Washington Dulles International Airport

KIAD / IAD

Dulles, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KIAD 150858Z 1509/1612 32005KT P6SM OVC040 FM151400 32012G21KT P6SM SCT050 BKN120 FM152000 32008G16KT P6SM SCT060 BKN200 FM160300 26003KT P6SM SCT200 FM160900 00000KT P6SM FEW250

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Fri
10:00Z
+-1h
Fri
11:00Z
+0h
Fri
12:00Z
+1h
Fri
13:00Z
+2h
Fri
14:00Z
+3h
Fri
15:00Z
+4h
Fri
16:00Z
+5h
Fri
17:00Z
+6h
Fri
18:00Z
+7h
Fri
19:00Z
+8h
Fri
20:00Z
+9h
Fri
21:00Z
+10h
Fri
22:00Z
+11h
Fri
23:00Z
+12h
Sat
00:00Z
+13h
Sat
01:00Z
+14h
Sat
02:00Z
+15h
Sat
03:00Z
+16h
Sat
04:00Z
+17h
Sat
05:00Z
+18h
Sat
06:00Z
+19h
Sat
07:00Z
+20h
Sat
08:00Z
+21h
Sat
09:00Z
+22h
Sat
10:00Z
+23h
Wind Dir
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
-- --
Wind Speed
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
12 kt
G21 kt
12 kt
G21 kt
12 kt
G21 kt
12 kt
G21 kt
12 kt
G21 kt
12 kt
G21 kt
8 kt
G16 kt
8 kt
G16 kt
8 kt
G16 kt
8 kt
G16 kt
8 kt
G16 kt
8 kt
G16 kt
5 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
-- --
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>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
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
OVC040
OVC040
OVC040
OVC040
SCT050
BKN120
SCT050
BKN120
SCT050
BKN120
SCT050
BKN120
SCT050
BKN120
SCT050
BKN120
SCT060
BKN200
SCT060
BKN200
SCT060
BKN200
SCT060
BKN200
SCT060
BKN200
SCT060
BKN200
OVC040
SCT200
SCT200
SCT200
SCT200
SCT200
SCT200
FEW250
FEW250
Ceiling
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
12,000 ft
AGL
12,000 ft
AGL
12,000 ft
AGL
12,000 ft
AGL
12,000 ft
AGL
12,000 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
4,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR 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
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:59Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:59Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:59Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:59Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:59Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:59Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:59Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:59Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:59Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:59Z
☀️
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
320° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
OVC040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Northwest (320°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Overcast skies at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM151400 14:00Z - 20:00Z
VFR
Wind
320° at 12 kt
Gusts: 21 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT050 BKN120
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northwest (320°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 21 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 5000 feet, Broken clouds at 12000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM152000 20:00Z - 02:00Z
VFR
Wind
320° at 8 kt
Gusts: 16 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT060 BKN200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northwest (320°) at 8 kt. Gusts up to 16 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 6000 feet, Broken clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM160300 03:00Z - 09:00Z
VFR
Wind
260° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (260°) at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM160900 09:00Z - 15:00Z
VFR
Wind
0° at 0 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (0°) at 0 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 25000 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.