Ottumwa Regional Airport

KOTM / OTM

Ottumwa, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KOTM 041127Z 0412/0512 09005KT P6SM BKN180 TEMPO 0412/0416 4SM TSRA OVC050CB FM041600 22005KT P6SM BKN120 PROB30 0416/0417 4SM -TSRA OVC045CB

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
17:00Z
+-1h
Sat
18:00Z
+0h
Sat
19:00Z
+1h
Sat
20:00Z
+2h
Sat
21:00Z
+3h
Sat
22:00Z
+4h
Sat
23:00Z
+5h
Sun
00:00Z
+6h
Sun
01:00Z
+7h
Sun
02:00Z
+8h
Sun
03:00Z
+9h
Sun
04:00Z
+10h
Sun
05:00Z
+11h
Sun
06:00Z
+12h
Sun
07:00Z
+13h
Sun
08:00Z
+14h
Sun
09:00Z
+15h
Sun
10:00Z
+16h
Wind Dir
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
Wind Speed
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
Visibility
>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
Clouds
BKN180
BKN180
BKN180
BKN180
BKN180
BKN180
BKN180
BKN180
BKN180
BKN180
BKN180
BKN180
BKN180
BKN180
BKN180
BKN180
BKN180
BKN180
Ceiling
18,000 ft
AGL
18,000 ft
AGL
18,000 ft
AGL
18,000 ft
AGL
18,000 ft
AGL
18,000 ft
AGL
18,000 ft
AGL
18,000 ft
AGL
18,000 ft
AGL
18,000 ft
AGL
18,000 ft
AGL
18,000 ft
AGL
18,000 ft
AGL
18,000 ft
AGL
18,000 ft
AGL
18,000 ft
AGL
18,000 ft
AGL
18,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌇 19:17Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:17Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:17Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:17Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:17Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:42Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:42Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:42Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:42Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:42Z
☀️
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
90° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN180
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East (90°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 18000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 12:00Z - 16:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
OVC050CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Overcast skies at 5000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM041600 16:00Z - 22:00Z
VFR
Wind
220° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN120
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 12000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 16:00Z - 17:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
OVC045CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Overcast skies at 4500 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.