Fort Dodge Regional Airport

KFOD / FOD

Fort Dodge, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KFOD 101729Z 1018/1118 21018G27KT P6SM SCT022 BKN100 TEMPO 1018/1020 4SM TSRA BKN022CB FM102200 25014G22KT P6SM FEW040 FEW220 PROB30 1023/1102 P6SM -TSRA BKN035CB FM110200 30007KT P6SM SKC FM111100 01007KT 6SM -SHRA BKN050 BKN070 PROB30 1112/1116 P6SM -TSRA OVC025CB

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
18:00Z
+-1h
Wed
19:00Z
+0h
Wed
20:00Z
+1h
Wed
21:00Z
+2h
Wed
22:00Z
+3h
Wed
23:00Z
+4h
Thu
00:00Z
+5h
Thu
01:00Z
+6h
Thu
02:00Z
+7h
Thu
03:00Z
+8h
Thu
04:00Z
+9h
Thu
05:00Z
+10h
Thu
06:00Z
+11h
Thu
07:00Z
+12h
Thu
08:00Z
+13h
Thu
09:00Z
+14h
Thu
10:00Z
+15h
Thu
11:00Z
+16h
Thu
12:00Z
+17h
Thu
13:00Z
+18h
Thu
14:00Z
+19h
Thu
15:00Z
+20h
Thu
16:00Z
+21h
Wind Dir
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
250°
W
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
10°
N
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
10°
N
Wind Speed
18 kt
G27 kt
18 kt
G27 kt
18 kt
G27 kt
18 kt
G27 kt
14 kt
G22 kt
18 kt
G27 kt
18 kt
G27 kt
18 kt
G27 kt
7 kt
G27 kt
7 kt
G27 kt
7 kt
G27 kt
7 kt
G27 kt
7 kt
G27 kt
7 kt
G27 kt
18 kt
G27 kt
18 kt
G27 kt
18 kt
G27 kt
7 kt
G27 kt
18 kt
G27 kt
18 kt
G27 kt
18 kt
G27 kt
18 kt
G27 kt
7 kt
G27 kt
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
☀️ Clear
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Clouds
SCT022
BKN100
SCT022
BKN100
SCT022
BKN100
SCT022
BKN100
FEW040
FEW220
BKN035CB
BKN035CB
BKN035CB
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
SCT022
BKN100
SCT022
BKN100
SCT022
BKN100
BKN050
BKN070
OVC025CB
OVC025CB
OVC025CB
OVC025CB
BKN050
BKN070
Ceiling
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌇 19:19Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:19Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:19Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:19Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:40Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:40Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:40Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:40Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:40Z
☀️
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
210° at 18 kt
Gusts: 27 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT022 BKN100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southwest (210°) at 18 kt. Gusts up to 27 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 2200 feet, Broken clouds at 10000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 18:00Z - 20:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN022CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 2200 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM102200 22:00Z - 04:00Z
VFR
Wind
250° at 14 kt
Gusts: 22 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW040 FEW220
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 14 kt. Gusts up to 22 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 4000 feet, Few clouds at 22000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 23:00Z - 02:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
>6SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN035CB
📖 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 3500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM110200 02:00Z - 08:00Z
VFR
Wind
300° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Skies will be clear. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM111100 11:00Z - 17:00Z
VFR
Wind
10° at 7 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN050 BKN070
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (10°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 5000 feet, Broken clouds at 7000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 12:00Z - 16:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
>6SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
OVC025CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Overcast skies at 2500 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.