Fort Smith Regional Airport

KFSM / FSM

Fort Smith, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KFSM 101720Z 1018/1118 20013G20KT P6SM SCT040 SCT150 FM110100 18006KT P6SM FEW050 FEW150 FM110800 17005KT P6SM BKN030 FM111500 19013G20KT P6SM SCT045

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
23:00Z
+-1h
Thu
00:00Z
+0h
Thu
01:00Z
+1h
Thu
02:00Z
+2h
Thu
03:00Z
+3h
Thu
04:00Z
+4h
Thu
05:00Z
+5h
Thu
06:00Z
+6h
Thu
07:00Z
+7h
Thu
08:00Z
+8h
Thu
09:00Z
+9h
Thu
10:00Z
+10h
Thu
11:00Z
+11h
Thu
12:00Z
+12h
Thu
13:00Z
+13h
Thu
14:00Z
+14h
Thu
15:00Z
+15h
Thu
16:00Z
+16h
Wind Dir
200°
S
200°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
200°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
200°
S
190°
S
190°
S
Wind Speed
13 kt
G20 kt
13 kt
G20 kt
6 kt
G20 kt
6 kt
G20 kt
6 kt
G20 kt
6 kt
G20 kt
6 kt
G20 kt
6 kt
G20 kt
13 kt
G20 kt
5 kt
G20 kt
5 kt
G20 kt
5 kt
G20 kt
5 kt
G20 kt
5 kt
G20 kt
5 kt
G20 kt
13 kt
G20 kt
13 kt
G20 kt
13 kt
G20 kt
Visibility
>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
Clouds
SCT040
SCT150
SCT040
SCT150
FEW050
FEW150
FEW050
FEW150
FEW050
FEW150
FEW050
FEW150
FEW050
FEW150
FEW050
FEW150
SCT040
SCT150
BKN030
BKN030
BKN030
BKN030
BKN030
BKN030
SCT040
SCT150
SCT045
SCT045
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:51Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:51Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:51Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:51Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:51Z
☀️
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
200° at 13 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT040 SCT150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 13 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet, Scattered clouds at 15000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM110100 01:00Z - 07:00Z
VFR
Wind
180° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW050 FEW150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (180°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 5000 feet, Few clouds at 15000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM110800 08:00Z - 14:00Z
VFR
Wind
170° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (170°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 3000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM111500 15:00Z - 21:00Z
VFR
Wind
190° at 13 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT045
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (190°) at 13 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 4500 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.