Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport

VCBI / CMB

Colombo, LK

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF VCBI 220500Z 2206/2312 22005KT 9999 FEW018 TX34/2207Z TN24/2300Z PROB30 TEMPO 2211/2215 5000 TSRA/SHRA BKN016 FEW018CB BECMG 2214/2216 VRB05KT

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
10:00Z
+-1h
Wed
11:00Z
+0h
Wed
12:00Z
+1h
Wed
13:00Z
+2h
Wed
14:00Z
+3h
Wed
15:00Z
+4h
Wed
16:00Z
+5h
Wed
17:00Z
+6h
Wed
18:00Z
+7h
Wed
19:00Z
+8h
Wed
20:00Z
+9h
Wed
21:00Z
+10h
Wed
22:00Z
+11h
Wed
23:00Z
+12h
Thu
00:00Z
+13h
Thu
01:00Z
+14h
Thu
02:00Z
+15h
Thu
03:00Z
+16h
Thu
04:00Z
+17h
Thu
05:00Z
+18h
Thu
06:00Z
+19h
Thu
07:00Z
+20h
Thu
08:00Z
+21h
Thu
09:00Z
+22h
Thu
10:00Z
+23h
Wind Dir
220°
SW
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
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
Visibility
10+ km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 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
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
Weather
☀️ Clear
Thunderstorm RA/SHRA
TSRA/SHRA
30%
Thunderstorm RA/SHRA
TSRA/SHRA
30%
Thunderstorm RA/SHRA
TSRA/SHRA
30%
Thunderstorm RA/SHRA
TSRA/SHRA
30%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW018
BKN016
FEW018CB
BKN016
FEW018CB
BKN016
FEW018CB
BKN016
FEW018CB
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
1,600 ft
AGL
1,600 ft
AGL
1,600 ft
AGL
1,600 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:07Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:07Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:07Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:07Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:07Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:52Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:52Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:52Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:52Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:52Z
☀️
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
220° at 5 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW018
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 1800 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 TEMPO 11:00Z - 15:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
5 km
Weather
Thunderstorm RA/SHRA
Clouds
BKN016 FEW018CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be good at 5 km. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm RA/SHRA. Broken clouds at 1600 feet, Few clouds at 1800 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 14:00Z - 16:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 5 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds will be variable in direction at 5 kt. 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.