Which cloud condition is explicitly forecast in the TAF reports?

• A. Cumulonimbus
• B. Cirrus
• C. Stratus
• D. Altocumulus

Answer: (A)

In TAFs, forecasts of significant weather hazards are given explicitly, and thunderstorms are the key example. When thunderstorms are expected, the forecast will specifically indicate cumulonimbus clouds (often shown as CB) because these are the cloud type that signals strong convection and severe weather. This explicit naming helps pilots anticipate hazardous conditions like lightning, strong gusts, and severe turbulence.

Other cloud types such as cirrus, stratus, or altocumulus may appear in the field of cloud cover and base descriptions, but they aren’t singled out as explicit forecasted conditions unless they accompany a significant weather threat. So the cloud condition that the forecast flags directly for potential impact is cumulonimbus.