Washington Dulles International Airport

KIAD / IAD

Dulles, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KIAD 050546Z 0506/0612 34006KT P6SM VCSH FEW110 SCT140 SCT210 FM050800 16003KT 6SM BR FEW100 SCT250 FM051300 15005KT P6SM FEW050 SCT250 FM052000 18005KT P6SM FEW050 BKN200 PROB30 0520/0601 4SM -TSRA BKN030CB FM060300 33004KT P6SM SCT005 BKN050 FM060600 00000KT 6SM BR SCT005 BKN050

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sun
06:00Z
+-1h
Sun
07:00Z
+0h
Sun
08:00Z
+1h
Sun
09:00Z
+2h
Sun
10:00Z
+3h
Sun
11:00Z
+4h
Sun
12:00Z
+5h
Sun
13:00Z
+6h
Sun
14:00Z
+7h
Sun
15:00Z
+8h
Sun
16:00Z
+9h
Sun
17:00Z
+10h
Sun
18:00Z
+11h
Sun
19:00Z
+12h
Sun
20:00Z
+13h
Sun
21:00Z
+14h
Sun
22:00Z
+15h
Sun
23:00Z
+16h
Mon
00:00Z
+17h
Mon
01:00Z
+18h
Mon
02:00Z
+19h
Mon
03:00Z
+20h
Mon
04:00Z
+21h
Mon
05:00Z
+22h
Mon
06:00Z
+23h
Mon
07:00Z
+24h
Mon
08:00Z
+25h
Mon
09:00Z
+26h
Mon
10:00Z
+27h
Wind Dir
340°
N
340°
N
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
180°
S
340°
N
330°
NW
330°
NW
330°
NW
-- -- -- -- --
Wind Speed
6 kt
6 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
5 kt
6 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
-- -- -- -- --
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
☀️ 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%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Clouds
FEW110
SCT140
FEW110
SCT140
FEW100
SCT250
FEW100
SCT250
FEW100
SCT250
FEW100
SCT250
FEW100
SCT250
FEW050
SCT250
FEW050
SCT250
FEW050
SCT250
FEW050
SCT250
FEW050
SCT250
FEW050
SCT250
FEW110
SCT140
BKN030CB
BKN030CB
BKN030CB
BKN030CB
BKN030CB
FEW050
BKN200
FEW110
SCT140
SCT005
BKN050
SCT005
BKN050
SCT005
BKN050
SCT005
BKN050
SCT005
BKN050
SCT005
BKN050
SCT005
BKN050
SCT005
BKN050
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
20,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 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 MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌅 04:46Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:13Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:13Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:13Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:13Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:13Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:46Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:46Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:46Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:46Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:46Z
☀️
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
340° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW110 SCT140 SCT210
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the North-Northwest (340°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 11000 feet, Scattered clouds at 14000 feet, Scattered clouds at 21000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050800 08:00Z - 14:00Z
VFR
Wind
160° at 3 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
FEW100 SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southeast (160°) at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Few clouds at 10000 feet, Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM051300 13:00Z - 19:00Z
VFR
Wind
150° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW050 SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southeast (150°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 5000 feet, Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM052000 20:00Z - 02:00Z
VFR
Wind
180° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW050 BKN200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (180°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 5000 feet, Broken clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 20:00Z - 01:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN030CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 3000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM060300 03:00Z - 09:00Z
VFR
Wind
330° at 4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT005 BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northwest (330°) at 4 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 500 feet, Broken clouds at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM060600 06:00Z - 12:00Z
VFR
Wind
0° at 0 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
SCT005 BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (0°) at 0 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Scattered clouds at 500 feet, Broken clouds at 5000 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.