Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field

KMSP / MSP

Minneapolis, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KMSP 142046Z 1421/1524 17018G30KT P6SM SCT120 TEMPO 1422/1502 5SM -TSRA BKN080CB FM150200 17015G28KT P6SM BKN080 WS020/18045KT FM150800 20010G18KT P6SM FEW200 FM151200 23012KT P6SM SKC FM151600 26012G20KT P6SM SKC

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
21:00Z
+-1h
Thu
22:00Z
+0h
Thu
23:00Z
+1h
Fri
00:00Z
+2h
Fri
01:00Z
+3h
Fri
02:00Z
+4h
Fri
03:00Z
+5h
Fri
04:00Z
+6h
Fri
05:00Z
+7h
Fri
06:00Z
+8h
Fri
07:00Z
+9h
Fri
08:00Z
+10h
Fri
09:00Z
+11h
Fri
10:00Z
+12h
Fri
11:00Z
+13h
Fri
12:00Z
+14h
Fri
13:00Z
+15h
Fri
14:00Z
+16h
Fri
15:00Z
+17h
Fri
16:00Z
+18h
Fri
17:00Z
+19h
Fri
18:00Z
+20h
Fri
19:00Z
+21h
Fri
20:00Z
+22h
Fri
21:00Z
+23h
Fri
22:00Z
+24h
Wind Dir
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
170°
S
Wind Speed
18 kt
G30 kt
18 kt
G30 kt
18 kt
G30 kt
18 kt
G30 kt
18 kt
G30 kt
15 kt
G28 kt
15 kt
G28 kt
15 kt
G28 kt
15 kt
G28 kt
15 kt
G28 kt
15 kt
G28 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G30 kt
12 kt
G30 kt
12 kt
G30 kt
12 kt
G30 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G20 kt
18 kt
G30 kt
Visibility
>6SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT120
BKN080CB
BKN080CB
BKN080CB
BKN080CB
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
FEW200
FEW200
FEW200
FEW200
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
SCT120
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌇 19:06Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:53Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:53Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:53Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:53Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:53Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:06Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:06Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:06Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:06Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:06Z
🌙
Night
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
170° at 18 kt
Gusts: 30 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT120
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South (170°) at 18 kt. Gusts up to 30 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 12000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 22:00Z - 02:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
5SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN080CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be good at 5SM. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 8000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM150200 02:00Z - 08:00Z
VFR
Wind
170° at 15 kt
Gusts: 28 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (170°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 28 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 8000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM150800 08:00Z - 14:00Z
VFR
Wind
200° at 10 kt
Gusts: 18 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 18 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM151200 12:00Z - 18:00Z
VFR
Wind
230° at 12 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (230°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Skies will be clear. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM151600 16:00Z - 22:00Z
VFR
Wind
260° at 12 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (260°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Skies will be clear. 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.