Missoula International Airport

KMSO / MSO

Missoula, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KMSO 050918Z 0509/0606 VRB05KT 6SM -RA BR SCT020 OVC035 TEMPO 0511/0514 5SM -RA BR SCT010 OVC020 FM051600 VRB03KT P6SM VCSH BKN015 OVC030

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
10:00Z
+-1h
Thu
11:00Z
+0h
Thu
12:00Z
+1h
Thu
13:00Z
+2h
Thu
14:00Z
+3h
Thu
15:00Z
+4h
Thu
16:00Z
+5h
Thu
17:00Z
+6h
Thu
18:00Z
+7h
Thu
19:00Z
+8h
Thu
20:00Z
+9h
Thu
21:00Z
+10h
Thu
22:00Z
+11h
Thu
23:00Z
+12h
Fri
00:00Z
+13h
Fri
01:00Z
+14h
Fri
02:00Z
+15h
Fri
03:00Z
+16h
Fri
04:00Z
+17h
Wind Dir
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
Visibility
6SM
5SM
5SM
5SM
6SM
6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
Weather
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
Clouds
SCT020
OVC035
SCT010
OVC020
SCT010
OVC020
SCT010
OVC020
SCT020
OVC035
SCT020
OVC035
BKN015
OVC030
BKN015
OVC030
BKN015
OVC030
BKN015
OVC030
BKN015
OVC030
BKN015
OVC030
SCT020
OVC035
SCT020
OVC035
SCT020
OVC035
SCT020
OVC035
SCT020
OVC035
SCT020
OVC035
SCT020
OVC035
Ceiling
3,500 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 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
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:33Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:33Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:33Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:33Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:33Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:25Z
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
VRB° at 5 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Rain, Mist
Clouds
SCT020 OVC035
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds will be variable in direction at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Rain, Mist. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet, Overcast skies at 3500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 11:00Z - 14:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
5SM
Weather
Light Rain, Mist
Clouds
SCT010 OVC020
📖 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. Scattered clouds at 1000 feet, Overcast skies at 2000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM051600 16:00Z - 22:00Z
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN015 OVC030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 1500 feet, Overcast skies at 3000 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.