Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport

VCBI / CMB

Colombo, LK

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF VCBI 101700Z 1018/1124 23011KT 9999 SCT017 TX31/1107Z TN26/1100Z PROB30 TEMPO 1023/1103 5000 TSRA/SHRA FEW012 BKN016 PROB30 TEMPO 1109/1115 25015G25KT 5000 TSRA/SHRA FEW012 BKN016 FEW018CB

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
20:00Z
+-1h
Wed
21:00Z
+0h
Wed
22:00Z
+1h
Wed
23:00Z
+2h
Thu
00:00Z
+3h
Thu
01:00Z
+4h
Thu
02:00Z
+5h
Thu
03:00Z
+6h
Thu
04:00Z
+7h
Thu
05:00Z
+8h
Thu
06:00Z
+9h
Thu
07:00Z
+10h
Thu
08:00Z
+11h
Thu
09:00Z
+12h
Thu
10:00Z
+13h
Thu
11:00Z
+14h
Thu
12:00Z
+15h
Thu
13:00Z
+16h
Thu
14:00Z
+17h
Thu
15:00Z
+18h
Thu
16:00Z
+19h
Thu
17:00Z
+20h
Thu
18:00Z
+21h
Thu
19:00Z
+22h
Thu
20:00Z
+23h
Thu
21:00Z
+24h
Thu
22:00Z
+25h
Wind Dir
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
Wind Speed
11 kt
11 kt
11 kt
11 kt
11 kt
11 kt
11 kt
11 kt
11 kt
11 kt
11 kt
11 kt
11 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
11 kt
11 kt
11 kt
11 kt
11 kt
11 kt
11 kt
11 kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
5 km
5 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
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ 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
Thunderstorm RA/SHRA
TSRA/SHRA
30%
Thunderstorm RA/SHRA
TSRA/SHRA
30%
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
Clouds
SCT017
SCT017
SCT017
FEW012
BKN016
FEW012
BKN016
FEW012
BKN016
FEW012
BKN016
SCT017
SCT017
SCT017
SCT017
SCT017
SCT017
FEW012
BKN016
FEW012
BKN016
FEW012
BKN016
FEW012
BKN016
FEW012
BKN016
FEW012
BKN016
SCT017
SCT017
SCT017
SCT017
SCT017
SCT017
SCT017
SCT017
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
1,600 ft
AGL
1,600 ft
AGL
1,600 ft
AGL
1,600 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
1,600 ft
AGL
1,600 ft
AGL
1,600 ft
AGL
1,600 ft
AGL
1,600 ft
AGL
1,600 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌇 18:14Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:45Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:45Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:45Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:45Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:45Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:14Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:14Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:14Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:14Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:14Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
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
230° at 11 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT017
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Southwest (230°) at 11 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 1700 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 TEMPO 23:00Z - 03:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
5 km
Weather
Thunderstorm RA/SHRA
Clouds
FEW012 BKN016
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be good at 5 km. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm RA/SHRA. Few clouds at 1200 feet, Broken clouds at 1600 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

PROB30 TEMPO 09:00Z - 15:00Z
MVFR
Wind
250° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
5 km
Weather
Thunderstorm RA/SHRA
Clouds
FEW012 BKN016 FEW018CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 5 km. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm RA/SHRA. Few clouds at 1200 feet, Broken clouds at 1600 feet, Few clouds at 1800 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.