Des Moines International Airport

KDSM / DSM

Des Moines, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KDSM 151120Z 1512/1612 11006KT P6SM FEW210 FM160200 16008KT 6SM -TSRA BKN090CB FM160600 VRB05KT P6SM BKN190

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Fri
13:00Z
+-1h
Fri
14:00Z
+0h
Fri
15:00Z
+1h
Fri
16:00Z
+2h
Fri
17:00Z
+3h
Fri
18:00Z
+4h
Fri
19:00Z
+5h
Fri
20:00Z
+6h
Fri
21:00Z
+7h
Fri
22:00Z
+8h
Fri
23:00Z
+9h
Sat
00:00Z
+10h
Sat
01:00Z
+11h
Sat
02:00Z
+12h
Sat
03:00Z
+13h
Sat
04:00Z
+14h
Sat
05:00Z
+15h
Sat
06:00Z
+16h
Sat
07:00Z
+17h
Sat
08:00Z
+18h
Sat
09:00Z
+19h
Sat
10:00Z
+20h
Wind Dir
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW210
FEW210
FEW210
FEW210
FEW210
FEW210
FEW210
FEW210
FEW210
FEW210
FEW210
FEW210
FEW210
BKN090CB
BKN090CB
BKN090CB
BKN090CB
BKN190
BKN190
BKN190
BKN190
BKN190
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
9,000 ft
AGL
9,000 ft
AGL
9,000 ft
AGL
9,000 ft
AGL
19,000 ft
AGL
19,000 ft
AGL
19,000 ft
AGL
19,000 ft
AGL
19,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:02Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:02Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:02Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:02Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:02Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:56Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:56Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:56Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:56Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:56Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
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
110° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW210
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East-Southeast (110°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 21000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM160200 02:00Z - 08:00Z
MVFR
Wind
160° at 8 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN090CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southeast (160°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 9000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM160600 06:00Z - 12:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN190
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 19000 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.