Ottumwa Regional Airport

KOTM / OTM

Ottumwa, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KOTM 041731Z 0418/0518 08006KT 6SM BR OVC025 FM050100 VRB04KT P6SM BKN009 FM050400 VRB04KT 4SM BR OVC006 PROB30 0508/0510 3SM -RA FM051000 VRB03KT 2SM BR OVC003 PROB30 0510/0511 -RA FM051300 VRB04KT 1SM BR BKN003 FM051600 VRB03KT 4SM BR BKN004

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
22:00Z
+-1h
Wed
23:00Z
+0h
Thu
00:00Z
+1h
Thu
01:00Z
+2h
Thu
02:00Z
+3h
Thu
03:00Z
+4h
Thu
04:00Z
+5h
Thu
05:00Z
+6h
Thu
06:00Z
+7h
Thu
07:00Z
+8h
Thu
08:00Z
+9h
Thu
09:00Z
+10h
Thu
10:00Z
+11h
Thu
11:00Z
+12h
Thu
12:00Z
+13h
Thu
13:00Z
+14h
Thu
14:00Z
+15h
Thu
15:00Z
+16h
Thu
16:00Z
+17h
Wind Dir
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
3 kt
3 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
3 kt
Visibility
6SM
6SM
6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
3SM
3SM
6SM
2SM
2SM
1SM
1SM
1SM
4SM
Weather
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Light Rain
-RA
30%
Light Rain
-RA
30%
Light Rain
-RA
30%
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Clouds
OVC025
OVC025
OVC025
BKN009
BKN009
BKN009
OVC006
OVC006
OVC006
OVC006
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
OVC003
OVC003
BKN003
BKN003
BKN003
BKN004
Ceiling
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
900 ft
AGL
900 ft
AGL
900 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
Flight Rules MVFR MVFR MVFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR MVFR MVFR VFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:24Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:24Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:24Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:24Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:24Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:35Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:35Z
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 occurrenceAGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
MVFR
Wind
80° at 6 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
OVC025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East (80°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Overcast skies at 2500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM050100 01:00Z - 07:00Z
IFR
Wind
VRB° at 4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN009
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 4 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 900 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM050400 04:00Z - 10:00Z
IFR
Wind
VRB° at 4 kt
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
OVC006
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 4 kt. Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Overcast skies at 600 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

PROB30 08:00Z - 10:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
3SM
Weather
Light Rain
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be good at 3SM. Weather conditions: Light Rain. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM051000 10:00Z - 16:00Z
LIFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
2SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
OVC003
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be moderate at 2SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Overcast skies at 300 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

PROB30 10:00Z - 11:00Z
VFR
Weather
Light Rain
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Weather conditions: Light Rain. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM051300 13:00Z - 19:00Z
LIFR
Wind
VRB° at 4 kt
Visibility
1SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN003
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 4 kt. Visibility will be moderate at 1SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 300 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

FM051600 16:00Z - 22:00Z
LIFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN004
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 400 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument 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.