Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport

KDTW / DTW

Detroit, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KDTW 100908Z 1009/1112 22009KT P6SM FEW015 FEW200 FM101000 26005KT 4SM BR SCT025 FM101300 26007KT 6SM BR SCT035 FM101600 24010KT P6SM SCT045 FM102000 20013KT P6SM BKN060 FM110100 18007KT P6SM SCT060 BKN120 OVC250 PROB30 1102/1106 4SM -RA BKN060

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
10:00Z
+-1h
Wed
11:00Z
+0h
Wed
12:00Z
+1h
Wed
13:00Z
+2h
Wed
14:00Z
+3h
Wed
15:00Z
+4h
Wed
16:00Z
+5h
Wed
17:00Z
+6h
Wed
18:00Z
+7h
Wed
19:00Z
+8h
Wed
20:00Z
+9h
Wed
21:00Z
+10h
Wed
22:00Z
+11h
Wed
23:00Z
+12h
Thu
00:00Z
+13h
Thu
01:00Z
+14h
Thu
02:00Z
+15h
Thu
03:00Z
+16h
Thu
04:00Z
+17h
Thu
05:00Z
+18h
Thu
06:00Z
+19h
Thu
07:00Z
+20h
Thu
08:00Z
+21h
Thu
09:00Z
+22h
Thu
10:00Z
+23h
Wind Dir
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
180°
S
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
180°
S
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
Wind Speed
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
7 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
7 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Rain
-RA
30%
Light Rain
-RA
30%
Light Rain
-RA
30%
Light Rain
-RA
30%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW015
FEW200
FEW015
FEW200
FEW015
FEW200
SCT035
SCT035
SCT035
SCT045
SCT045
SCT045
SCT045
BKN060
BKN060
BKN060
BKN060
BKN060
SCT060
BKN120
BKN060
BKN060
BKN060
BKN060
SCT060
BKN120
FEW015
FEW200
FEW015
FEW200
FEW015
FEW200
FEW015
FEW200
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
12,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
12,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:18Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:18Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:18Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:18Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:18Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:40Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:40Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:40Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:40Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:40Z
☀️
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
220° at 9 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW015 FEW200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 1500 feet, Few clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM101000 10:00Z - 16:00Z
MVFR
Wind
260° at 5 kt
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
SCT025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (260°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Scattered clouds at 2500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM101300 13:00Z - 19:00Z
VFR
Wind
260° at 7 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
SCT035
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (260°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Scattered clouds at 3500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM101600 16:00Z - 22:00Z
VFR
Wind
240° at 10 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT045
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Southwest (240°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 4500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM102000 20:00Z - 02:00Z
VFR
Wind
200° at 13 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN060
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 13 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 6000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM110100 01:00Z - 07:00Z
VFR
Wind
180° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT060 BKN120 OVC250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (180°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 6000 feet, Broken clouds at 12000 feet, Overcast skies at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 02:00Z - 06:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Light Rain
Clouds
BKN060
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Light Rain. Broken clouds at 6000 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.