City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport

KCOS / COS

Colorado Springs, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KCOS 050520Z 0506/0606 VRB05KT P6SM SCT120 SCT200 FM050800 VRB05KT P6SM SKC FM051600 15007KT P6SM SKC FM052100 17011G21KT P6SM SCT120 PROB30 0521/0524 VRB25G40KT -TSRA BKN080CB FM060000 14010KT P6SM SKC

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sun
09:00Z
+-1h
Sun
10:00Z
+0h
Sun
11:00Z
+1h
Sun
12:00Z
+2h
Sun
13:00Z
+3h
Sun
14:00Z
+4h
Sun
15:00Z
+5h
Sun
16:00Z
+6h
Sun
17:00Z
+7h
Sun
18:00Z
+8h
Sun
19:00Z
+9h
Sun
20:00Z
+10h
Sun
21:00Z
+11h
Sun
22:00Z
+12h
Sun
23:00Z
+13h
Mon
00:00Z
+14h
Mon
01:00Z
+15h
Mon
02:00Z
+16h
Mon
03:00Z
+17h
Mon
04:00Z
+18h
Wind Dir
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
VRB
VRB
VRB
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
Wind Speed
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
25 kt
G40 kt
25 kt
G40 kt
25 kt
G40 kt
10 kt
G21 kt
10 kt
G21 kt
10 kt
G21 kt
10 kt
10 kt
Visibility
>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
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT120
SCT200
SCT120
SCT200
SCT120
SCT200
SCT120
SCT200
SCT120
SCT200
SCT120
SCT200
SCT120
SCT200
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
BKN080CB
BKN080CB
BKN080CB
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:13Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:13Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:13Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:13Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:13Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:46Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:46Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:46Z
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 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT120 SCT200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds will be variable in direction at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 12000 feet, Scattered clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050800 08:00Z - 14:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Skies will be clear. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM051600 16:00Z - 22:00Z
VFR
Wind
150° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southeast (150°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Skies will be clear. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM052100 21:00Z - 03:00Z
VFR
Wind
170° at 11 kt
Gusts: 21 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT120
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (170°) at 11 kt. Gusts up to 21 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 12000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 21:00Z - 00:00Z
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 25 kt
Gusts: 40 kt
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN080CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Winds will be variable in direction at 25 kt. Gusts up to 40 kt are expected. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 8000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM060000 00:00Z - 06:00Z
VFR
Wind
140° at 10 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southeast (140°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Skies will be clear. 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.