Fort Dodge Regional Airport

KFOD / FOD

Fort Dodge, US

Last Updated
Jul 4, 16:56Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 21 min ago
16:56Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
27°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 22°C
9 kt
240°
10 SM
Visibility
4,300 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1017 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KFOD 041656Z AUTO 24009KT 10SM FEW022 SCT026 BKN043 27/22 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP177 T02720217 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,156 ft
FEW 2,200 ft AGL
SCT 2,600 ft AGL
BKN 4,300 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
2,200 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,356 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
2,600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,756 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
4,300 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,456 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Fort Dodge Regional Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 4,300 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west-southwest (240°) at 9 knots. Runway 24 is favored with a 9-knot headwind and 0-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 4300 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 27°C (81°F) with a dewpoint of 22°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Light Thunderstorm Rain. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 02:00Z and 05:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. The forecast indicates conditions may deteriorate. Ensure you have fuel reserves and a viable alternate airport.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

QNH
1017 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
978 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,156 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,044 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 2,761 ft
ISA Deviation: +14.3°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KFOD 041127Z 0412/0512 VRB04KT P6SM OVC080 FM041900 26005KT P6SM BKN100 FM042300 35004KT P6SM OVC050 PROB30 0502/0505 6SM -TSRA BKN050CB
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
17:16Z BASE
+0h
VFR VRB 4 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 8,000 ft
19:00Z FM041900
+2h
VFR 260° 5 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 10,000 ft
23:00Z FM042300
+6h
VFR 350° 4 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 5,000 ft
02:00Z PROB30
+9h
MVFR
Visibility: 6SM
Ceiling: 5,000 ft
Light Thunderstorm Rain

24-Hour Weather Evolution

Loading weather data...
Data Sources
  • • Current conditions from METAR observations
  • • Historical data from past 24 hours
  • • No forecast or predicted data included
  • • Data updated with each new METAR report
Chart Features
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Note: Future values beyond current TAF validity are estimates based on climatological data and trends. Always verify with current forecasts before flight operations.

Airport Runway Layout

N
FOD
06
24 ✈️
12
30

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 06/24
Active: 24
6,548 ft 150 ft ASP 65°
9.0 kt 0.0 kt
0° angle
12/30 5,300 ft 100 ft ASP 127°
3.5 kt 8.3 kt
113° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KFOD

8,421 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
69.4%
MVFR
18%
IFR
7.3%
LIFR
5.3%

Fort Dodge Regional Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 69.4% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 12.6% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 8.6 knots. Calm conditions occur 12.2% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -27°C to 36°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are July, October, May.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 8.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 30 kt
Calm Winds: 12.2%
Direction Distribution:
E
10.2%
N
13.4%
S
17.6%
W
8.6%
NE
4.7%
NW
14.6%
SE
10.4%
SW
8.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 7°C
Range: -27°C to 36°C
-27°C 36°C

Visibility

Average: 9.3 SM
Below 3 SM: 2.7%
Fog Frequency: 2.7%

Best Months for VFR

July October May

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 06/24
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.3 kt
Runway 12/30
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5 kt

Statistics computed from 8,421 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Fort Dodge Regional Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KFOD
IATA Code: FOD
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,156 ft MSL

Location

City: Fort Dodge
Country: US
Latitude: 42.552624°
Longitude: -94.191237°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 06/24
Length: 6,548 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 12/30
Length: 5,300 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Fort Dodge Regional Airport

Overview

Fort Dodge Regional Airport serves Webster County in north-central Iowa, providing aviation services to the Fort Dodge metropolitan area. Located at 42.552624, -94.191237 with an elevation of 1,156 feet MSL, this medium-sized airport offers two asphalt runways capable of handling various aircraft operations. The airport supports regional transportation and serves general aviation needs for the surrounding agricultural and urban communities.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect predominantly VFR conditions, with 61.9% of observations reporting good visibility and clear skies. Weather variations include 20.4% MVFR and 17.7% instrument conditions, highlighting the importance of pre-flight weather briefings. Winds predominantly come from the northwest at an average of 8.4 knots, with temperature ranges from -27°C to 36°C, presenting significant seasonal temperature variations that pilots must consider.

Notable Features

Both runways (06/24 at 6,548 ft and 12/30 at 5,300 ft) demonstrate excellent wind alignment, with 100% favorable wind coverage. The average crosswind is relatively modest, measuring 6.3 knots on the primary 06/24 runway and 4.6 knots on the 12/30 runway. Average visibility consistently remains high at 8.9 statute miles, with only 4.5% of observations showing restricted visibility or fog conditions.

Approach Considerations

September, October, and January represent the most favorable months for VFR flying, offering the most consistent weather conditions. Runway selection should consider the prevailing northwest winds, with both runways providing excellent wind alignment. Pilots should be prepared for occasional wind shifts and brief periods of reduced visibility, particularly during seasonal transitions and when local weather systems move through the region.

Data Sources & Accuracy: Airport information sourced from OurAirports.com, a collaborative database of worldwide airport data. Weather data from official aviation weather services including NOAA Aviation Weather Center and international METAR/TAF providers. Information is updated regularly but pilots should always verify current conditions and NOTAMs through official channels before flight operations.

Official Data Sources

Weather NOAA Aviation Weather Center • International METAR/TAF Network
Airports OurAirports.com • Public domain airport database
NOTAMs FAA NOTAM System • ICAO NOTAM Distribution
Last updated: Jan 1, 1970 12:00 AM UTC

Disclaimer: Data is provided for informational purposes only. Pilots must verify all information through official sources before flight operations. Weather conditions change rapidly; always obtain a current briefing from approved weather services.