The Eastern Iowa Airport

KCID / CID

Cedar Rapids, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KCID 041227Z 0412/0512 35006KT P6SM SCT035 OVC150 FM042000 34005KT P6SM BKN050 PROB30 0420/0424 VRB15G25KT 3SM TSRA BR BKN020CB FM050200 07005KT P6SM BKN250

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
14:00Z
+-1h
Sat
15:00Z
+0h
Sat
16:00Z
+1h
Sat
17:00Z
+2h
Sat
18:00Z
+3h
Sat
19:00Z
+4h
Sat
20:00Z
+5h
Sat
21:00Z
+6h
Sat
22:00Z
+7h
Sat
23:00Z
+8h
Sun
00:00Z
+9h
Sun
01:00Z
+10h
Sun
02:00Z
+11h
Sun
03:00Z
+12h
Sun
04:00Z
+13h
Sun
05:00Z
+14h
Sun
06:00Z
+15h
Sun
07:00Z
+16h
Sun
08:00Z
+17h
Sun
09:00Z
+18h
Sun
10:00Z
+19h
Wind Dir
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
340°
N
340°
N
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
Wind Speed
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
TSRA BR
30%
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
TSRA BR
30%
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
TSRA BR
30%
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
TSRA BR
30%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT035
OVC150
SCT035
OVC150
SCT035
OVC150
SCT035
OVC150
SCT035
OVC150
SCT035
OVC150
BKN020CB
BKN020CB
BKN020CB
BKN020CB
BKN050
BKN050
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
SCT035
OVC150
SCT035
OVC150
SCT035
OVC150
Ceiling
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:18Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:18Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:18Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:18Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:18Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:41Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:41Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:41Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:41Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:41Z
☀️
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 occurrence • AGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
350° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT035 OVC150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the North (350°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 3500 feet, Overcast skies at 15000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM042000 20:00Z - 02:00Z
VFR
Wind
340° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northwest (340°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 20:00Z - 00:00Z
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
3SM
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
Clouds
BKN020CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Winds will be variable in direction at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 3SM. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain, Mist. Broken clouds at 2000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM050200 02:00Z - 08:00Z
VFR
Wind
70° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East-Northeast (70°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 25000 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.