Des Moines International Airport

KDSM / DSM

Des Moines, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KDSM 041731Z 0418/0518 08004KT 5SM BR OVC022 FM042000 15003KT P6SM OVC022 FM050600 08003KT 3SM BR OVC013 FM050900 05003KT 2SM BR OVC006 FM051600 05003KT 6SM BR BKN008

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
20:00Z
+-1h
Wed
21:00Z
+0h
Wed
22:00Z
+1h
Wed
23:00Z
+2h
Thu
00:00Z
+3h
Thu
01:00Z
+4h
Thu
02:00Z
+5h
Thu
03:00Z
+6h
Thu
04:00Z
+7h
Thu
05:00Z
+8h
Thu
06:00Z
+9h
Thu
07:00Z
+10h
Thu
08:00Z
+11h
Thu
09:00Z
+12h
Thu
10:00Z
+13h
Thu
11:00Z
+14h
Thu
12:00Z
+15h
Thu
13:00Z
+16h
Thu
14:00Z
+17h
Thu
15:00Z
+18h
Thu
16:00Z
+19h
Wind Dir
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
80°
E
50°
NE
Wind Speed
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
4 kt
3 kt
Visibility
5SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
2SM
2SM
2SM
2SM
2SM
2SM
5SM
6SM
Weather
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Clouds
OVC022
OVC022
OVC022
OVC022
OVC022
OVC022
OVC022
OVC022
OVC022
OVC022
OVC013
OVC013
OVC013
OVC006
OVC006
OVC006
OVC006
OVC006
OVC006
OVC022
BKN008
Ceiling
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
1,300 ft
AGL
1,300 ft
AGL
1,300 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
Flight Rules MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR MVFR IFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:24Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:24Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:24Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:24Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:24Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:35Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:35Z
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
MVFR
Wind
80° at 4 kt
Visibility
5SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
OVC022
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East (80°) at 4 kt. Visibility will be good at 5SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Overcast skies at 2200 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM042000 20:00Z - 02:00Z
MVFR
Wind
150° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
OVC022
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southeast (150°) at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Overcast skies at 2200 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM050600 06:00Z - 12:00Z
IFR
Wind
80° at 3 kt
Visibility
3SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
OVC013
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East (80°) at 3 kt. Visibility will be good at 3SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Overcast skies at 1300 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM050900 09:00Z - 15:00Z
IFR
Wind
50° at 3 kt
Visibility
2SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
OVC006
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northeast (50°) at 3 kt. Visibility will be moderate at 2SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Overcast skies at 600 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM051600 16:00Z - 22:00Z
IFR
Wind
50° at 3 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN008
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northeast (50°) at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 800 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

📚 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.