Columbia Regional Airport

KCOU / COU

Columbia, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KCOU 041926Z 0419/0518 29009KT P6SM FEW035 TEMPO 0419/0421 VRB20KT 2SM -TSRA BKN040CB FM042100 VRB05KT 6SM -SHRA BKN040 PROB30 0421/0424 3SM -TSRA BKN040CB FM050000 VRB05KT P6SM -SHRA OVC250

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
23:00Z
+-1h
Sun
00:00Z
+0h
Sun
01:00Z
+1h
Sun
02:00Z
+2h
Sun
03:00Z
+3h
Sun
04:00Z
+4h
Sun
05:00Z
+5h
Sun
06:00Z
+6h
Sun
07:00Z
+7h
Sun
08:00Z
+8h
Sun
09:00Z
+9h
Sun
10:00Z
+10h
Sun
11:00Z
+11h
Sun
12:00Z
+12h
Sun
13:00Z
+13h
Sun
14:00Z
+14h
Sun
15:00Z
+15h
Sun
16:00Z
+16h
Wind Dir
290°
W
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
Wind Speed
9 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW035
OVC250
OVC250
OVC250
OVC250
OVC250
OVC250
FEW035
FEW035
FEW035
FEW035
FEW035
FEW035
FEW035
FEW035
FEW035
FEW035
FEW035
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
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
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:46Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:46Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:46Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:46Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:46Z
☀️
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
VFR
Wind
290° at 9 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW035
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West-Northwest (290°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 3500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 19:00Z - 21:00Z
IFR
Wind
VRB° at 20 kt
Visibility
2SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN040CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds will be variable in direction at 20 kt. Visibility will be moderate at 2SM. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 4000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM042100 21:00Z - 03:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 5 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 21:00Z - 00:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
3SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN040CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be good at 3SM. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 4000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM050000 00:00Z - 06:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
OVC250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Overcast skies 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.