Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

KMSY / MSY

New Orleans, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KMSY 041748Z 0418/0524 13013KT P6SM FEW035 SCT060 BKN080 PROB30 0418/0422 5SM -SHRA BKN010 FM050000 13007KT P6SM BKN080 FM050900 13005KT 6SM BR OVC007 FM051500 14008KT P6SM OVC007

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
18:00Z
+-1h
Wed
19:00Z
+0h
Wed
20:00Z
+1h
Wed
21:00Z
+2h
Wed
22:00Z
+3h
Wed
23:00Z
+4h
Thu
00:00Z
+5h
Thu
01:00Z
+6h
Thu
02:00Z
+7h
Thu
03:00Z
+8h
Thu
04:00Z
+9h
Thu
05:00Z
+10h
Thu
06:00Z
+11h
Thu
07:00Z
+12h
Thu
08:00Z
+13h
Thu
09:00Z
+14h
Thu
10:00Z
+15h
Thu
11:00Z
+16h
Thu
12:00Z
+17h
Thu
13:00Z
+18h
Thu
14:00Z
+19h
Thu
15:00Z
+20h
Thu
16:00Z
+21h
Thu
17:00Z
+22h
Thu
18:00Z
+23h
Thu
19:00Z
+24h
Thu
20:00Z
+25h
Thu
21:00Z
+26h
Thu
22:00Z
+27h
Wind Dir
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
Wind Speed
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
13 kt
13 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
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW035
SCT060
FEW035
SCT060
FEW035
SCT060
FEW035
SCT060
FEW035
SCT060
FEW035
SCT060
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
BKN080
FEW035
SCT060
FEW035
SCT060
FEW035
SCT060
OVC007
OVC007
OVC007
OVC007
OVC007
OVC007
OVC007
OVC007
OVC007
OVC007
OVC007
OVC007
FEW035
SCT060
FEW035
SCT060
Ceiling
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:40Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:40Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:18Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:18Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:18Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:18Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:18Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:41Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:41Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:41Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:41Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:41Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
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
130° at 13 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW035 SCT060 BKN080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Southeast (130°) at 13 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 3500 feet, Scattered clouds at 6000 feet, Broken clouds at 8000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 18:00Z - 22:00Z
IFR
Visibility
5SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN010
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be good at 5SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 1000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM050000 00:00Z - 06:00Z
VFR
Wind
130° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southeast (130°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 8000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050900 09:00Z - 15:00Z
IFR
Wind
130° at 5 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
OVC007
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southeast (130°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Overcast skies at 700 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM051500 15:00Z - 21:00Z
IFR
Wind
140° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
OVC007
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southeast (140°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Overcast skies at 700 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.