Missoula International Airport

KMSO / MSO

Missoula, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KMSO 251125Z 2512/2612 12008KT P6SM SCT100 FM251700 31005KT P6SM BKN150 FM252000 32010KT P6SM BKN100 PROB30 2520/2524 P6SM -TSRA SCT040CB OVC050

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
12:00Z
+-1h
Thu
13:00Z
+0h
Thu
14:00Z
+1h
Thu
15:00Z
+2h
Thu
16:00Z
+3h
Thu
17:00Z
+4h
Thu
18:00Z
+5h
Thu
19:00Z
+6h
Thu
20:00Z
+7h
Thu
21:00Z
+8h
Thu
22:00Z
+9h
Thu
23:00Z
+10h
Fri
00:00Z
+11h
Fri
01:00Z
+12h
Fri
02:00Z
+13h
Fri
03:00Z
+14h
Fri
04:00Z
+15h
Fri
05:00Z
+16h
Fri
06:00Z
+17h
Fri
07:00Z
+18h
Fri
08:00Z
+19h
Fri
09:00Z
+20h
Fri
10:00Z
+21h
Wind Dir
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
320°
NW
320°
NW
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
Wind Speed
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
10 kt
10 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>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
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT100
SCT100
SCT100
SCT100
SCT100
BKN150
BKN150
BKN150
SCT040CB
OVC050
SCT040CB
OVC050
SCT040CB
OVC050
SCT040CB
OVC050
BKN100
BKN100
SCT100
SCT100
SCT100
SCT100
SCT100
SCT100
SCT100
SCT100
SCT100
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:27Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:27Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:27Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:27Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:27Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:32Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:32Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:32Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:32Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:32Z
☀️
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
120° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East-Southeast (120°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 10000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM251700 17:00Z - 23:00Z
VFR
Wind
310° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northwest (310°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 15000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM252000 20:00Z - 02:00Z
VFR
Wind
320° at 10 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northwest (320°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 10000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 20:00Z - 00:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
>6SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
SCT040CB OVC050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet, Overcast skies at 5000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

📚 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.