Fort Dodge Regional Airport

KFOD / FOD

Fort Dodge, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KFOD 041739Z 0418/0518 25009KT P6SM SCT027 BKN110 PROB30 0418/0422 4SM -TSRA BKN027CB FM042300 VRB05KT P6SM SCT025 BKN200

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
19:00Z
+-1h
Sat
20:00Z
+0h
Sat
21:00Z
+1h
Sat
22:00Z
+2h
Sat
23:00Z
+3h
Sun
00:00Z
+4h
Sun
01:00Z
+5h
Sun
02:00Z
+6h
Sun
03:00Z
+7h
Sun
04:00Z
+8h
Sun
05:00Z
+9h
Sun
06:00Z
+10h
Sun
07:00Z
+11h
Sun
08:00Z
+12h
Sun
09:00Z
+13h
Sun
10:00Z
+14h
Sun
11:00Z
+15h
Sun
12:00Z
+16h
Sun
13:00Z
+17h
Sun
14:00Z
+18h
Sun
15:00Z
+19h
Sun
16:00Z
+20h
Wind Dir
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
Wind Speed
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 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
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT027
BKN110
SCT027
BKN110
SCT027
BKN110
SCT027
BKN110
SCT025
BKN200
SCT025
BKN200
SCT025
BKN200
SCT025
BKN200
SCT025
BKN200
SCT025
BKN200
SCT027
BKN110
SCT027
BKN110
SCT027
BKN110
SCT027
BKN110
SCT027
BKN110
SCT027
BKN110
SCT027
BKN110
SCT027
BKN110
SCT027
BKN110
SCT027
BKN110
SCT027
BKN110
SCT027
BKN110
Ceiling
11,000 ft
AGL
11,000 ft
AGL
11,000 ft
AGL
11,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
11,000 ft
AGL
11,000 ft
AGL
11,000 ft
AGL
11,000 ft
AGL
11,000 ft
AGL
11,000 ft
AGL
11,000 ft
AGL
11,000 ft
AGL
11,000 ft
AGL
11,000 ft
AGL
11,000 ft
AGL
11,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌇 19:19Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:19Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:19Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:40Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:40Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:40Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:40Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:40Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
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 occurrence • AGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
250° at 9 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT027 BKN110
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 2700 feet, Broken clouds at 11000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 18:00Z - 22:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN027CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 2700 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM042300 23:00Z - 05:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT025 BKN200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 2500 feet, Broken clouds at 20000 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.