Des Moines International Airport

KDSM / DSM

Des Moines, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KDSM 101729Z 1018/1118 19008G20KT P6SM SCT035 BKN070 PROB30 1019/1023 P6SM -TSRA BKN027CB FM102300 23017G28KT P6SM FEW026 SCT060 FM110100 25008KT P6SM FEW045 FEW200 PROB30 1101/1104 P6SM -TSRA BKN050CB FM111200 15007KT P6SM -SHRA SCT030 PROB30 1112/1116 4SM TSRA BKN030CB

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
19:00Z
+-1h
Wed
20:00Z
+0h
Wed
21:00Z
+1h
Wed
22:00Z
+2h
Wed
23:00Z
+3h
Thu
00:00Z
+4h
Thu
01:00Z
+5h
Thu
02:00Z
+6h
Thu
03:00Z
+7h
Thu
04:00Z
+8h
Thu
05:00Z
+9h
Thu
06:00Z
+10h
Thu
07:00Z
+11h
Thu
08:00Z
+12h
Thu
09:00Z
+13h
Thu
10:00Z
+14h
Thu
11:00Z
+15h
Thu
12:00Z
+16h
Thu
13:00Z
+17h
Thu
14:00Z
+18h
Thu
15:00Z
+19h
Thu
16:00Z
+20h
Wind Dir
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
230°
SW
230°
SW
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
150°
SE
Wind Speed
8 kt
G20 kt
8 kt
G20 kt
8 kt
G20 kt
8 kt
G20 kt
17 kt
G28 kt
17 kt
G28 kt
8 kt
G20 kt
8 kt
G20 kt
8 kt
G20 kt
8 kt
G20 kt
8 kt
G20 kt
8 kt
G20 kt
8 kt
G20 kt
8 kt
G20 kt
8 kt
G20 kt
8 kt
G20 kt
8 kt
G20 kt
8 kt
G20 kt
8 kt
G20 kt
8 kt
G20 kt
8 kt
G20 kt
7 kt
G20 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
30%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
30%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
30%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
30%
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Clouds
SCT035
BKN070
SCT035
BKN070
SCT035
BKN070
SCT035
BKN070
FEW026
SCT060
FEW026
SCT060
BKN050CB
BKN050CB
BKN050CB
FEW045
FEW200
FEW045
FEW200
FEW045
FEW200
SCT035
BKN070
SCT035
BKN070
SCT035
BKN070
SCT035
BKN070
SCT035
BKN070
BKN030CB
BKN030CB
BKN030CB
BKN030CB
SCT030
Ceiling
7,000 ft
AGL
7,000 ft
AGL
7,000 ft
AGL
7,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
7,000 ft
AGL
7,000 ft
AGL
7,000 ft
AGL
7,000 ft
AGL
7,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌇 19:17Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:17Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:17Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:41Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:41Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:41Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:41Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:41Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
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 occurrence • AGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
190° at 8 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT035 BKN070
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South (190°) at 8 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 3500 feet, Broken clouds at 7000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 19:00Z - 23:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
>6SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN027CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 2700 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM102300 23:00Z - 05:00Z
VFR
Wind
230° at 17 kt
Gusts: 28 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW026 SCT060
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (230°) at 17 kt. Gusts up to 28 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 2600 feet, Scattered clouds at 6000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM110100 01:00Z - 07:00Z
VFR
Wind
250° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW045 FEW200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 4500 feet, Few clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 01:00Z - 04:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
>6SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN050CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

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

FM111200 12:00Z - 18:00Z
VFR
Wind
150° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southeast (150°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 3000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 12:00Z - 16:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN030CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 3000 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.