Dupage Airport

KDPA / DPA

Chicago/West Chicago, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KDPA 212100Z 2121/2218 24012G18KT P6SM BKN050 FM220000 25008KT P6SM SCT060 SCT250 FM220900 05006KT 3SM BR SCT005 BKN010 FM221600 06008KT P6SM SCT012

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Tue
21:00Z
+-1h
Tue
22:00Z
+0h
Tue
23:00Z
+1h
Wed
00:00Z
+2h
Wed
01:00Z
+3h
Wed
02:00Z
+4h
Wed
03:00Z
+5h
Wed
04:00Z
+6h
Wed
05:00Z
+7h
Wed
06:00Z
+8h
Wed
07:00Z
+9h
Wed
08:00Z
+10h
Wed
09:00Z
+11h
Wed
10:00Z
+12h
Wed
11:00Z
+13h
Wed
12:00Z
+14h
Wed
13:00Z
+15h
Wed
14:00Z
+16h
Wed
15:00Z
+17h
Wed
16:00Z
+18h
Wind Dir
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
240°
SW
60°
NE
Wind Speed
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
8 kt
G18 kt
8 kt
G18 kt
8 kt
G18 kt
8 kt
G18 kt
8 kt
G18 kt
8 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
6 kt
G18 kt
6 kt
G18 kt
6 kt
G18 kt
6 kt
G18 kt
6 kt
G18 kt
6 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
8 kt
G18 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
BKN050
BKN050
BKN050
SCT060
SCT250
SCT060
SCT250
SCT060
SCT250
SCT060
SCT250
SCT060
SCT250
SCT060
SCT250
BKN050
BKN050
BKN050
SCT005
BKN010
SCT005
BKN010
SCT005
BKN010
SCT005
BKN010
SCT005
BKN010
SCT005
BKN010
BKN050
SCT012
Ceiling
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:20Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:20Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:20Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:20Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:20Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:39Z
Flight Rules
VFR: Visual Flight Rules
MVFR: Marginal VFR
IFR: Instrument Flight Rules
LIFR: Low IFR
Ceiling Colors
Red: < 500ft
Amber: 500-1000ft
Blue: 1000-3000ft
Green: > 3000ft
⛈️ TCU: Towering Cumulus
🌩️ CB: Cumulonimbus
+Nh: Hours from now • %: Probability of occurrence • AGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
240° at 12 kt
Gusts: 18 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West-Southwest (240°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 18 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM220000 00:00Z - 06:00Z
VFR
Wind
250° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT060 SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 6000 feet, Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM220900 09:00Z - 15:00Z
IFR
Wind
50° at 6 kt
Visibility
3SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
SCT005 BKN010
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northeast (50°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be good at 3SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Scattered clouds at 500 feet, Broken clouds at 1000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM221600 16:00Z - 22:00Z
VFR
Wind
60° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT012
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East-Northeast (60°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 1200 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

📚 Understanding TAF Forecasts

Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) provides detailed weather forecasts specifically for aviation operations. Our system translates complex meteorological codes into plain English to help pilots of all experience levels understand forecasted conditions.

What TAF Includes:

  • • Wind direction, speed, and gusts
  • • Visibility in statute miles or kilometers
  • • Weather phenomena (rain, snow, fog, thunderstorms)
  • • Cloud coverage types and altitudes
  • • Forecast changes with timing
  • • Flight rules categories (VFR/IFR)

Change Indicators Explained:

  • • BASE - Main forecast conditions
  • • FM - Permanent change from specific time
  • • BECMG - Gradual change over 2-4 hours
  • • TEMPO - Temporary changes (less than 1 hour)
  • • PROB30/40 - 30% or 40% probability

🛩️ Flight Rules Categories

VFR

Visual Flight Rules

  • • Ceiling ≥ 3000 ft
  • • Visibility ≥ 5 miles
  • • Good for visual flying

MVFR

Marginal VFR

  • • Ceiling 1000-3000 ft
  • • Visibility 3-5 miles
  • • Caution for VFR

IFR

Instrument Flight Rules

  • • Ceiling 500-1000 ft
  • • Visibility 1-3 miles
  • • Instruments required

LIFR

Low IFR

  • • Ceiling < 500 ft
  • • Visibility < 1 mile
  • • Challenging conditions

💡 TAF Reading Tips

For Student Pilots:

  • • Focus on the plain English explanations above
  • • Pay attention to flight rules categories
  • • Look for wind direction relative to runway headings
  • • Check for temporary conditions (TEMPO)

For Experienced Pilots:

  • • Cross-reference with raw TAF for precise timing
  • • Consider probability forecasts for alternate planning
  • • Monitor BECMG periods for gradual changes
  • • Always check current METAR vs TAF forecast

Important: TAF forecasts should always be supplemented with current METAR observations, PIREPs, and other weather information for complete situational awareness. Weather can change rapidly, and forecasts have inherent limitations.