Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport

KDTW / DTW

Detroit, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KDTW 040259Z 0403/0506 22005KT P6SM SCT120 BKN250 PROB30 0407/0411 6SM -TSRA BKN060CB FM041600 27007KT P6SM BKN060 TEMPO 0419/0423 3SM -TSRA BKN050CB FM050000 06006KT 6SM -SHRA OVC080

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
03:00Z
+-1h
Sat
04:00Z
+0h
Sat
05:00Z
+1h
Sat
06:00Z
+2h
Sat
07:00Z
+3h
Sat
08:00Z
+4h
Sat
09:00Z
+5h
Sat
10:00Z
+6h
Sat
11:00Z
+7h
Sat
12:00Z
+8h
Sat
13:00Z
+9h
Sat
14:00Z
+10h
Sat
15:00Z
+11h
Sat
16:00Z
+12h
Sat
17:00Z
+13h
Sat
18:00Z
+14h
Sat
19:00Z
+15h
Sat
20:00Z
+16h
Sat
21:00Z
+17h
Sat
22:00Z
+18h
Sat
23:00Z
+19h
Sun
00:00Z
+20h
Sun
01:00Z
+21h
Sun
02:00Z
+22h
Sun
03:00Z
+23h
Sun
04:00Z
+24h
Wind Dir
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
Wind Speed
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
>6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
☀️ 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
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Clouds
SCT120
BKN250
SCT120
BKN250
SCT120
BKN250
SCT120
BKN250
BKN060CB
BKN060CB
BKN060CB
BKN060CB
SCT120
BKN250
SCT120
BKN250
SCT120
BKN250
SCT120
BKN250
SCT120
BKN250
BKN060
BKN060
BKN060
BKN050CB
BKN050CB
BKN050CB
BKN050CB
SCT120
BKN250
OVC080
OVC080
OVC080
OVC080
OVC080
Ceiling
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:41Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:41Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:41Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:41Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:19Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:19Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:19Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:19Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:19Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:41Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:41Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:41Z
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
VFR
Wind
220° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT120 BKN250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 12000 feet, Broken clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 07:00Z - 11:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN060CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 6000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM041600 16:00Z - 22:00Z
VFR
Wind
270° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN060
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (270°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 6000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 19:00Z - 23:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
3SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN050CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be good at 3SM. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 5000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM050000 00:00Z - 06:00Z
VFR
Wind
60° at 6 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
OVC080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East-Northeast (60°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Overcast skies at 8000 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.