Fort Smith Regional Airport

KFSM / FSM

Fort Smith, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KFSM 220523Z 2206/2306 22004KT P6SM OVC025 PROB30 2211/2217 4SM -SHRA BR OVC015 FM221800 17007KT P6SM SCT025 BKN040 FM230000 12005KT P6SM BKN050

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
10:00Z
+-1h
Wed
11:00Z
+0h
Wed
12:00Z
+1h
Wed
13:00Z
+2h
Wed
14:00Z
+3h
Wed
15:00Z
+4h
Wed
16:00Z
+5h
Wed
17:00Z
+6h
Wed
18:00Z
+7h
Wed
19:00Z
+8h
Wed
20:00Z
+9h
Wed
21:00Z
+10h
Wed
22:00Z
+11h
Wed
23:00Z
+12h
Thu
00:00Z
+13h
Thu
01:00Z
+14h
Thu
02:00Z
+15h
Thu
03:00Z
+16h
Thu
04:00Z
+17h
Wind Dir
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
Wind Speed
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
Light Showers Rain, Mist
-SHRA BR
30%
Light Showers Rain, Mist
-SHRA BR
30%
Light Showers Rain, Mist
-SHRA BR
30%
Light Showers Rain, Mist
-SHRA BR
30%
Light Showers Rain, Mist
-SHRA BR
30%
Light Showers Rain, Mist
-SHRA BR
30%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
OVC025
OVC015
OVC015
OVC015
OVC015
OVC015
OVC015
OVC025
SCT025
BKN040
SCT025
BKN040
SCT025
BKN040
SCT025
BKN040
SCT025
BKN040
SCT025
BKN040
BKN050
BKN050
BKN050
BKN050
BKN050
Ceiling
2,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:34Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:34Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:34Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:34Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:34Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:24Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:24Z
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
MVFR
Wind
220° at 4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
OVC025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 4 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Overcast skies at 2500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

PROB30 11:00Z - 17:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain, Mist
Clouds
OVC015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain, Mist. Overcast skies at 1500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM221800 18:00Z - 00:00Z
VFR
Wind
170° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT025 BKN040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (170°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 2500 feet, Broken clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM230000 00:00Z - 06:00Z
VFR
Wind
120° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East-Southeast (120°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 5000 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.