Ottumwa Regional Airport

KOTM / OTM

Ottumwa, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KOTM 101729Z 1018/1118 20018G28KT P6SM -SHRA SCT040 BKN070 FM102000 22018G29KT P6SM SCT040 FM102200 20017G28KT P6SM -SHRA BKN028 PROB30 1022/1103 4SM TSRA BKN028CB BKN030 FM110300 23007KT P6SM FEW045 SCT220 FM111300 06009KT P6SM -SHRA SCT040 BKN060 PROB30 1113/1118 P6SM -TSRA BKN040CB

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
19:00Z
+-1h
Wed
20:00Z
+0h
Wed
21:00Z
+1h
Wed
22:00Z
+2h
Wed
23:00Z
+3h
Thu
00:00Z
+4h
Thu
01:00Z
+5h
Thu
02:00Z
+6h
Thu
03:00Z
+7h
Thu
04:00Z
+8h
Thu
05:00Z
+9h
Thu
06:00Z
+10h
Thu
07:00Z
+11h
Thu
08:00Z
+12h
Thu
09:00Z
+13h
Thu
10:00Z
+14h
Thu
11:00Z
+15h
Thu
12:00Z
+16h
Thu
13:00Z
+17h
Thu
14:00Z
+18h
Thu
15:00Z
+19h
Thu
16:00Z
+20h
Wind Dir
200°
S
220°
SW
220°
SW
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
Wind Speed
18 kt
G28 kt
18 kt
G29 kt
18 kt
G29 kt
18 kt
G28 kt
18 kt
G28 kt
18 kt
G28 kt
18 kt
G28 kt
18 kt
G28 kt
7 kt
G28 kt
7 kt
G28 kt
7 kt
G28 kt
7 kt
G28 kt
7 kt
G28 kt
7 kt
G28 kt
18 kt
G28 kt
18 kt
G28 kt
18 kt
G28 kt
18 kt
G28 kt
18 kt
G28 kt
18 kt
G28 kt
18 kt
G28 kt
18 kt
G28 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
30%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
30%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
30%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
30%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
30%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Clouds
SCT040
BKN070
SCT040
SCT040
BKN028CB
BKN030
BKN028CB
BKN030
BKN028CB
BKN030
BKN028CB
BKN030
BKN028CB
BKN030
FEW045
SCT220
FEW045
SCT220
FEW045
SCT220
FEW045
SCT220
FEW045
SCT220
FEW045
SCT220
SCT040
BKN070
SCT040
BKN070
SCT040
BKN070
SCT040
BKN070
BKN040CB
BKN040CB
BKN040CB
BKN040CB
Ceiling
7,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
2,800 ft
AGL
2,800 ft
AGL
2,800 ft
AGL
2,800 ft
AGL
2,800 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
7,000 ft
AGL
7,000 ft
AGL
7,000 ft
AGL
7,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌇 19:17Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:17Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:17Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:42Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:42Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:42Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:42Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:42Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
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
200° at 18 kt
Gusts: 28 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT040 BKN070
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 18 kt. Gusts up to 28 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet, Broken clouds at 7000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM102000 20:00Z - 02:00Z
VFR
Wind
220° at 18 kt
Gusts: 29 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 18 kt. Gusts up to 29 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM102200 22:00Z - 04:00Z
MVFR
Wind
200° at 17 kt
Gusts: 28 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN028
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 17 kt. Gusts up to 28 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 2800 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

PROB30 22:00Z - 03:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN028CB BKN030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 2800 feet, Broken clouds at 3000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM110300 03:00Z - 09:00Z
VFR
Wind
230° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW045 SCT220
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (230°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 4500 feet, Scattered clouds at 22000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM111300 13:00Z - 19:00Z
VFR
Wind
60° at 9 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT040 BKN060
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East-Northeast (60°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet, Broken clouds at 6000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 13:00Z - 18:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
>6SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN040CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 4000 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.