Des Moines International Airport

KDSM / DSM

Des Moines, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KDSM 050520Z 0506/0606 05003KT 3SM HZ FU FEW001 BKN220 FM050800 VRB03KT P6SM SCT110 FM051600 02005KT P6SM SCT035 SCT110

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sun
08:00Z
+-1h
Sun
09:00Z
+0h
Sun
10:00Z
+1h
Sun
11:00Z
+2h
Sun
12:00Z
+3h
Sun
13:00Z
+4h
Sun
14:00Z
+5h
Sun
15:00Z
+6h
Sun
16:00Z
+7h
Sun
17:00Z
+8h
Sun
18:00Z
+9h
Sun
19:00Z
+10h
Sun
20:00Z
+11h
Sun
21:00Z
+12h
Sun
22:00Z
+13h
Sun
23:00Z
+14h
Mon
00:00Z
+15h
Mon
01:00Z
+16h
Mon
02:00Z
+17h
Mon
03:00Z
+18h
Mon
04:00Z
+19h
Wind Dir
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
20°
N
20°
N
20°
N
20°
N
20°
N
20°
N
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
Wind Speed
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
Visibility
3SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
Weather
Haze, Smoke
HZ FU
Haze, Smoke
HZ FU
Haze, Smoke
HZ FU
Haze, Smoke
HZ FU
Haze, Smoke
HZ FU
Haze, Smoke
HZ FU
Haze, Smoke
HZ FU
Haze, Smoke
HZ FU
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Haze, Smoke
HZ FU
Haze, Smoke
HZ FU
Haze, Smoke
HZ FU
Haze, Smoke
HZ FU
Haze, Smoke
HZ FU
Haze, Smoke
HZ FU
Haze, Smoke
HZ FU
Clouds
FEW001
BKN220
FEW001
BKN220
FEW001
BKN220
FEW001
BKN220
FEW001
BKN220
FEW001
BKN220
FEW001
BKN220
FEW001
BKN220
SCT035
SCT110
SCT035
SCT110
SCT035
SCT110
SCT035
SCT110
SCT035
SCT110
SCT035
SCT110
FEW001
BKN220
FEW001
BKN220
FEW001
BKN220
FEW001
BKN220
FEW001
BKN220
FEW001
BKN220
FEW001
BKN220
Ceiling
22,000 ft
AGL
22,000 ft
AGL
22,000 ft
AGL
22,000 ft
AGL
22,000 ft
AGL
22,000 ft
AGL
22,000 ft
AGL
22,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
22,000 ft
AGL
22,000 ft
AGL
22,000 ft
AGL
22,000 ft
AGL
22,000 ft
AGL
22,000 ft
AGL
22,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:17Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:17Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:17Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:17Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:17Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:42Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:42Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:42Z
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 occurrence • AGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
MVFR
Wind
50° at 3 kt
Visibility
3SM
Weather
Haze, Smoke
Clouds
FEW001 BKN220
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Northeast (50°) at 3 kt. Visibility will be good at 3SM. Weather conditions: Haze, Smoke. Few clouds at 100 feet, Broken clouds at 22000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM050800 08:00Z - 14:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT110
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 11000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM051600 16:00Z - 22:00Z
VFR
Wind
20° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT035 SCT110
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northeast (20°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 3500 feet, Scattered clouds at 11000 feet. 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.