Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport

KDTW / DTW

Detroit, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KDTW 030256Z 0303/0406 19006KT P6SM FEW050 SCT250 FM030800 22010KT P6SM SCT120 OVC250 WS015/24040KT PROB30 0310/0314 6SM -SHRA OVC040 FM031400 24015G25KT P6SM BKN025 OVC040 FM031700 28020G30KT P6SM SCT040 FM032200 27011G21KT P6SM SKC

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Mon
06:00Z
+-1h
Mon
07:00Z
+0h
Mon
08:00Z
+1h
Mon
09:00Z
+2h
Mon
10:00Z
+3h
Mon
11:00Z
+4h
Mon
12:00Z
+5h
Mon
13:00Z
+6h
Mon
14:00Z
+7h
Mon
15:00Z
+8h
Mon
16:00Z
+9h
Mon
17:00Z
+10h
Mon
18:00Z
+11h
Mon
19:00Z
+12h
Mon
20:00Z
+13h
Mon
21:00Z
+14h
Mon
22:00Z
+15h
Mon
23:00Z
+16h
Tue
00:00Z
+17h
Tue
01:00Z
+18h
Tue
02:00Z
+19h
Tue
03:00Z
+20h
Tue
04:00Z
+21h
Wind Dir
190°
S
190°
S
220°
SW
220°
SW
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
190°
S
Wind Speed
6kt
6kt
10kt
10kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
6kt
15kt
G25kt
15kt
G25kt
15kt
G25kt
20kt
G30kt
20kt
G30kt
20kt
G30kt
20kt
G30kt
20kt
G30kt
11kt
G21kt
11kt
G21kt
11kt
G21kt
11kt
G21kt
11kt
G21kt
11kt
G21kt
6kt
Visibility
>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
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
30%
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
30%
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
30%
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
30%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW050
SCT250
FEW050
SCT250
SCT120
OVC250
SCT120
OVC250
OVC040
OVC040
OVC040
OVC040
BKN025
OVC040
BKN025
OVC040
BKN025
OVC040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
FEW050
SCT250
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
25000ft
AGL
25000ft
AGL
4000ft
AGL
4000ft
AGL
4000ft
AGL
4000ft
AGL
2500ft
AGL
2500ft
AGL
2500ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:53
☀️
Day
🌅 06:53
☀️
Day
🌅 06:53
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:06
☀️
Day
🌇 17:06
☀️
Day
🌇 17:06
🌙
Night
🌇 17:06
🌙
Night
🌇 17:06
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:54
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
190° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW050 SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South (190°) at 6kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 5000 feet, Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM030800 2025-11-03 08:00:00 - 2025-11-03 14:00:00
VFR
Wind
220° at 10 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT120 OVC250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 10kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 12000 feet, Overcast skies at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 2025-11-03 10:00:00 - 2025-11-03 14:00:00
VFR
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
OVC040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Overcast skies at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM031400 2025-11-03 14:00:00 - 2025-11-03 20:00:00
MVFR
Wind
240° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN025 OVC040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Southwest (240°) at 15kt. Gusts up to 25kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 2500 feet, Overcast skies at 4000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM031700 2025-11-03 17:00:00 - 2025-11-03 23:00:00
VFR
Wind
280° at 20 kt
Gusts: 30 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (280°) at 20kt. Gusts up to 30kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM032200 2025-11-03 22:00:00 - 2025-11-04 04:00:00
VFR
Wind
270° at 11 kt
Gusts: 21 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (270°) at 11kt. Gusts up to 21kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Skies will be clear. 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.