Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport

VCBI / CMB

Colombo, LK

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF VCBI 141100Z 1412/1518 VRB07KT 9999 SCT017 TX30/1507Z TN24/1500Z TEMPO 1412/1418 5000 TSRA/SHRA FEW014 BKN016 FEW018CB PROB30 TEMPO 1418/1502 5000 TSRA/SHRA FEW014 BKN016 FEW018CB

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
13:00Z
+-1h
Thu
14:00Z
+0h
Thu
15:00Z
+1h
Thu
16:00Z
+2h
Thu
17:00Z
+3h
Thu
18:00Z
+4h
Thu
19:00Z
+5h
Thu
20:00Z
+6h
Thu
21:00Z
+7h
Thu
22:00Z
+8h
Thu
23:00Z
+9h
Fri
00:00Z
+10h
Fri
01:00Z
+11h
Fri
02:00Z
+12h
Fri
03:00Z
+13h
Fri
04:00Z
+14h
Fri
05:00Z
+15h
Fri
06:00Z
+16h
Fri
07:00Z
+17h
Fri
08:00Z
+18h
Fri
09:00Z
+19h
Fri
10:00Z
+20h
Fri
11:00Z
+21h
Fri
12:00Z
+22h
Fri
13:00Z
+23h
Fri
14:00Z
+24h
Fri
15:00Z
+25h
Fri
16:00Z
+26h
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
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 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
Thunderstorm RA/SHRA
TSRA/SHRA
30%
Thunderstorm RA/SHRA
TSRA/SHRA
30%
Thunderstorm RA/SHRA
TSRA/SHRA
30%
Thunderstorm RA/SHRA
TSRA/SHRA
30%
Thunderstorm RA/SHRA
TSRA/SHRA
30%
Thunderstorm RA/SHRA
TSRA/SHRA
30%
Thunderstorm RA/SHRA
TSRA/SHRA
30%
Thunderstorm RA/SHRA
TSRA/SHRA
30%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT017
SCT017
SCT017
SCT017
SCT017
FEW014
BKN016
FEW014
BKN016
FEW014
BKN016
FEW014
BKN016
FEW014
BKN016
FEW014
BKN016
FEW014
BKN016
FEW014
BKN016
SCT017
SCT017
SCT017
SCT017
SCT017
SCT017
SCT017
SCT017
SCT017
SCT017
SCT017
SCT017
SCT017
SCT017
SCT017
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
1,600 ft
AGL
1,600 ft
AGL
1,600 ft
AGL
1,600 ft
AGL
1,600 ft
AGL
1,600 ft
AGL
1,600 ft
AGL
1,600 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:11Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:11Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:11Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:11Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:11Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:48Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:48Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:48Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:48Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:48Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:11Z
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 7 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT017
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds will be variable in direction at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 1700 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 12:00Z - 18:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
5 km
Weather
Thunderstorm RA/SHRA
Clouds
FEW014 BKN016 FEW018CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be good at 5 km. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm RA/SHRA. Few clouds at 1400 feet, Broken clouds at 1600 feet, Few clouds at 1800 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

PROB30 TEMPO 18:00Z - 02:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
5 km
Weather
Thunderstorm RA/SHRA
Clouds
FEW014 BKN016 FEW018CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be good at 5 km. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm RA/SHRA. Few clouds at 1400 feet, Broken clouds at 1600 feet, Few clouds at 1800 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

📚 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.