Washington Dulles International Airport

KIAD / IAD

Dulles, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KIAD 042320Z 0500/0606 05004KT 2SM -DZ BR OVC003 TEMPO 0500/0502 5SM -RA BR OVC010 FM050500 10002KT 1SM -DZ BR SCT002 OVC003 FM050800 12002KT 1/2SM FG SCT002 OVC003 FM051400 16003KT 5SM BR BKN007 OVC015 FM051900 16003KT P6SM BKN050 BKN110 PROB30 0521/0524 6SM -SHRA FM060000 12004KT 5SM -SHRA BR SCT005 BKN010

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
01:00Z
+-1h
Thu
02:00Z
+0h
Thu
03:00Z
+1h
Thu
04:00Z
+2h
Thu
05:00Z
+3h
Thu
06:00Z
+4h
Thu
07:00Z
+5h
Thu
08:00Z
+6h
Thu
09:00Z
+7h
Thu
10:00Z
+8h
Thu
11:00Z
+9h
Thu
12:00Z
+10h
Thu
13:00Z
+11h
Thu
14:00Z
+12h
Thu
15:00Z
+13h
Thu
16:00Z
+14h
Thu
17:00Z
+15h
Thu
18:00Z
+16h
Thu
19:00Z
+17h
Thu
20:00Z
+18h
Thu
21:00Z
+19h
Thu
22:00Z
+20h
Thu
23:00Z
+21h
Fri
00:00Z
+22h
Fri
01:00Z
+23h
Fri
02:00Z
+24h
Fri
03:00Z
+25h
Fri
04:00Z
+26h
Wind Dir
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
Wind Speed
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
Visibility
2SM
2SM
2SM
2SM
1SM
1SM
1SM
1/2SM
1/2SM
1/2SM
1/2SM
1/2SM
1/2SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
>6SM
>6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
Weather
Light Drizzle, Mist
-DZ BR
Light Drizzle, Mist
-DZ BR
Light Drizzle, Mist
-DZ BR
Light Drizzle, Mist
-DZ BR
Light Drizzle, Mist
-DZ BR
Light Drizzle, Mist
-DZ BR
Light Drizzle, Mist
-DZ BR
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
30%
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
30%
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
30%
Light Showers Rain, Mist
-SHRA BR
Light Showers Rain, Mist
-SHRA BR
Light Showers Rain, Mist
-SHRA BR
Light Showers Rain, Mist
-SHRA BR
Light Showers Rain, Mist
-SHRA BR
Clouds
OVC003
OVC003
OVC003
OVC003
SCT002
OVC003
SCT002
OVC003
SCT002
OVC003
SCT002
OVC003
SCT002
OVC003
SCT002
OVC003
SCT002
OVC003
SCT002
OVC003
SCT002
OVC003
BKN007
OVC015
BKN007
OVC015
BKN007
OVC015
BKN007
OVC015
BKN007
OVC015
BKN050
BKN110
BKN050
BKN110
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
SCT005
BKN010
SCT005
BKN010
SCT005
BKN010
SCT005
BKN010
SCT005
BKN010
Ceiling
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:22Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:22Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:22Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:22Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:22Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:37Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:37Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:37Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:37Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:37Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:21Z
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
LIFR
Wind
50° at 4 kt
Visibility
2SM
Weather
Light Drizzle, Mist
Clouds
OVC003
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Northeast (50°) at 4 kt. Visibility will be moderate at 2SM. Weather conditions: Light Drizzle, Mist. Overcast skies at 300 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

TEMPO 00:00Z - 02:00Z
IFR
Visibility
5SM
Weather
Light Rain, Mist
Clouds
OVC010
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be good at 5SM. Weather conditions: Light Rain, Mist. Overcast skies at 1000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM050500 05:00Z - 11:00Z
LIFR
Wind
100° at 2 kt
Visibility
1SM
Weather
Light Drizzle, Mist
Clouds
SCT002 OVC003
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East (100°) at 2 kt. Visibility will be moderate at 1SM. Weather conditions: Light Drizzle, Mist. Scattered clouds at 200 feet, Overcast skies at 300 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

FM050800 08:00Z - 14:00Z
LIFR
Wind
120° at 2 kt
Visibility
1/2SM
Weather
Fog
Clouds
SCT002 OVC003
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East-Southeast (120°) at 2 kt. Visibility will be moderate at 1/2SM. Weather conditions: Fog. Scattered clouds at 200 feet, Overcast skies at 300 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

FM051400 14:00Z - 20:00Z
IFR
Wind
160° at 3 kt
Visibility
5SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN007 OVC015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southeast (160°) at 3 kt. Visibility will be good at 5SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 700 feet, Overcast skies at 1500 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM051900 19:00Z - 01:00Z
VFR
Wind
160° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN050 BKN110
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southeast (160°) at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 5000 feet, Broken clouds at 11000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 21:00Z - 00:00Z
VFR
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
📖 Plain English Explanation:

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

FM060000 00:00Z - 06:00Z
IFR
Wind
120° at 4 kt
Visibility
5SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain, Mist
Clouds
SCT005 BKN010
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East-Southeast (120°) at 4 kt. Visibility will be good at 5SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain, Mist. Scattered clouds at 500 feet, Broken clouds at 1000 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.