Charleston International Airport

KCHS / CHS

Charleston, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KCHS 050520Z 0506/0606 VRB03KT P6SM FEW200 FM051330 22006KT P6SM SCT030 FM051700 19010KT P6SM SCT050 TEMPO 0518/0522 VRB10G15KT 6SM -TSRA BKN050CB FM052300 21007KT P6SM SCT040 BKN050

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sun
06:00Z
+-1h
Sun
07:00Z
+0h
Sun
08:00Z
+1h
Sun
09:00Z
+2h
Sun
10:00Z
+3h
Sun
11:00Z
+4h
Sun
12:00Z
+5h
Sun
13:00Z
+6h
Sun
14:00Z
+7h
Sun
15:00Z
+8h
Sun
16:00Z
+9h
Sun
17:00Z
+10h
Sun
18:00Z
+11h
Sun
19:00Z
+12h
Sun
20:00Z
+13h
Sun
21:00Z
+14h
Sun
22:00Z
+15h
Sun
23:00Z
+16h
Mon
00:00Z
+17h
Mon
01:00Z
+18h
Mon
02:00Z
+19h
Mon
03:00Z
+20h
Mon
04:00Z
+21h
Wind Dir
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
190°
S
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
190°
S
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
Wind Speed
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
10 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW200
FEW200
FEW200
FEW200
FEW200
FEW200
FEW200
SCT030
SCT030
SCT030
SCT030
SCT050
BKN050CB
BKN050CB
BKN050CB
BKN050CB
SCT050
SCT040
BKN050
SCT040
BKN050
SCT040
BKN050
SCT040
BKN050
SCT040
BKN050
SCT040
BKN050
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌅 04:56Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:03Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:03Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:03Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:03Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:03Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:56Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:56Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:56Z
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
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM051330 13:00Z - 19:00Z
VFR
Wind
220° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 3000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM051700 17:00Z - 23:00Z
VFR
Wind
190° at 10 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (190°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 18:00Z - 22:00Z
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 10 kt
Gusts: 15 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN050CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds will be variable in direction at 10 kt. Gusts up to 15 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 5000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM052300 23:00Z - 05:00Z
VFR
Wind
210° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT040 BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southwest (210°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet, Broken clouds at 5000 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.