
G27 kt
7 kt
G27 kt
7 kt
G27 kt
12 kt
G24 kt
12 kt
G24 kt
12 kt
G24 kt
12 kt
G24 kt
12 kt
G24 kt
12 kt
G24 kt
15 kt
G27 kt
15 kt
G27 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
TSRA BR
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
TSRA BR
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
TSRA BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW040
FEW040
BKN030CB
BKN030CB
BKN030CB
SCT040
BKN150CB
SCT200
SCT200
SCT200
SCT200
SCT200
SCT200
FEW080
FEW080
FEW080
FEW080
FEW080
FEW080
FEW040
FEW040
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌇 19:13Z
🌙
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
190° at 15 kt
Gusts: 27 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South (190°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 27 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM102300 23:00Z - 05:00Z
MVFR
Wind
200° at 12 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT040 BKN150CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet, Broken clouds at 15000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 23:00Z - 02:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
Clouds
BKN030CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain, Mist. Broken clouds at 3000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM110300 03:00Z - 09:00Z
VFR
Wind
190° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (190°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM110900 09:00Z - 15:00Z
VFR
Wind
190° at 12 kt
Gusts: 24 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (190°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 24 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 8000 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.