Fort Dodge Regional Airport

KFOD / FOD

Fort Dodge, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KFOD 150520Z 1506/1606 17012KT P6SM SCT250 FM151000 17006KT P6SM SCT250 FM152200 18010KT P6SM FEW250 PROB30 1600/1602 6SM -TSRA BKN150CB FM160200 16006KT 6SM -SHRA BKN100 PROB30 1602/1605 6SM -TSRA BKN050CB

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Fri
07:00Z
+-1h
Fri
08:00Z
+0h
Fri
09:00Z
+1h
Fri
10:00Z
+2h
Fri
11:00Z
+3h
Fri
12:00Z
+4h
Fri
13:00Z
+5h
Fri
14:00Z
+6h
Fri
15:00Z
+7h
Fri
16:00Z
+8h
Fri
17:00Z
+9h
Fri
18:00Z
+10h
Fri
19:00Z
+11h
Fri
20:00Z
+12h
Fri
21:00Z
+13h
Fri
22:00Z
+14h
Fri
23:00Z
+15h
Sat
00:00Z
+16h
Sat
01:00Z
+17h
Sat
02:00Z
+18h
Sat
03:00Z
+19h
Sat
04:00Z
+20h
Wind Dir
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
180°
S
180°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
Wind Speed
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
10 kt
10 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 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
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Clouds
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
FEW250
FEW250
BKN150CB
BKN150CB
BKN050CB
BKN050CB
BKN050CB
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:04Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:04Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:04Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:04Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:04Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:55Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:55Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:55Z
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
170° at 12 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South (170°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM151000 10:00Z - 16:00Z
VFR
Wind
170° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (170°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM152200 22:00Z - 04:00Z
VFR
Wind
180° at 10 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (180°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 00:00Z - 02:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN150CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 15000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM160200 02:00Z - 08:00Z
VFR
Wind
160° at 6 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southeast (160°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 10000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 02:00Z - 05:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN050CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 5000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

📚 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.