Ottumwa Regional Airport

KOTM / OTM

Ottumwa, US

Last Updated
Jul 27, 18:17Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 14 min ago
18:17Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
29°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 25°C
11 kt
210°
--
Visibility
11,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1006 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

SPECI KOTM 271817Z AUTO 21011KT 1 3/4SM TSRA FEW027 SCT070 BKN110 29/25 A2972 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT W RAB06 TSB07 PRESFR P0010 T02940250

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 845 ft
FEW 2,700 ft AGL
SCT 7,000 ft AGL
BKN 11,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
2,700 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,545 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
7,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
7,845 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
11,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
11,845 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Ottumwa Regional Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 11,000 feet.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south-southwest (210°) at 11 knots. Runway 22 is favored with a 11-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

The ceiling is 11000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 29°C (84°F) with a dewpoint of 25°C. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread suggests high humidity and potential for visibility restrictions, especially during cooling periods.

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: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 18:00Z and 20:00Z.

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
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: 2,946 ft (High - Reduced Performance)
ISA Deviation: +15.7°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KOTM 271754Z 2718/2818 24011KT P6SM FEW190 TEMPO 2718/2720 5SM -TSRA BKN045CB FM272000 27010KT P6SM FEW210 FM280700 33006KT P6SM SCT250 FM281100 02006KT P6SM SCT250
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
18:30Z BASE
+0h
VFR 240° 11 kt
Visibility: >6SM
20:00Z FM272000
+2h
VFR 270° 10 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
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°
10.8 kt 1.9 kt
10° angle
13/31 5,885 ft 150 ft PEM 135°
2.8 kt 10.6 kt
75° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KOTM

8,770 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
75.1%
MVFR
15.4%
IFR
6.4%
LIFR
3.2%

Ottumwa Regional Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 75.1% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 9.6% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 9.5 knots, with gusts recorded up to 35 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: 9.5 kt
Maximum Recorded: 35 kt
Calm Winds: 5.4%
Direction Distribution:
E
11.5%
N
10.5%
S
19.1%
W
12.6%
NE
5.8%
NW
15.8%
SE
10%
SW
9.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 9.5°C
Range: -24°C to 36°C
-24°C 36°C

Visibility

Average: 9.2 SM
Below 3 SM: 2.4%
Fog Frequency: 2.6%

Best Months for VFR

October May September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 04/22
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.8 kt
Runway 13/31
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.2 kt

Statistics computed from 8,770 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 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.