Decatur Airport

KDEC / DEC

Decatur, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KDEC 141744Z 1418/1518 VRB05KT P6SM SKC FM150500 15012KT P6SM BKN250 FM150900 16012G20KT 5SM -SHRA BKN080 TEMPO 1509/1513 2SM -TSRA OVC025CB FM151400 16014G24KT P6SM BKN080

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
23:00Z
+-1h
Fri
00:00Z
+0h
Fri
01:00Z
+1h
Fri
02:00Z
+2h
Fri
03:00Z
+3h
Fri
04:00Z
+4h
Fri
05:00Z
+5h
Fri
06:00Z
+6h
Fri
07:00Z
+7h
Fri
08:00Z
+8h
Fri
09:00Z
+9h
Fri
10:00Z
+10h
Fri
11:00Z
+11h
Fri
12:00Z
+12h
Fri
13:00Z
+13h
Fri
14:00Z
+14h
Fri
15:00Z
+15h
Fri
16:00Z
+16h
Wind Dir
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
Wind Speed
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
5 kt
G20 kt
5 kt
G20 kt
5 kt
G20 kt
5 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
14 kt
G24 kt
14 kt
G24 kt
14 kt
G24 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
2SM
2SM
2SM
2SM
5SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
OVC025CB
OVC025CB
OVC025CB
OVC025CB
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR IFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:59Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:59Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:59Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:59Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:59Z
☀️
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
VRB° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 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. Skies will be clear. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM150500 05:00Z - 11:00Z
VFR
Wind
150° at 12 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southeast (150°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM150900 09:00Z - 15:00Z
MVFR
Wind
160° at 12 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
5SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southeast (160°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 5SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 8000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 09:00Z - 13:00Z
IFR
Visibility
2SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
OVC025CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be moderate at 2SM. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Overcast skies at 2500 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM151400 14:00Z - 20:00Z
VFR
Wind
160° at 14 kt
Gusts: 24 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southeast (160°) at 14 kt. Gusts up to 24 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 8000 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.