Tuinstra Airfield (IA85) Area Aviation Weather & Runway Winds
Aviation weather near Tuinstra Airfield in Indianola, IA, decoded from the nearest reporting station (KDSM) — conditions, runway crosswinds, and free Telegram airport alerts.
Tuinstra Airfield (IA85) is a general aviation airport serving pilots in and around Indianola, IA at 900 ft. IA85 has no weather station of its own — conditions here are decoded from KDSM, about 8 nm away, the nearest reporting station, and local conditions can differ. Its 2 runways (11, 29) — longest 1,200 ft — are checked against the current wind in the crosswind table below. The nearest TAF is issued for KDSM. Track it in the ATIS Alerts Telegram bot to get alerts read from KDSM, the station this page is based on.
No weather station at this airport — showing the nearest station KDSM, 7.9 nm away.
Wind from the east (090°) at 4 kt, visibility 10+ statute miles, broken clouds at 16,000 ft, broken clouds at 20,000 ft, temperature 27°C (80°F), altimeter 29.93 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR), ceiling 16,000 ft.
METAR KDSM 290254Z 09004KT 10SM BKN160 BKN200 27/22 A2993 RMK AO2 SLP124 T02670217 53012
What changed at KDSM (nearest station)?
Since the 0154Z (8:54 PM CDT) report — compared automatically against the latest METAR.
- Pressure rising: altimeter 29.90 → 29.93 inHg.
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Current pilot readout for IA85
Based on the nearest station (KDSM), IA85 is currently VFR with winds from 090° at 4 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and a 16,000 ft ceiling. The strongest crosswind component is currently on runway 11, about 4 knots. Density altitude is approximately 2,500 ft (field elevation 900 ft). Review the latest TAF below for forecast changes before departure.
⚠️ Not for operational use. Always verify with official FAA-approved preflight weather sources before flight.
New to aviation weather? How to read a METAR → · What VFR/MVFR/IFR mean → · Decode any METAR/TAF → · Density altitude calculator →
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Track IA85 free on TelegramRunway wind check
Estimated head/tailwind and crosswind for each runway end from the current reported wind.
Use this section to quickly compare current wind alignment across available runways at IA85. This is intended as a planning aid only and should not replace official performance calculations or pilot judgment.
| Runway | Length | Surface | Head / Tail | Crosswind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11FAV | 1,200 ft | TURF | 0 kt head | 4 kt right |
| 29 | 1,200 ft | TURF | 0 kt head | 4 kt right |
Open the crosswind calculator — try your own wind and runway numbers →
24-hour trend
Wind, ceiling and flight category over the last 24 hours.
Over the last 22 h: wind 6→4 kt, ceiling 25,000 ft → 16,000 ft.
IA85 weather radar
Live NEXRAD + lightning, with a 4-hour future-radar forecast — drag to pan, tap ⚡ to toggle lightning.
Live weather radar around Tuinstra Airfield in Indianola, IA: the NOAA/NWS NEXRAD composite updates about every five minutes, with NOAA lightning strike density overlaid. The loop plays the past 50 minutes, then continues into a future-radar forecast (+1 to +4 hours, NOAA HRRR model) so you can see where precipitation around IA85 is headed.
Radar: NOAA/NWS via IEM · Forecast: NOAA HRRR · Lightning: NOAA · Map © OpenStreetMap © CARTO
Forecast frames (amber label) are HRRR model guidance, not observed radar. Lightning strike density appears as a blue-white glow when strikes are detected in view. Radar and lightning coverage are limited in parts of Alaska, Hawaii, and offshore areas. Not for navigation.
Recent aviation weather trends at IA85
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, the nearest station KDSM reported mostly VFR across 23 observations, with 0 flight-category changes. The lowest ceiling was 15,000 ft. Wind most often came from the N.
Most recent change: MVFR → VFR
- 11/29
- 100%
TAF — Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
Issued 2330Z (6:30 PM CDT)
TAF KDSM 282330Z 2900/2924 06007KT P6SM SCT160 FM290600 VRB04KT P6SM FEW130 FM291400 17007KT P6SM SCT030
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We'll message you on Telegram when a new report moves the picture near IA85 (Tuinstra Airfield) — alerts read from KDSM, the station this page uses.
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Airport facts
Reference data from the OurAirports dataset.
- Type
- General aviation airport
- FAA LID
- IA85
- City
- Indianola
- State
- Iowa
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 900 ft
- Coordinates
- 41.4351, -93.5405
- Runways
- 2
- Longest runway
- 1,200 ft
- Weather reporting
- Nearest station KDSM
- TAF
- Nearest KDSM
- Time zone
- America/Chicago
- Next sunset
- 21h 41m
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed IA85's live status on your website — free →
Nearby airports
Compare nearby METAR/TAF stations within 25, 50 and 100 NM before departure or arrival.
Within 25 NM
8 airports+2 more within 25 NM
25–50 NM
8 airports+2 more within 50 NM
50–100 NM
8 airports+2 more within 100 NM
RC flying fields nearby
AMA model-aircraft club fields around this airport — live wind, crosswind & flyability on each page.
- Indianola Model Aircraft Club - 150th Ave — Indianola, IA · 5 mi
- Des Moines Heli Flyers - 40th St — Des Moines, IA · 7 mi
- Knapp Learning Center @ the Iowa State Fairgrounds — Des Moines, IA · 11 mi
IA85 weather — frequently asked
What runways are available at IA85?+
IA85 has 2 runways — 11, 29; the longest is 1,200 ft. This page computes the live crosswind for each runway end from the current wind.
Where does the weather shown for IA85 come from?+
Tuinstra Airfield does not have its own weather station. Conditions shown here come from the nearest reporting station, KDSM, about 8 nm away — close enough for situational awareness, but local conditions at IA85 can differ.
Does IA85 have a TAF?+
Yes — the KDSM TAF is shown on this page below the current conditions.
Does IA85 broadcast D-ATIS?+
No — IA85 does not broadcast D-ATIS. Alerts for IA85 from the ATIS Alerts bot (@atisalerts_bot) are based on its METAR (via the nearest reporting station) instead.
Pilot PIREPs for Tuinstra Airfield (IA85)
Community-submittedCommunity-submitted airport notes from pilots about runway conditions, wildlife, FBOs, fuel, turbulence, ramp access, and local tips.
Read recent community-submitted pilot notes for Tuinstra Airfield, including runway conditions, wildlife activity, FBO/fuel notes, turbulence, ramp access, and local airport tips.
⚠️ Pilot PIREPs on ATIS Alerts are community-submitted airport notes for situational awareness only. They are not official FAA PIREPs, NOTAMs, weather briefings, airport advisories, or flight-planning guidance. Always verify with official FAA/NWS sources, airport management, ATC, and current publications.
No Pilot PIREPs have been submitted for IA85 yet. Recently flew here? Help the next pilot by leaving a quick airport note.
Pilot PIREPs are community pilot notes for situational awareness only — not official FAA PIREPs or advisories. Verify with official sources. Notes are moderated before they appear; helpful marks and reports help us keep them useful.
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⚠️ Not for operational use. Always verify with official FAA-approved preflight weather sources before flight.
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