Columbia Regional Airport

KCOU / COU

Columbia, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KCOU 150520Z 1506/1606 16010KT P6SM BKN150 FM150700 16010G20KT P6SM BKN150 PROB30 1508/1510 4SM -TSRA OVC080CB FM151600 17011G20KT P6SM SCT150 FM152300 18008KT P6SM SCT200

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Fri
07:00Z
+-1h
Fri
08:00Z
+0h
Fri
09:00Z
+1h
Fri
10:00Z
+2h
Fri
11:00Z
+3h
Fri
12:00Z
+4h
Fri
13:00Z
+5h
Fri
14:00Z
+6h
Fri
15:00Z
+7h
Fri
16:00Z
+8h
Fri
17:00Z
+9h
Fri
18:00Z
+10h
Fri
19:00Z
+11h
Fri
20:00Z
+12h
Fri
21:00Z
+13h
Fri
22:00Z
+14h
Fri
23:00Z
+15h
Sat
00:00Z
+16h
Sat
01:00Z
+17h
Sat
02:00Z
+18h
Sat
03:00Z
+19h
Sat
04:00Z
+20h
Wind Dir
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
160°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
Wind Speed
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
11 kt
G20 kt
11 kt
G20 kt
11 kt
G20 kt
11 kt
G20 kt
11 kt
G20 kt
11 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
4SM
4SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
BKN150
OVC080CB
OVC080CB
BKN150
BKN150
BKN150
BKN150
BKN150
BKN150
SCT150
SCT150
SCT150
SCT150
SCT150
SCT150
BKN150
SCT200
SCT200
SCT200
SCT200
SCT200
SCT200
Ceiling
15,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
15,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌅 05:00Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:59Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:59Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:59Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:59Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:59Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:59Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:59Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:59Z
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
160° at 10 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southeast (160°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 15000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM150700 07:00Z - 13:00Z
VFR
Wind
160° at 10 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southeast (160°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 15000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 08:00Z - 10:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
OVC080CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Overcast skies at 8000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM151600 16:00Z - 22:00Z
VFR
Wind
170° at 11 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (170°) at 11 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 15000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM152300 23:00Z - 05:00Z
VFR
Wind
180° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (180°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 20000 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.