Christchurch International Airport

NZCH / CHC

Christchurch, NZ

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF NZCH 180507Z 1806/1912 31010KT 9999 -SHRA BKN055 BECMG 1806/1808 VRB02KT TEMPO 1818/1821 7000 SHRA FM190200 22010KT 9999 BKN025

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
07:00Z
+-1h
Sat
08:00Z
+0h
Sat
09:00Z
+1h
Sat
10:00Z
+2h
Sat
11:00Z
+3h
Sat
12:00Z
+4h
Sat
13:00Z
+5h
Sat
14:00Z
+6h
Sat
15:00Z
+7h
Sat
16:00Z
+8h
Sat
17:00Z
+9h
Sat
18:00Z
+10h
Sat
19:00Z
+11h
Sat
20:00Z
+12h
Sat
21:00Z
+13h
Sat
22:00Z
+14h
Sat
23:00Z
+15h
Sun
00:00Z
+16h
Sun
01:00Z
+17h
Sun
02:00Z
+18h
Sun
03:00Z
+19h
Sun
04:00Z
+20h
Sun
05:00Z
+21h
Sun
06:00Z
+22h
Sun
07:00Z
+23h
Sun
08:00Z
+24h
Sun
09:00Z
+25h
Sun
10:00Z
+26h
Wind Dir
310°
NW
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
10 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
7 km
7 km
7 km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Showers Rain
SHRA
Showers Rain
SHRA
Showers Rain
SHRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
BKN055
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
Ceiling
5,500 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ 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 MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌅 06:35Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:35Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:24Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:24Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:24Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:24Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:24Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:37Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:37Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:37Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:37Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:37Z
☀️
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
310° at 10 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN055
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Northwest (310°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 5500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 06:00Z - 08:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 2 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds will be variable in direction at 2 kt. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 18:00Z - 21:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
7 km
Weather
Showers Rain
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be good at 7 km. Weather conditions: Showers Rain. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM190200 02:00Z - 08:00Z
MVFR
Wind
220° at 10 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 2500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

📚 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.