Christchurch International Airport

NZCH / CHC

Christchurch, NZ

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF NZCH 171139Z 1712/1818 25005KT 9999 SCT030 BKN040 BECMG 1800/1802 08010KT TEMPO 1800/1806 6000 SHRA BECMG 1809/1811 VRB02KT

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
12:00Z
+-1h
Sat
13:00Z
+0h
Sat
14:00Z
+1h
Sat
15:00Z
+2h
Sat
16:00Z
+3h
Sat
17:00Z
+4h
Sat
18:00Z
+5h
Sat
19:00Z
+6h
Sat
20:00Z
+7h
Sat
21:00Z
+8h
Sat
22:00Z
+9h
Sat
23:00Z
+10h
Sun
00:00Z
+11h
Sun
01:00Z
+12h
Sun
02:00Z
+13h
Sun
03:00Z
+14h
Sun
04:00Z
+15h
Sun
05:00Z
+16h
Sun
06:00Z
+17h
Sun
07:00Z
+18h
Sun
08:00Z
+19h
Sun
09:00Z
+20h
Sun
10:00Z
+21h
Sun
11:00Z
+22h
Sun
12:00Z
+23h
Sun
13:00Z
+24h
Sun
14:00Z
+25h
Sun
15:00Z
+26h
Sun
16:00Z
+27h
Wind Dir
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
2kt
2kt
2kt
2kt
2kt
2kt
10kt
10kt
10kt
2kt
2kt
2kt
2kt
2kt
2kt
2kt
2kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Showers Rain
SHRA
Showers Rain
SHRA
Showers Rain
SHRA
Showers Rain
SHRA
Showers Rain
SHRA
Showers Rain
SHRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT030
BKN040
SCT030
BKN040
SCT030
BKN040
SCT030
BKN040
SCT030
BKN040
SCT030
BKN040
SCT030
BKN040
SCT030
BKN040
SCT030
BKN040
SCT030
BKN040
SCT030
BKN040
SCT030
BKN040
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
Ceiling
4000ft
AGL
4000ft
AGL
4000ft
AGL
4000ft
AGL
4000ft
AGL
4000ft
AGL
4000ft
AGL
4000ft
AGL
4000ft
AGL
4000ft
AGL
4000ft
AGL
4000ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:14
☀️
Day
🌇 19:14
☀️
Day
🌇 19:14
🌙
Night
🌇 19:14
🌙
Night
🌇 19:14
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:46
🌙
Night
🌅 04:46
🌙
Night
🌅 04:46
☀️
Day
🌅 04:46
☀️
Day
🌅 04:46
☀️
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
250° at 5 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT030 BKN040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 5kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 3000 feet, Broken clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 2026-01-18 00:00:00 - 2026-01-18 02:00:00
VFR
Wind
80° at 10 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the East (80°) at 10kt. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 2026-01-18 00:00:00 - 2026-01-18 06:00:00
MVFR
Visibility
6 km
Weather
Showers Rain
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be good at 6 km. Weather conditions: Showers Rain. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 2026-01-18 09:00:00 - 2026-01-18 11:00:00
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 2 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds will be variable in direction at 2kt. 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.