Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport

KDTW / DTW

Detroit, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KDTW 171720Z 1718/1824 24015G25KT P6SM SCT035 BKN050 FM180200 23012KT P6SM SCT045 FM181100 22010KT P6SM SCT045 BKN060 FM182000 22013G22KT P6SM BKN050 OVC200

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
20:00Z
+-1h
Sat
21:00Z
+0h
Sat
22:00Z
+1h
Sat
23:00Z
+2h
Sun
00:00Z
+3h
Sun
01:00Z
+4h
Sun
02:00Z
+5h
Sun
03:00Z
+6h
Sun
04:00Z
+7h
Sun
05:00Z
+8h
Sun
06:00Z
+9h
Sun
07:00Z
+10h
Sun
08:00Z
+11h
Sun
09:00Z
+12h
Sun
10:00Z
+13h
Sun
11:00Z
+14h
Sun
12:00Z
+15h
Sun
13:00Z
+16h
Sun
14:00Z
+17h
Sun
15:00Z
+18h
Sun
16:00Z
+19h
Sun
17:00Z
+20h
Sun
18:00Z
+21h
Sun
19:00Z
+22h
Sun
20:00Z
+23h
Sun
21:00Z
+24h
Sun
22:00Z
+25h
Wind Dir
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
Wind Speed
15kt
G25kt
15kt
G25kt
15kt
G25kt
15kt
G25kt
15kt
G25kt
15kt
G25kt
12kt
G25kt
12kt
G25kt
12kt
G25kt
12kt
G25kt
12kt
G25kt
12kt
G25kt
15kt
G25kt
15kt
G25kt
15kt
G25kt
10kt
G25kt
10kt
G25kt
10kt
G25kt
10kt
G25kt
10kt
G25kt
10kt
G25kt
15kt
G25kt
15kt
G25kt
15kt
G25kt
13kt
G22kt
13kt
G22kt
13kt
G22kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>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
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT035
BKN050
SCT035
BKN050
SCT035
BKN050
SCT035
BKN050
SCT035
BKN050
SCT035
BKN050
SCT045
SCT045
SCT045
SCT045
SCT045
SCT045
SCT035
BKN050
SCT035
BKN050
SCT035
BKN050
SCT045
BKN060
SCT045
BKN060
SCT045
BKN060
SCT045
BKN060
SCT045
BKN060
SCT045
BKN060
SCT035
BKN050
SCT035
BKN050
SCT035
BKN050
BKN050
OVC200
BKN050
OVC200
BKN050
OVC200
Ceiling
5000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
5000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
6000ft
AGL
6000ft
AGL
6000ft
AGL
6000ft
AGL
6000ft
AGL
6000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 07:11
🌙
Night
🌅 07:11
🌅
Dawn
🌅 07:11
☀️
Day
🌅 07:11
☀️
Day
🌅 07:11
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 16:48
☀️
Day
🌇 16:48
☀️
Day
🌇 16:48
🌇
Dusk
🌇 16:48
🌙
Night
🌇 16:48
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
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 occurrenceAGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
240° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT035 BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West-Southwest (240°) at 15kt. Gusts up to 25kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 3500 feet, Broken clouds at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM180200 2026-01-18 02:00:00 - 2026-01-18 08:00:00
VFR
Wind
230° at 12 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT045
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (230°) at 12kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 4500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM181100 2026-01-18 11:00:00 - 2026-01-18 17:00:00
VFR
Wind
220° at 10 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT045 BKN060
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 10kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 4500 feet, Broken clouds at 6000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM182000 2026-01-18 20:00:00 - 2026-01-19 02:00:00
VFR
Wind
220° at 13 kt
Gusts: 22 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN050 OVC200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 13kt. Gusts up to 22kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 5000 feet, Overcast skies at 20000 feet. 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.