City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport

KCOS / COS

Colorado Springs, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KCOS 142005Z 1420/1518 17012G22KT P6SM SCT120 BKN250 FM150000 36011G21KT P6SM SCT100 SCT250 FM150600 34009KT P6SM SCT250

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
20:00Z
+-1h
Thu
21:00Z
+0h
Thu
22:00Z
+1h
Thu
23:00Z
+2h
Fri
00:00Z
+3h
Fri
01:00Z
+4h
Fri
02:00Z
+5h
Fri
03:00Z
+6h
Fri
04:00Z
+7h
Fri
05:00Z
+8h
Fri
06:00Z
+9h
Fri
07:00Z
+10h
Fri
08:00Z
+11h
Fri
09:00Z
+12h
Fri
10:00Z
+13h
Fri
11:00Z
+14h
Fri
12:00Z
+15h
Fri
13:00Z
+16h
Fri
14:00Z
+17h
Fri
15:00Z
+18h
Fri
16:00Z
+19h
Wind Dir
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
Wind Speed
12 kt
G22 kt
12 kt
G22 kt
12 kt
G22 kt
12 kt
G22 kt
11 kt
G21 kt
11 kt
G21 kt
11 kt
G21 kt
11 kt
G21 kt
11 kt
G21 kt
11 kt
G21 kt
9 kt
G22 kt
9 kt
G22 kt
9 kt
G22 kt
9 kt
G22 kt
9 kt
G22 kt
9 kt
G22 kt
12 kt
G22 kt
12 kt
G22 kt
12 kt
G22 kt
12 kt
G22 kt
12 kt
G22 kt
Visibility
>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
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT120
BKN250
SCT120
BKN250
SCT120
BKN250
SCT120
BKN250
SCT100
SCT250
SCT100
SCT250
SCT100
SCT250
SCT100
SCT250
SCT100
SCT250
SCT100
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT120
BKN250
SCT120
BKN250
SCT120
BKN250
SCT120
BKN250
SCT120
BKN250
Ceiling
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌇 18:58Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:00Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:00Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:00Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:00Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:00Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:59Z
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
170° at 12 kt
Gusts: 22 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT120 BKN250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South (170°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 22 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 12000 feet, Broken clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM150000 00:00Z - 06:00Z
VFR
Wind
360° at 11 kt
Gusts: 21 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT100 SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (360°) at 11 kt. Gusts up to 21 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 10000 feet, Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM150600 06:00Z - 12:00Z
VFR
Wind
340° at 9 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northwest (340°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered 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.