KDSM/DSM METAR & TAF Des Moines International Airport

Des Moines, IowaElevation 958 ftLarge airport

CURRENT STATUS

VFR46 min old

Ceiling 20,000 ft, visibility 10 SM.

FLIGHT CATEGORY

VFR

ceiling & visibility

WIND

020@3

steady

VISIBILITY

10 SM

16.1 km

CEILING

20,000 ft

lowest BKN/OVC

DENSITY ALT

1,635 ft

+677 ft vs field

CURRENT METAR

Decoded observation

Observed 2054Z (3:54 PM local) · 46 min old

KDSM is currently VFR. Winds are from the north at 3 knots. Visibility is 10 statute miles. The ceiling is 20,000 feet AGL.

WIND

20° at 3 kt

Steady.

VISIBILITY

10 statute miles

16.1 km, good.

CEILING & SKY

Ceiling 20,000 ft

Lowest broken or overcast layer.

TEMP / DEWPOINT

22°C / 12°C

72°F / 54°F. 10°C spread.

ALTIMETER

30.30 inHg

1026.1 hPa, above standard.

WEATHER & HAZARDS

No significant hazards

No precipitation or obscuration reported.

Codes in this report: FEW BKN RMK AO2

Hover or tap any group for a plain-English explanation.

REMARKS: DECODED

AO2

automated station with a precipitation discriminator (can tell rain from snow)

SLP259

sea-level pressure 1025.9 hPa

T02170117

precise temperature 21.7°C, dew point 11.7°C

56016

3-hour pressure tendency: falling then steady (1.6 hPa change)

TERMINAL AERODROME FORECAST

TAF timeline

Issued 1720Z (12:20 PM local) · valid to 1800Z (1:00 PM local)

KDSM forecast starts VFR at 18Z. Conditions are roughly steady over the period.

VFR

OVC25025,000 ft

1800Z1:00 PM2248Z5:48 PM0336Z10:36 PM0824Z3:24 AM1312Z8:12 AM1800Z1:00 PM

Codes in this report: P6SM FEW OVC

Tap any group to decode it.

FAA: no delays reported at DSM.

Source: FAA System Operations (ASWS). Operational status only; verify with official FAA sources and NOTAMs.

SUGGESTED RISK · TRAINING USE

Suggested risk level: Low

›No significant weather concerns in the current report.

A suggested risk level for training and situational awareness only, not a go/no-go authority. Verify with official sources and apply your personal minimums.

FORECAST & PILOT NOTES · SUPPLEMENTAL

Extended forecast and pilot notes

Current aviation conditions show flight category VFR, wind from 20° at 3 kt, visibility 10 SM, ceiling 20,000 ft. Forecast suggests this afternoon partly sunny, high near 74F, low near 53F, 2% chance of precipitation. Key risks: thunderstorms in the forecast.

PILOT WEATHER NOTES

Thunderstorms in the forecastWeather.gov

Thursday: Showers And Thunderstorms Likely. Watch for developing convection and plan alternates.

Day	Conditions	Temp F	Wind	Gusts	Precip	Pilot note
This Afternoon	Partly Sunny	74/53	NE 3 kt	–	2%
Monday	Mostly Cloudy	71/56	ENE 8 kt	–	6%
Tuesday	Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers	71/57	S 11 kt	–	19%
Wednesday	Slight Chance Rain Showers	75/59	S 13 kt	–	65%
Thursday	Showers And Thunderstorms Likely	74/59	S 5 kt	–	65%	Thunderstorms in the forecast
Friday	Chance Showers And Thunderstorms	74/58	SSE 9 kt	–	55%
Saturday	Rain Showers Likely	69/56	S 7 kt	–	65%

Source: National Weather Service (office DMX). Forecast issued 2057Z.

Radar

Radar data: NOAA/NWS MRMS composite reflectivity. For situational awareness only, not a substitute for an official weather briefing.

RUNWAYS & WIND

2 runways · crosswind ranking

ON-FIELD METAR

READING THE BARB · SWIPE FOR MORE →

Calm

5 kt

10 kt

15 kt

20 kt

25 kt

30 kt

35 kt

40 kt

45 kt

50 kt

65 kt

75 kt

100 kt

105 kt

Half feather = 5 kt, full = 10 kt, filled pennant = 50 kt; add them up. The staff points the direction the wind blows from.

WIND USED

020° at 3 kt

Components computed from the current on-field METAR wind.

RECOMMENDED

RWY 052 kt headwind · 2 kt crosswind

RUNWAYS BY WIND · best end

05

HEAD

2 kt

CROSS

2 kt L

BEST

31

HEAD

1 kt

CROSS

3 kt R

OK

13

HEAD

1 kt tail

CROSS

3 kt L

OK

23

HEAD

2 kt tail

CROSS

2 kt R

OK

Components are estimates from the current METAR wind and runway heading. Verify with the Chart Supplement and NOTAMs.

RUNWAYS

Runway detail & declared distances

2 runways · longest 9,004 ft

05/23

Dimensions

9,004 x 150 ft

Surface

Concrete (excellent)

Edge lights

HIGH

RWY 0554°T

ILSILS/DME

Approach lightsMALSR

REILYes

VGSIPAPI (P4L)

Traffic patternLeft

RWY 23234°T

REILYes

VGSIPAPI (P4L)

Traffic patternLeft

13/31

Dimensions

9,001 x 150 ft

Surface

Concrete (excellent)

Edge lights

HIGH

RWY 13132°T

Landing length (LDA)9,001 ft

TORA / TODA / ASDA9,001 / 9,001 / 9,001 ft

ILSILS/DME

Approach lightsMALSR

VGSIPAPI (P4R)

Traffic patternLeft

RWY 31312°T

Landing length (LDA)9,001 ft

TORA / TODA / ASDA9,001 / 9,001 / 9,001 ft

ILSILS/DME

Approach lightsALSF2

VGSIPAPI (P4L)

Traffic patternRight

Runway data from the FAA NASR dataset (effective 2026-06-11). Verify with the current Chart Supplement and NOTAMs.

FIELD CONDITIONS

Performance & density altitude

Density altitude

1,635 ft

Pressure altitude

578 ft

Field elevation

958 ft MSL

Temperature

22°C (72°F)

Dewpoint

12°C (54°F)

Altimeter

30.30 inHg

Density altitude estimates how the aircraft performs versus standard atmosphere. Higher density altitude reduces climb performance and increases takeoff distance.

DAYLIGHT & NIGHT

Sun & logging windows

Sunset

2318Z 6:18 PM

Sunrise

1239Z 7:39 AM

Loggable night

2347Z (6:47 PM local) → 1210Z (7:10 AM local)

end of evening to start of morning civil twilight

Position lights required

2318Z (6:18 PM local) → 1239Z (7:39 AM local)

sunset to sunrise (91.209)

Night passenger currency

0018Z (7:18 PM local) → 1139Z (6:39 AM local)

1 hr after sunset to 1 hr before sunrise (61.57(b))

FAA definitions, shown in Zulu with airport-local time. Verify for your operation.

AIRPORT INFORMATION

Facility & services

Des Moines International Airport is in Des Moines, Iowa. Field elevation 958 ft MSL. Airport facts are drawn from OurAirports and the FAA NASR dataset.

OPERATIONS & CONTACT

OwnershipPublicly owned

UseOpen to the public

TypeLarge airport

Airline serviceYes

ManagerMR. BRIAN MULCAHY

Manager phone515-256-5100

AttendedContinuous (24 hours)

CHARTS & AIRSPACE

ICAO / IATAKDSM / DSM

SectionalOMAHA

Center (ARTCC)MINNEAPOLIS

Flight service (AFSS)FORT DODGE

RegionIowa

CountryUnited States

Coordinates41.5340, -93.6567

Distance from city3 NM SW

SERVICES & LIGHTING

Fuel100LL · Jet A

Control towerTowered

BeaconSunset to sunrise · White-green (lighted land airport)

UNICOM122.950

FREQUENCIES

Communications

118.6

APP/DEP

A/D

119.55

ATIS

134.15

CLNC DEL

CLD

121.9

GND

138.15

ANG OPS MAINT

OPS

122.65

FORT DODGE RDO

RDO

118.3

TWR

122.95

UNICOM

UNIC

122.950

UNICOM

Not all tower/ground/approach frequencies are in our datasets. Verify with the FAA Chart Supplement.

AIRCRAFT ACTIVITY

KDSM traffic patterns

2026-06-12 to 2026-10-23, 70 days observed · data 2026-10-23

High confidence

TRAFFIC VOLUME (30-DAY)

AVG LANDINGS/DAY

118.2

AVG OPS/DAY

140.7

Operations trend (18 days)

Busiest day: Thu · Busiest month: Jun

FLEET MIX

Airliner 45%Unknown 26%Piston single 16%Jet 7%Turboprop 4%

Mostly airliner-class aircraft.

TOP AIRCRAFT TYPES

›E75L (Airliner) · ~219 landings/mo

›UNKN (Unknown) · ~153 landings/mo

›C172 (Piston single) · ~135 landings/mo

›P28A (Piston single) · ~134 landings/mo

›CRJ7 (Airliner) · ~131 landings/mo

LIKELY BASED AIRCRAFT

Low-confidence estimate

Aircraft likely based near this airport (estimate), mostly single-engine piston aircraft.

›P28A (Piston single)

›PIAT (Unknown)

›UNKN (Unknown)

›C172 (Piston single)

›P46T (Unknown)

This is an estimate based on repeated flight patterns, not registration data. Do not rely on it to identify specific aircraft or owners.

Data limitations (4)

›ADS-B coverage is incomplete; counts are an observed lower bound, not official totals.

›Some aircraft do not transmit usable ADS-B and are not counted.

›Aircraft types and based estimates are inferred and may be wrong.

›This is not official ATC, FAA, or airport data.

NEARBY AIRPORTS

Weather reference stations

Current flight category at nearby reporting stations.

KAMW Ames Municipal Airport

28 NM N

VFR

KPRO Perry Municipal Airport

29 NM NW

VFR

KTNU Newton Municipal Airport

30 NM E

VFR

KBNW Boone Municipal Airport

32 NM N

MVFR

KCSQ Creston Municipal Airport

44 NM SW

VFR

KMIW Marshalltown Municipal Airport

48 NM NE

VFR

AIRPORT REMARKS

Operational remarks

›MODERN AVIATION FBO LCTD AT NORTH GA APRON.

›FLIGHT NOTIFICATION SERVICE (ADCUS) AVBL MON-FRI 0830-1700. FOR SAT; SUN; HOLS & NIGHT CUSTOMS SVC MAKE APPOINTMENTS MON-FRI 0830-1700. AT LEAST 3 HR ADVANCE NOTICE RQRD.

›PAPI UNUSBL BYD 9 DEGS RIGHT OF CNTRLN.

›PCR VALUE: 696/R/D/W/T

›EXEC DIR

›TWY P E OF TWY D WINGTIP CLEARANCE LIMITED TO 121.5 FT, CAUTION ADVISED FOR ADG V AND LARGER AIRCRAFT.

›ENTER TERMINAL DE-ICE PAD QUEUE FROM TAXILANE N, DO NOT ENTER PAD FROM TAXILANE N4.

›NO TAXI TO TRML GATES A2/A4 FROM TXY D1 WHEN AN AIRCRAFT IS PARKED AT REMOTE SPOT R6 - REQUEST TXY E.

›NO TAXI BETWEEN GATES A5A AND A5B.

›TERMINAL APRON DE-ICE SPOT N2 AND ASSOCIATED TAXILANE LIMITED TO ADGII UNLESS COORDINATED WITH IDS 129.875.

›TRML APRON TAXILANE ADG III (ACFT WINGSPAN LESS THAN 118 FT) ONLY, ADG IV (ACFT WINGSPAN LESS THAN 172 FT) ACFT AT GATE A4 ONLY.

›TERMINAL APRON TAXILANE ADG III AC ONLY, ADG IV AC AT GATE A4 ONLY.

›UPDTD: SKED A321 ACFT OVER 200,000 LBS RQR AN OVERWEIGHT ACFT PMT; CTC ARPT AUTH 515-256-5000

›A321 AIRCRAFT LTD TO 190,000 LBS ON RWY 5-23 AND TWY P. A321 EXCEEDING 190,000 LBS WO ARPT AUTH WAIVER REQ ATCT PRVD 13-31.

›ARNG RAMP AVBL FOR MIL AND MIL-CONTRACTED ACFT FOR OFFL BUS ONLY WITH LTD SUPPORT. PPR; CTC DSN 261-8360/8361, C515-261-8360/8361. FBO WILL PROVIDE CONTRACT FUEL. MIL CREWS CAN CTC HAWKI ON 252.9

›USE CAUTION WHEN LNDG OVER RAISED LIGHTS IN THE OVERRUNS AND RWY THLDS AT DSM.

›CROSS BLEED ENGINE STARTS ON AIR CARRIER RAMP PROHIBITED.

›RWY 05 APCH END HAS LTD VIS FROM THE TWR. TWR CANNOT EASILY ID IF AN ACFT IS OVER THE HOLD SHORT LINE AT TWY P7. RWY 05 ARRIVALS - USE CTN AND ENSURE YOU ARE CORRECTLY LINED UP WITH RWY 05 AND NOT TWY P.

›MAX ACFT WT SOUTH GA APRN 170,000 LBS ALL OTHER FBO APRN 80,000 LBS.

›CONTR FUEL - 515-256-5330.

›BIRDS ON & INVOF ARPT.

›INFORMAL NOISE ABATEMENT PROCEDURES IN EFFECT. EXPECT ATC TO ASSIGN PREFERRED RY.

›IANG SOUTH RAMP PCN 78 R/B/W/T. IANG WEST RAMP PCN 87 R/B/W/T.

OFFICIAL LINKS & SOURCES

↗Official METAR on AviationWeather.gov

↗Search NOTAMs (official FAA NOTAM Search)

↗Wikipedia

↗KDSM on OurAirports

FREQUENTLY ASKED

Does KDSM have a METAR?

Yes. KDSM has a current METAR observation, decoded into plain English on this page.

Does KDSM have a TAF?

Yes, a TAF is issued for KDSM; the decoded forecast timeline is shown above.

What is the field elevation at KDSM?

KDSM sits at 958 ft MSL, which factors into the density-altitude estimate on this page.

Is this an official preflight weather briefing for KDSM?

No. wxdecoder.com is for education and situational awareness only. It is not an official weather briefing or a substitute for official sources, NOTAM review, and pilot judgment.