Washington Dulles International Airport

KIAD / IAD

Dulles, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KIAD 100520Z 1006/1112 18007KT P6SM OVC100 FM101000 19007KT P6SM SCT025 OVC050 TEMPO 1011/1013 3SM SHRA BR OVC010 FM101400 21008KT P6SM OVC020 FM101800 21008KT P6SM SCT020 BKN040 PROB30 1018/1020 4SM -TSRA OVC040CB FM110200 24003KT P6SM FEW040 SCT250

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
08:00Z
+-1h
Wed
09:00Z
+0h
Wed
10:00Z
+1h
Wed
11:00Z
+2h
Wed
12:00Z
+3h
Wed
13:00Z
+4h
Wed
14:00Z
+5h
Wed
15:00Z
+6h
Wed
16:00Z
+7h
Wed
17:00Z
+8h
Wed
18:00Z
+9h
Wed
19:00Z
+10h
Wed
20:00Z
+11h
Wed
21:00Z
+12h
Wed
22:00Z
+13h
Wed
23:00Z
+14h
Thu
00:00Z
+15h
Thu
01:00Z
+16h
Thu
02:00Z
+17h
Thu
03:00Z
+18h
Thu
04:00Z
+19h
Thu
05:00Z
+20h
Thu
06:00Z
+21h
Thu
07:00Z
+22h
Thu
08:00Z
+23h
Thu
09:00Z
+24h
Thu
10:00Z
+25h
Wind Dir
180°
S
180°
S
190°
S
180°
S
180°
S
190°
S
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
180°
S
180°
S
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
180°
S
180°
S
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
Wind Speed
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
7 kt
7 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
7 kt
7 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
3SM
3SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
4SM
4SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Showers Rain, Mist
SHRA BR
Showers Rain, Mist
SHRA BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
OVC100
OVC100
SCT025
OVC050
OVC010
OVC010
SCT025
OVC050
OVC020
OVC020
OVC020
OVC020
OVC040CB
OVC040CB
SCT020
BKN040
SCT020
BKN040
SCT020
BKN040
SCT020
BKN040
OVC100
OVC100
FEW040
SCT250
FEW040
SCT250
FEW040
SCT250
FEW040
SCT250
FEW040
SCT250
FEW040
SCT250
OVC100
OVC100
OVC100
Ceiling
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 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
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:13Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:13Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:13Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:13Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:13Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:46Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:46Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:46Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:46Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:46Z
☀️
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
180° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
OVC100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South (180°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Overcast skies at 10000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM101000 10:00Z - 16:00Z
VFR
Wind
190° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT025 OVC050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (190°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 2500 feet, Overcast skies at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 11:00Z - 13:00Z
IFR
Visibility
3SM
Weather
Showers Rain, Mist
Clouds
OVC010
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be good at 3SM. Weather conditions: Showers Rain, Mist. Overcast skies at 1000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM101400 14:00Z - 20:00Z
MVFR
Wind
210° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
OVC020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southwest (210°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Overcast skies at 2000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM101800 18:00Z - 00:00Z
VFR
Wind
210° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT020 BKN040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southwest (210°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet, Broken clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 18:00Z - 20:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
OVC040CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Overcast skies at 4000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM110200 02:00Z - 08:00Z
VFR
Wind
240° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW040 SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Southwest (240°) at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 4000 feet, Scattered clouds at 25000 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.