Dupage Airport

KDPA / DPA

Chicago/West Chicago, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KDPA 041723Z 0418/0518 08009KT P6SM SCT020 OVC060 TEMPO 0418/0421 5SM BR BKN020 FM042100 09009KT 6SM BR SCT008 BKN015 OVC050 TEMPO 0422/0502 2SM -SHRADZ BR BKN004 FM050200 04006KT 3SM -SHRADZ BR SCT002 OVC004 PROB30 0509/0512 1SM -RADZ FG VV002 FM051600 04006KT 5SM BR SCT003 OVC005

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
18:00Z
+-1h
Wed
19:00Z
+0h
Wed
20:00Z
+1h
Wed
21:00Z
+2h
Wed
22:00Z
+3h
Wed
23:00Z
+4h
Thu
00:00Z
+5h
Thu
01:00Z
+6h
Thu
02:00Z
+7h
Thu
03:00Z
+8h
Thu
04:00Z
+9h
Thu
05:00Z
+10h
Thu
06:00Z
+11h
Thu
07:00Z
+12h
Thu
08:00Z
+13h
Thu
09:00Z
+14h
Thu
10:00Z
+15h
Thu
11:00Z
+16h
Thu
12:00Z
+17h
Thu
13:00Z
+18h
Thu
14:00Z
+19h
Thu
15:00Z
+20h
Thu
16:00Z
+21h
Wind Dir
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
90°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
40°
NE
Wind Speed
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
6SM
2SM
2SM
2SM
2SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
>6SM
1SM
1SM
1SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
5SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
Light Showers RADZ, Mist
-SHRADZ BR
Light Showers RADZ, Mist
-SHRADZ BR
Light Showers RADZ, Mist
-SHRADZ BR
Light Showers RADZ, Mist
-SHRADZ BR
Light Showers RADZ, Mist
-SHRADZ BR
Light Showers RADZ, Mist
-SHRADZ BR
Light Showers RADZ, Mist
-SHRADZ BR
Light Showers RADZ, Mist
-SHRADZ BR
Light Showers RADZ, Mist
-SHRADZ BR
Light Showers RADZ, Mist
-SHRADZ BR
☀️ Clear
Light RADZ, Fog
-RADZ FG
30%
Light RADZ, Fog
-RADZ FG
30%
Light RADZ, Fog
-RADZ FG
30%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
Clouds
SCT020
OVC060
SCT020
OVC060
SCT020
OVC060
SCT008
BKN015
BKN004
BKN004
BKN004
BKN004
SCT002
OVC004
SCT002
OVC004
SCT002
OVC004
SCT002
OVC004
SCT002
OVC004
SCT002
OVC004
SCT020
OVC060
VV002
VV002
VV002
SCT020
OVC060
SCT020
OVC060
SCT020
OVC060
SCT020
OVC060
SCT003
OVC005
Ceiling
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
6,000 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR MVFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR VFR LIFR LIFR LIFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR
Day/Night
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:34Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:34Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:24Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:24Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:24Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:24Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:24Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:35Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:35Z
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 occurrenceAGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
80° at 9 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT020 OVC060
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East (80°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet, Overcast skies at 6000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 18:00Z - 21:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
5SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be good at 5SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 2000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM042100 21:00Z - 03:00Z
MVFR
Wind
90° at 9 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
SCT008 BKN015 OVC050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East (90°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Scattered clouds at 800 feet, Broken clouds at 1500 feet, Overcast skies at 5000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 22:00Z - 02:00Z
LIFR
Visibility
2SM
Weather
Light Showers RADZ, Mist
Clouds
BKN004
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be moderate at 2SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers RADZ, Mist. Broken clouds at 400 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

FM050200 02:00Z - 08:00Z
LIFR
Wind
40° at 6 kt
Visibility
3SM
Weather
Light Showers RADZ, Mist
Clouds
SCT002 OVC004
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northeast (40°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be good at 3SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers RADZ, Mist. Scattered clouds at 200 feet, Overcast skies at 400 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

PROB30 09:00Z - 12:00Z
LIFR
Visibility
1SM
Weather
Light RADZ, Fog
Clouds
VV002
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be moderate at 1SM. Weather conditions: Light RADZ, Fog. Vertical visibility at 200 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

FM051600 16:00Z - 22:00Z
IFR
Wind
40° at 6 kt
Visibility
5SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
SCT003 OVC005
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northeast (40°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be good at 5SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Scattered clouds at 300 feet, Overcast skies at 500 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

📚 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.