Ceiling, Visibility, and Flightrule Forecast Maps

Small aircraft flying between low ceilings and clearer VFR weather with smooth forecast contours

Hourly aviation forecast guidance

See when flying conditions may improve or deteriorate.

Animate forecast ceiling, surface visibility, and combined VFR, MVFR, IFR, or LIFR conditions for the United States and every state.

Open United States Forecast

One forecast, three practical views

This aviation ceiling and visibility forecast helps pilots, skydiving operators, and weather-sensitive flight teams follow changing conditions hour by hour. Compare forecast cloud ceilings, forecast visibility, or the combined flight rule category on national and state maps. Smooth color-filled contours make broader weather trends easy to recognize while unshaded locations remain unclassified.

Ceiling Forecast

Track the lowest forecast broken cloud layer, using the 5/8 (62.5%) sky-cover threshold, and see where ceilings may cross key aviation categories.

Cockpit view toward a runway transitioning from clear air into reduced visibility

Visibility Forecast

Follow forecast surface visibility and identify areas approaching MVFR, IFR, or LIFR visibility thresholds.

Aircraft route crossing green, blue, red, and magenta flight category contours

Flight Rule Forecast

View the more restrictive result of ceiling and visibility, with VFR drawn first and progressively lower categories layered above it.

Animated aviation weather by hour

Move through consecutive forecast hours, switch among ceiling, visibility, and flight-category layers without losing your place, zoom for additional city labels, and click the map for forecast details.

LIFRLowest category

IFRRestricted

MVFRMarginal

VFRVisual

View the national ceiling and visibility forecast

Choose the United States or a state forecast

Planning note: These maps provide forecast guidance and are not a substitute for official aviation weather briefings, observations, forecasts, advisories, or operational decision-making requirements.