Ottumwa Regional Airport

KOTM / OTM

Ottumwa, US

Last Updated
Jun 10, 15:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 17 min ago
15:53Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
23°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 21°C
16 kt
230° G27 kt
4 SM
Visibility
4,800 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1006 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KOTM 101553Z AUTO 23016G27KT 4SM VCTS RA BR SCT027 BKN048 OVC090 23/21 A2972 RMK AO2 PK WND 22034/1528 LTG DSNT ALQDS RAB29 PRESFR SLP057 P0002 T02330211

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 845 ft
SCT 2,700 ft AGL
BKN 4,800 ft AGL
OVC 9,000 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
2,700 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,545 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
4,800 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,645 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
9,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
9,845 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Ottumwa Regional Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with overcast skies at 9,000 feet and 4 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the southwest (230°) at 16 knots with gusts to 27 knots. Runway 22 is favored with a 16-knot headwind and 3-knot crosswind component (gusting to 5 knots crosswind). Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 4 SM, below VFR minimums in some airspace classifications. Check local requirements before departing VFR. The ceiling is 4800 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 23°C (73°F) with a dewpoint of 21°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 21 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Expected weather includes: Thunderstorm Rain, Mist, Thunderstorm Rain. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 7 to 19 knots. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Thunderstorm Rain, Mist between 15:00Z and 19:00Z. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Thunderstorm Rain between 22:00Z and 03:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours. The forecast indicates conditions may deteriorate. Ensure you have fuel reserves and a viable alternate airport.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

QNH
1006 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
978 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (845 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,063 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 2,226 ft
ISA Deviation: +9.7°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KOTM 101502Z 1015/1112 21009KT P6SM SCT025 BKN035 TEMPO 1015/1019 2SM TSRA BR BKN025CB FM102100 22019G30KT P6SM SCT025 BKN080 PROB30 1022/1103 4SM TSRA BKN025CB FM110300 23012G21KT P6SM SCT030 BKN200 FM110600 23007KT P6SM FEW045 SCT160
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
16:10Z BASE
+0h
VFR 210° 9 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 3,500 ft
21:00Z FM102100
+5h
VFR 220° 19 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 8,000 ft
22:00Z PROB30
+6h
MVFR
Visibility: 4SM
Ceiling: 2,500 ft
Thunderstorm Rain
03:00Z FM110300
+11h
VFR 230° 12 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 20,000 ft

24-Hour Weather Evolution

Loading weather data...
Data Sources
  • • Current conditions from METAR observations
  • • Historical data from past 24 hours
  • • No forecast or predicted data included
  • • Data updated with each new METAR report
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Note: Future values beyond current TAF validity are estimates based on climatological data and trends. Always verify with current forecasts before flight operations.

Airport Runway Layout

N
OTM
04
22 ✈️
13
31

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 04/22
Active: 22
5,178 ft 200 ft ASP 45°
15.8 kt 2.8 kt
10° angle
13/31 5,885 ft 150 ft PEM 135°
1.4 kt 15.9 kt
95° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KOTM

7,706 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
73.9%
MVFR
16.1%
IFR
6.6%
LIFR
3.4%

Ottumwa Regional Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 73.9% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 10% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 9.7 knots, with gusts recorded up to 34 knots. Temperature extremes range from -24°C to 36°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are October, May, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 9.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 34 kt
Calm Winds: 4.3%
Direction Distribution:
N
10.8%
NE
5.4%
E
11.6%
SE
10.2%
S
19.1%
SW
9%
W
12.9%
NW
16.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 7.5°C
Range: -24°C to 36°C
-24°C 36°C

Visibility

Average: 9.2 SM
Below 3 SM: 2.5%
Fog Frequency: 2.9%

Best Months for VFR

October May September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 04/22
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 7 kt
Runway 13/31
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.2 kt

Statistics computed from 7,706 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Ottumwa Regional Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KOTM
IATA Code: OTM
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 845 ft MSL

Location

City: Ottumwa
Country: US
Latitude: 41.106368°
Longitude: -92.449837°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 04/22
Length: 5,178 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 13/31
Length: 5,885 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: PEM
ILS: No

About Ottumwa Regional Airport

Overview

Ottumwa Regional Airport serves the southeastern Iowa region as a medium-sized airport located at 41.106368, -92.449837. Situated at an elevation of 845 feet MSL, the airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for Wapello County and surrounding areas. Its two runways support a variety of general aviation, training, and potential regional commercial operations.

Flying Conditions

Weather observations indicate predominantly favorable flying conditions, with 69.4% of recorded periods under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). The prevailing northwest winds at an average of 9.1 knots provide stable conditions, though pilots should be prepared for occasional wind gusts up to 33 knots. Temperature ranges from -24°C to 36°C suggest significant seasonal variation, with September, October, and November offering the most consistent VFR weather.

Notable Features

Both runways offer excellent wind alignment, with 100% favorable wind coverage. Runway 04/22 (5,178 feet of asphalt) and Runway 13/31 (5,885 feet of pavement) provide flexible operational options with relatively low average crosswind conditions. The airport's moderate elevation and geographic location in southeastern Iowa contribute to predictable meteorological patterns.

Approach Considerations

Pilots should anticipate generally good visibility averaging 8.9 statute miles, with only 3.6% of observations showing visibility below 3 miles. Fog occurs in approximately 5.1% of observations, primarily affecting low-visibility approaches. The consistent northwest wind suggests Runway 13/31 might offer slightly more favorable approach conditions with its lower average crosswind of 4.6 knots compared to Runway 04/22's 6.9 knots.

Data Sources & Accuracy: Airport information sourced from OurAirports.com, a collaborative database of worldwide airport data. Weather data from official aviation weather services including NOAA Aviation Weather Center and international METAR/TAF providers. Information is updated regularly but pilots should always verify current conditions and NOTAMs through official channels before flight operations.

Official Data Sources

Weather NOAA Aviation Weather Center • International METAR/TAF Network
Airports OurAirports.com • Public domain airport database
NOTAMs FAA NOTAM System • ICAO NOTAM Distribution
Last updated: Jan 1, 1970 12:00 AM UTC

Disclaimer: Data is provided for informational purposes only. Pilots must verify all information through official sources before flight operations. Weather conditions change rapidly; always obtain a current briefing from approved weather services.