Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field

KMSP / MSP

Minneapolis, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KMSP 171431Z 1715/1818 31014G22KT 6SM -SHSN BKN030 OVC040 FM171800 31014G21KT P6SM OVC025 FM180400 25007KT P6SM BKN050 FM181200 19010KT 6SM -SN BR OVC025 FM181400 19011KT 2SM -SN BR OVC012

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
15:00Z
+-1h
Sat
16:00Z
+0h
Sat
17:00Z
+1h
Sat
18:00Z
+2h
Sat
19:00Z
+3h
Sat
20:00Z
+4h
Sat
21:00Z
+5h
Sat
22:00Z
+6h
Sat
23:00Z
+7h
Sun
00:00Z
+8h
Sun
01:00Z
+9h
Sun
02:00Z
+10h
Sun
03:00Z
+11h
Sun
04:00Z
+12h
Sun
05:00Z
+13h
Sun
06:00Z
+14h
Sun
07:00Z
+15h
Sun
08:00Z
+16h
Sun
09:00Z
+17h
Sun
10:00Z
+18h
Sun
11:00Z
+19h
Sun
12:00Z
+20h
Sun
13:00Z
+21h
Sun
14:00Z
+22h
Sun
15:00Z
+23h
Sun
16:00Z
+24h
Wind Dir
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
310°
NW
310°
NW
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
Wind Speed
14kt
G22kt
14kt
G22kt
14kt
G22kt
14kt
G21kt
14kt
G21kt
14kt
G21kt
14kt
G21kt
14kt
G21kt
14kt
G21kt
14kt
G22kt
14kt
G22kt
14kt
G22kt
14kt
G22kt
7kt
G22kt
7kt
G22kt
7kt
G22kt
7kt
G22kt
7kt
G22kt
7kt
G22kt
14kt
G22kt
14kt
G22kt
10kt
G22kt
10kt
G22kt
11kt
G22kt
11kt
G22kt
11kt
G22kt
Visibility
6SM
6SM
6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
2SM
2SM
2SM
Weather
Light Showers Snow
-SHSN
Light Showers Snow
-SHSN
Light Showers Snow
-SHSN
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Showers Snow
-SHSN
Light Showers Snow
-SHSN
Light Showers Snow
-SHSN
Light Showers Snow
-SHSN
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Showers Snow
-SHSN
Light Showers Snow
-SHSN
Light Snow, Mist
-SN BR
Light Snow, Mist
-SN BR
Light Snow, Mist
-SN BR
Light Snow, Mist
-SN BR
Light Snow, Mist
-SN BR
Clouds
BKN030
OVC040
BKN030
OVC040
BKN030
OVC040
OVC025
OVC025
OVC025
OVC025
OVC025
OVC025
BKN030
OVC040
BKN030
OVC040
BKN030
OVC040
BKN030
OVC040
BKN050
BKN050
BKN050
BKN050
BKN050
BKN050
BKN030
OVC040
BKN030
OVC040
OVC025
OVC025
OVC012
OVC012
OVC012
Ceiling
3000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
2500ft
AGL
2500ft
AGL
2500ft
AGL
2500ft
AGL
2500ft
AGL
2500ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
5000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
2500ft
AGL
2500ft
AGL
1200ft
AGL
1200ft
AGL
1200ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR IFR IFR IFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌇 16:43
☀️
Day
🌇 16:43
🌇
Dusk
🌇 16:43
🌙
Night
🌇 16:43
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 07:15
🌙
Night
🌅 07:15
🌅
Dawn
🌅 07:15
☀️
Day
🌅 07:15
☀️
Day
🌅 07:15
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 16:44
☀️
Day
🌇 16:44
☀️
Day
🌇 16:44
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
310° at 14 kt
Gusts: 22 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Showers Snow
Clouds
BKN030 OVC040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Northwest (310°) at 14kt. Gusts up to 22kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Snow. Broken clouds at 3000 feet, Overcast skies at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM171800 2026-01-17 18:00:00 - 2026-01-18 00:00:00
MVFR
Wind
310° at 14 kt
Gusts: 21 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
OVC025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northwest (310°) at 14kt. Gusts up to 21kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Overcast skies at 2500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM180400 2026-01-18 04:00:00 - 2026-01-18 10:00:00
VFR
Wind
250° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 7kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM181200 2026-01-18 12:00:00 - 2026-01-18 18:00:00
MVFR
Wind
190° at 10 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Snow, Mist
Clouds
OVC025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (190°) at 10kt. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Snow, Mist. Overcast skies at 2500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM181400 2026-01-18 14:00:00 - 2026-01-18 20:00:00
IFR
Wind
190° at 11 kt
Visibility
2SM
Weather
Light Snow, Mist
Clouds
OVC012
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (190°) at 11kt. Visibility will be moderate at 2SM. Weather conditions: Light Snow, Mist. Overcast skies at 1200 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.