Chicago Midway International Airport

KMDW / MDW

Chicago, US

Last Updated
Jul 4, 01:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 30 min ago
01:53Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
26°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 22°C
5 kt
110°
10 SM
Visibility
5,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1015 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KMDW 040153Z 11005KT 10SM -TSRA FEW045 BKN050CB BKN070 OVC150 26/22 A2996 RMK AO2 RAB48 TSB34 SLP135 FRQ LTGICCG SE-W TS SE-W MOV NE P0000 T02610217 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 620 ft
FEW 4,500 ft AGL
BKN 5,000 ft AGL (CB)
BKN 7,000 ft AGL
OVC 15,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
4,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,120 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN (CB)
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
5,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,620 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
7,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
7,620 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
15,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
15,620 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Chicago Midway International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with overcast skies at 15,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east-southeast (110°) at 5 knots. Runway 13C/31C is favored with a 5-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 5000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums. Caution: cumulonimbus (thunderstorm) clouds reported at 5,000 ft AGL, indicating convective activity in the area.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 26°C (79°F) with a dewpoint of 22°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 30 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Expected weather includes: Thunderstorm Rain, Mist. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Thunderstorm Rain, Mist between 02:00Z and 05:00Z. There is a 30% probability of IFR conditions with Thunderstorm Rain, Mist between 20:00Z and 00:00Z.

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
1015 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
994 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (620 ft)
Pressure Alt
568 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 2,037 ft
ISA Deviation: +12.2°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KMDW 032320Z 0400/0506 20007KT P6SM FEW040 SCT150 FM040100 18006KT P6SM VCTS SCT040CB BKN150 TEMPO 0402/0405 32015G25KT 2SM TSRA BR BKN020 OVC040CB FM040600 18005KT P6SM FEW035 SCT120 FM041300 23008KT P6SM SCT025 SCT120 FM042000 09009KT P6SM SCT040 BKN150 PROB30 0420/0424 2SM TSRA BR SCT015 OVC040CB
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
02:23Z BASE
+0h
VFR 200° 7 kt
Visibility: >6SM
06:00Z FM040600
+4h
VFR 180° 5 kt
Visibility: >6SM
13:00Z FM041300
+11h
VFR 230° 8 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
Chart Features
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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
MDW
04L
22R
04R
22L
13L ✈️
31R
13C ✈️
31C
13R ✈️
31L

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
04L/22R 5,507 ft 150 ft ASP 43°
2.0 kt 4.6 kt
67° angle
04R/22L 6,446 ft 150 ft PEM 43°
2.0 kt 4.6 kt
67° angle
✈️ 13C/31C
Active: 13C
6,522 ft 150 ft CON 134°
4.7 kt 1.7 kt
20° angle
✈️ 13L/31R
Active: 13L
5,141 ft 150 ft ASP 134°
4.7 kt 1.7 kt
20° angle
✈️ 13R/31L
Active: 13R
3,859 ft 60 ft CON 134°
4.7 kt 1.7 kt
20° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KMDW

8,007 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
73.4%
MVFR
18.3%
IFR
5.8%
LIFR
2.4%

Chicago Midway International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 73.4% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 8.2% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 9.6 knots, with gusts recorded up to 36 knots. Temperature extremes range from -23°C to 34°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are July, September, May.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 9.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 36 kt
Calm Winds: 4.3%
Direction Distribution:
E
10.9%
N
8.4%
S
15.3%
W
18.2%
NE
8.1%
NW
12%
SE
6%
SW
16.9%

Temperature Range

Average: 8.5°C
Range: -23°C to 34°C
-23°C 34°C

Visibility

Average: 9.3 SM
Below 3 SM: 2.2%
Fog Frequency: 1.1%

Best Months for VFR

July September May

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 04L/22R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.6 kt
Runway 04R/22L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.6 kt
Runway 13C/31C
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.6 kt
Runway 13L/31R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.6 kt
Runway 13R/31L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.6 kt

Statistics computed from 8,007 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Chicago Midway International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KMDW
IATA Code: MDW
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 620 ft MSL

Location

City: Chicago
Country: US
Latitude: 41.785999°
Longitude: -87.752403°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 04L/22R
Length: 5,507 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 04R/22L
Length: 6,446 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: PEM
ILS: No
Runway 13C/31C
Length: 6,522 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 13L/31R
Length: 5,141 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 13R/31L
Length: 3,859 ft
Width: 60 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About Chicago Midway International Airport

Overview

Chicago Midway International Airport serves as a major commercial airport located in Chicago, Illinois. Situated at an elevation of 620 feet MSL, it handles significant passenger and cargo traffic for the Chicago metropolitan area. The airport's strategic location and multiple runways make it a critical transportation hub in the Midwest region.

Flying Conditions

The airport's five runways provide operational flexibility across different wind conditions, with lengths ranging from 3,859 to 6,522 feet. Runway surfaces include asphalt (ASP), portland cement (PEM), and concrete (CON) compositions, which can influence landing and takeoff characteristics. Pilots should anticipate variable wind conditions typical of the Great Lakes region, particularly during seasonal transitions.

Notable Features

Midway features five runways with diverse orientations (04/22, 13/31), allowing for multiple approach and departure options based on wind direction. The airport's relatively modest elevation of 620 feet MSL provides consistent atmospheric conditions without significant altitude-related performance challenges. Its urban location means pilots must be prepared for complex airspace interactions and potential air traffic density.

Approach Considerations

Runway selection will depend primarily on prevailing wind conditions, with multiple options available due to the five-runway configuration. The longest runway (13C/31C at 6,522 feet) provides the most substantial landing and takeoff capabilities. Pilots should carefully review current wind data and air traffic instructions when planning approaches to this multi-runway airport.

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.