Christchurch International Airport

NZCH / CHC

Christchurch, NZ

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF NZCH 141408Z 1415/1518 VRB02KT 0200 FG OVC002 BECMG 1419/1421 9999 NSW BKN020 PROB30 1421/1424 1000 BR BKN006 TEMPO 1507/1510 4000 DZ BKN012

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
15:00Z
+-1h
Thu
16:00Z
+0h
Thu
17:00Z
+1h
Thu
18:00Z
+2h
Thu
19:00Z
+3h
Thu
20:00Z
+4h
Thu
21:00Z
+5h
Thu
22:00Z
+6h
Thu
23:00Z
+7h
Fri
00:00Z
+8h
Fri
01:00Z
+9h
Fri
02:00Z
+10h
Fri
03:00Z
+11h
Fri
04:00Z
+12h
Fri
05:00Z
+13h
Fri
06:00Z
+14h
Fri
07:00Z
+15h
Fri
08:00Z
+16h
Fri
09:00Z
+17h
Fri
10:00Z
+18h
Fri
11:00Z
+19h
Fri
12:00Z
+20h
Fri
13:00Z
+21h
Fri
14:00Z
+22h
Fri
15:00Z
+23h
Fri
16:00Z
+24h
Wind Dir
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
Visibility
0.2 km
0.2 km
0.2 km
0.2 km
10+ km
10+ km
1 km
1 km
1 km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
4 km
4 km
4 km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
Weather
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
30%
Mist
BR
30%
Mist
BR
30%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Drizzle
DZ
Drizzle
DZ
Drizzle
DZ
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
OVC002
OVC002
OVC002
OVC002
BKN020
BKN020
BKN006
BKN006
BKN006
BKN020
BKN020
BKN020
BKN020
BKN020
BKN020
BKN020
BKN012
BKN012
BKN012
BKN020
BKN020
BKN020
BKN020
BKN020
BKN020
BKN020
Ceiling
200 ft
AGL
200 ft
AGL
200 ft
AGL
200 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR MVFR MVFR LIFR LIFR LIFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR IFR IFR IFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌇 16:55Z
☀️
Day
🌇 16:55Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 16:55Z
🌙
Night
🌇 16:55Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 07:05Z
🌙
Night
🌅 07:05Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 07:05Z
☀️
Day
🌅 07:05Z
☀️
Day
🌅 07:05Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 16:54Z
☀️
Day
🌇 16:54Z
☀️
Day
🌇 16:54Z
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
LIFR
Wind
VRB° at 2 kt
Visibility
0.2 km
Weather
Fog
Clouds
OVC002
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds will be variable in direction at 2 kt. Visibility will be poor at 0.2 km. Weather conditions: Fog. Overcast skies at 200 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

BECMG 19:00Z - 21:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 2000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

PROB30 21:00Z - 00:00Z
LIFR
Visibility
1 km
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN006
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be poor at 1 km. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 600 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

TEMPO 07:00Z - 10:00Z
IFR
Visibility
4 km
Weather
Drizzle
Clouds
BKN012
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be moderate at 4 km. Weather conditions: Drizzle. Broken clouds at 1200 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

📚 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.