Butts AAF (Fort Carson) Air Field

KFCS / FCS

Fort Carson, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF COR KFCS 141345Z 1412/1518 28012KT 9999 BKN170 QNH2994INS TEMPO 1412/1414 28012G18KT BECMG 1415/1416 26009KT 9999 SCT200 QNH2989INS BECMG 1419/1420 25012KT 9999 SCT130 BKN150 QNH2982INS TEMPO 1422/1501 26012G18KT VCSH BECMG 1501/1502 04009KT 9999 NSW SCT130 QNH2986INS BECMG 1505/1506 35012KT 9999 FEW150 QNH2992INS BECMG 1515/1516 15009KT 9999 SKC QNH2993INS TX30/1419Z TN20/1412Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
18:00Z
+-1h
Thu
19:00Z
+0h
Thu
20:00Z
+1h
Thu
21:00Z
+2h
Thu
22:00Z
+3h
Thu
23:00Z
+4h
Fri
00:00Z
+5h
Fri
01:00Z
+6h
Fri
02:00Z
+7h
Fri
03:00Z
+8h
Fri
04:00Z
+9h
Fri
05:00Z
+10h
Fri
06:00Z
+11h
Fri
07:00Z
+12h
Fri
08:00Z
+13h
Fri
09:00Z
+14h
Fri
10:00Z
+15h
Fri
11:00Z
+16h
Fri
12:00Z
+17h
Fri
13:00Z
+18h
Fri
14:00Z
+19h
Fri
15:00Z
+20h
Fri
16:00Z
+21h
Wind Dir
280°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
150°
SE
150°
SE
Wind Speed
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
9 kt
9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
BKN170
SCT130
BKN150
SCT130
BKN150
SCT130
BKN150
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
SCT130
SCT130
SCT130
SCT130
FEW150
FEW150
FEW150
FEW150
FEW150
FEW150
FEW150
FEW150
FEW150
FEW150
CLR
CLR
Ceiling
17,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ 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 VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌇 18:58Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:58Z
🌙
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 occurrenceAGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
280° at 12 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN170
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West (280°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 17000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 12:00Z - 14:00Z
VFR
Wind
280° at 12 kt
Gusts: 18 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the West (280°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 18 kt are expected. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 15:00Z - 16:00Z
VFR
Wind
260° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West (260°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 19:00Z - 20:00Z
VFR
Wind
250° at 12 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT130 BKN150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 13000 feet, Broken clouds at 15000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 22:00Z - 01:00Z
VFR
Wind
260° at 12 kt
Gusts: 18 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the West (260°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 18 kt are expected. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 01:00Z - 02:00Z
VFR
Wind
40° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT130
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Northeast (40°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 13000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 05:00Z - 06:00Z
VFR
Wind
350° at 12 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the North (350°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 15000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 15:00Z - 16:00Z
VFR
Wind
150° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South-Southeast (150°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. 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.