Fort Dodge Regional Airport

KFOD / FOD

Fort Dodge, US

Last Updated
Jun 10, 17:56Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 55 min ago
17:56Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
29°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 21°C
18 kt
210° G23 kt
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1002 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KFOD 101756Z AUTO 21018G23KT 10SM FEW034 29/21 A2960 RMK AO2 SLP022 60004 T02940211 10294 20244 58012 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,156 ft
FEW 3,400 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
3,400 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,556 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Fort Dodge Regional Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with few clouds at 3,400 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south-southwest (210°) at 18 knots with gusts to 23 knots. Runway 24 is favored with a 16-knot headwind and 9-knot crosswind component (gusting to 12 knots crosswind). Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 3,400 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 29°C (84°F) with a dewpoint of 21°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Thunderstorm Rain, Light Thunderstorm Rain, Light Showers Rain. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 7 to 18 knots. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Thunderstorm Rain between 18:00Z and 20:00Z. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 23:00Z and 02:00Z. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 12:00Z and 16:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. 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
1002 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
963 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,156 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,494 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 3,451 ft (High - Reduced Performance)
ISA Deviation: +16.3°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KFOD 101729Z 1018/1118 21018G27KT P6SM SCT022 BKN100 TEMPO 1018/1020 4SM TSRA BKN022CB FM102200 25014G22KT P6SM FEW040 FEW220 PROB30 1023/1102 P6SM -TSRA BKN035CB FM110200 30007KT P6SM SKC FM111100 01007KT 6SM -SHRA BKN050 BKN070 PROB30 1112/1116 P6SM -TSRA OVC025CB
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
18:50Z BASE
+0h
VFR 210° 18 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 10,000 ft
22:00Z FM102200
+4h
VFR 250° 14 kt
Visibility: >6SM
23:00Z PROB30
+5h
MVFR
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 3,500 ft
Light Thunderstorm Rain
02:00Z FM110200
+8h
VFR 300° 7 kt
Visibility: >6SM

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
FOD
06
24 ✈️
12
30

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 06/24
Active: 24
6,548 ft 150 ft ASP 65°
15.6 kt 9.0 kt
30° angle
12/30 5,300 ft 100 ft ASP 127°
2.2 kt 17.9 kt
83° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KFOD

7,785 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
68.4%
MVFR
18.5%
IFR
7.6%
LIFR
5.5%

Fort Dodge Regional Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 68.4% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 13.1% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 8.6 knots. Calm conditions occur 11.7% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -27°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: 8.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 30 kt
Calm Winds: 11.7%
Direction Distribution:
N
14.1%
NE
4.8%
E
10.1%
SE
10.3%
S
17.6%
SW
7.9%
W
8.4%
NW
15.1%

Temperature Range

Average: 5.7°C
Range: -27°C to 36°C
-27°C 36°C

Visibility

Average: 9.2 SM
Below 3 SM: 2.8%
Fog Frequency: 2.8%

Best Months for VFR

October May September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 06/24
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.3 kt
Runway 12/30
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5 kt

Statistics computed from 7,785 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Fort Dodge Regional Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KFOD
IATA Code: FOD
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,156 ft MSL

Location

City: Fort Dodge
Country: US
Latitude: 42.552624°
Longitude: -94.191237°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 06/24
Length: 6,548 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 12/30
Length: 5,300 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Fort Dodge Regional Airport

Overview

Fort Dodge Regional Airport serves Webster County in north-central Iowa, providing aviation services to the Fort Dodge metropolitan area. Located at 42.552624, -94.191237 with an elevation of 1,156 feet MSL, this medium-sized airport offers two asphalt runways capable of handling various aircraft operations. The airport supports regional transportation and serves general aviation needs for the surrounding agricultural and urban communities.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect predominantly VFR conditions, with 61.9% of observations reporting good visibility and clear skies. Weather variations include 20.4% MVFR and 17.7% instrument conditions, highlighting the importance of pre-flight weather briefings. Winds predominantly come from the northwest at an average of 8.4 knots, with temperature ranges from -27°C to 36°C, presenting significant seasonal temperature variations that pilots must consider.

Notable Features

Both runways (06/24 at 6,548 ft and 12/30 at 5,300 ft) demonstrate excellent wind alignment, with 100% favorable wind coverage. The average crosswind is relatively modest, measuring 6.3 knots on the primary 06/24 runway and 4.6 knots on the 12/30 runway. Average visibility consistently remains high at 8.9 statute miles, with only 4.5% of observations showing restricted visibility or fog conditions.

Approach Considerations

September, October, and January represent the most favorable months for VFR flying, offering the most consistent weather conditions. Runway selection should consider the prevailing northwest winds, with both runways providing excellent wind alignment. Pilots should be prepared for occasional wind shifts and brief periods of reduced visibility, particularly during seasonal transitions and when local weather systems move through the region.

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.