Buffalo Niagara International Airport

KBUF / BUF

Buffalo, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KBUF 141721Z 1418/1518 32008KT 6SM -DZ SCT007 OVC015 TEMPO 1418/1422 2SM -SHRA BR OVC007 FM150200 32004KT P6SM BKN012 FM150900 VRB03KT P6SM BKN020 FM151000 VRB03KT P6SM SCT035 FM151700 26006KT P6SM FEW130

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
21:00Z
+-1h
Thu
22:00Z
+0h
Thu
23:00Z
+1h
Fri
00:00Z
+2h
Fri
01:00Z
+3h
Fri
02:00Z
+4h
Fri
03:00Z
+5h
Fri
04:00Z
+6h
Fri
05:00Z
+7h
Fri
06:00Z
+8h
Fri
07:00Z
+9h
Fri
08:00Z
+10h
Fri
09:00Z
+11h
Fri
10:00Z
+12h
Fri
11:00Z
+13h
Fri
12:00Z
+14h
Fri
13:00Z
+15h
Fri
14:00Z
+16h
Fri
15:00Z
+17h
Fri
16:00Z
+18h
Wind Dir
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
320°
NW
Wind Speed
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
8 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
8 kt
Visibility
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
6SM
Weather
Light Drizzle
-DZ
Light Drizzle
-DZ
Light Drizzle
-DZ
Light Drizzle
-DZ
Light Drizzle
-DZ
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Drizzle
-DZ
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Drizzle
-DZ
Clouds
SCT007
OVC015
SCT007
OVC015
SCT007
OVC015
SCT007
OVC015
SCT007
OVC015
BKN012
BKN012
BKN012
BKN012
BKN012
BKN012
SCT007
OVC015
BKN020
SCT035
SCT035
SCT035
SCT035
SCT035
SCT035
SCT007
OVC015
Ceiling
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
1,500 ft
AGL
Flight Rules MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌇 19:03Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:55Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:55Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:55Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:55Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:55Z
☀️
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
MVFR
Wind
320° at 8 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Drizzle
Clouds
SCT007 OVC015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Northwest (320°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Drizzle. Scattered clouds at 700 feet, Overcast skies at 1500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 18:00Z - 22:00Z
IFR
Visibility
2SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain, Mist
Clouds
OVC007
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be moderate at 2SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain, Mist. Overcast skies at 700 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM150200 02:00Z - 08:00Z
MVFR
Wind
320° at 4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN012
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northwest (320°) at 4 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 1200 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM150900 09:00Z - 15:00Z
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 2000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM151000 10:00Z - 16:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT035
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 3500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM151700 17:00Z - 23:00Z
VFR
Wind
260° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW130
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (260°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 13000 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.