Fort Dodge Regional Airport

KFOD / FOD

Fort Dodge, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KFOD 041123Z 0412/0512 00000KT 1/4SM FZFG VV002 FM041400 00000KT 3SM BR BKN005 TEMPO 0414/0415 1/2SM FG OVC003 FM041600 VRB03KT 6SM BR BKN007 FM041800 VRB04KT P6SM BKN012 FM050600 00000KT 3SM BR BKN006

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
13:00Z
+-1h
Wed
14:00Z
+0h
Wed
15:00Z
+1h
Wed
16:00Z
+2h
Wed
17:00Z
+3h
Wed
18:00Z
+4h
Wed
19:00Z
+5h
Wed
20:00Z
+6h
Wed
21:00Z
+7h
Wed
22:00Z
+8h
Wed
23:00Z
+9h
Thu
00:00Z
+10h
Thu
01:00Z
+11h
Thu
02:00Z
+12h
Thu
03:00Z
+13h
Thu
04:00Z
+14h
Thu
05:00Z
+15h
Thu
06:00Z
+16h
Thu
07:00Z
+17h
Thu
08:00Z
+18h
Thu
09:00Z
+19h
Thu
10:00Z
+20h
Wind Dir -- -- --
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Wind Speed -- -- --
3 kt
3 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Visibility
1/4SM
1/2SM
3SM
6SM
6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
1/4SM
1/4SM
1/4SM
1/4SM
1/4SM
1/4SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
Weather
Freezing Fog
FZFG
Fog
FG
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Freezing Fog
FZFG
Freezing Fog
FZFG
Freezing Fog
FZFG
Freezing Fog
FZFG
Freezing Fog
FZFG
Freezing Fog
FZFG
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Clouds
VV002
OVC003
BKN005
BKN007
BKN007
BKN012
BKN012
BKN012
BKN012
BKN012
BKN012
VV002
VV002
VV002
VV002
VV002
VV002
BKN006
BKN006
BKN006
BKN006
BKN006
Ceiling
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
300 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
600 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
Flight Rules LIFR LIFR IFR IFR IFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:33Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:33Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:33Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:33Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:33Z
🌙
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
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
LIFR
Wind
0° at 0 kt
Visibility
1/4SM
Weather
Freezing Fog
Clouds
VV002
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the North (0°) at 0 kt. Visibility will be moderate at 1/4SM. Weather conditions: Freezing Fog. Vertical visibility at 200 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

FM041400 14:00Z - 20:00Z
IFR
Wind
0° at 0 kt
Visibility
3SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN005
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (0°) at 0 kt. Visibility will be good at 3SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 500 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

TEMPO 14:00Z - 15:00Z
LIFR
Visibility
1/2SM
Weather
Fog
Clouds
OVC003
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be moderate at 1/2SM. Weather conditions: Fog. Overcast skies at 300 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

FM041600 16:00Z - 22:00Z
IFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN007
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 700 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM041800 18:00Z - 00:00Z
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN012
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 4 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 1200 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM050600 06:00Z - 12:00Z
IFR
Wind
0° at 0 kt
Visibility
3SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN006
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North (0°) at 0 kt. Visibility will be good at 3SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 600 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.