Chicago Midway International Airport

KMDW / MDW

Chicago, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KMDW 040300Z 0403/0506 18006KT 6SM -SHRA VCTS SCT040CB BKN080 TEMPO 0403/0404 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

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
03:00Z
+-1h
Sat
04:00Z
+0h
Sat
05:00Z
+1h
Sat
06:00Z
+2h
Sat
07:00Z
+3h
Sat
08:00Z
+4h
Sat
09:00Z
+5h
Sat
10:00Z
+6h
Sat
11:00Z
+7h
Sat
12:00Z
+8h
Sat
13:00Z
+9h
Sat
14:00Z
+10h
Sat
15:00Z
+11h
Sat
16:00Z
+12h
Sat
17:00Z
+13h
Sat
18:00Z
+14h
Sat
19:00Z
+15h
Sat
20:00Z
+16h
Sat
21:00Z
+17h
Sat
22:00Z
+18h
Sat
23:00Z
+19h
Sun
00:00Z
+20h
Sun
01:00Z
+21h
Sun
02:00Z
+22h
Sun
03:00Z
+23h
Sun
04:00Z
+24h
Wind Dir
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
90°
E
90°
E
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
Wind Speed
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
6 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
9 kt
9 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
Visibility
6SM
6SM
6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
6SM
2SM
2SM
2SM
2SM
>6SM
>6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
TSRA BR
30%
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
TSRA BR
30%
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
TSRA BR
30%
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
TSRA BR
30%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Clouds
SCT040CB
BKN080
SCT040CB
BKN080
SCT040CB
BKN080
FEW035
SCT120
FEW035
SCT120
FEW035
SCT120
FEW035
SCT120
FEW035
SCT120
FEW035
SCT120
SCT040CB
BKN080
SCT025
SCT120
SCT025
SCT120
SCT025
SCT120
SCT025
SCT120
SCT025
SCT120
SCT025
SCT120
SCT040CB
BKN080
SCT015
OVC040CB
SCT015
OVC040CB
SCT015
OVC040CB
SCT015
OVC040CB
SCT040
BKN150
SCT040
BKN150
SCT040CB
BKN080
SCT040CB
BKN080
SCT040CB
BKN080
Ceiling
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
8,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
8,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
8,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR IFR IFR IFR IFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:41Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:41Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:41Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:41Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:18Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:18Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:18Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:18Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:18Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:41Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:41Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:41Z
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
MVFR
Wind
180° at 6 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT040CB BKN080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South (180°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet, Broken clouds at 8000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 03:00Z - 04:00Z
IFR
Wind
320° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
2SM
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
Clouds
BKN020 OVC040CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the Northwest (320°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be moderate at 2SM. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain, Mist. Broken clouds at 2000 feet, Overcast skies at 4000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM040600 06:00Z - 12:00Z
VFR
Wind
180° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW035 SCT120
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (180°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 3500 feet, Scattered clouds at 12000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM041300 13:00Z - 19:00Z
VFR
Wind
230° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT025 SCT120
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (230°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 2500 feet, Scattered clouds at 12000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM042000 20:00Z - 02:00Z
VFR
Wind
90° at 9 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT040 BKN150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East (90°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet, Broken clouds at 15000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 20:00Z - 00:00Z
IFR
Visibility
2SM
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
Clouds
SCT015 OVC040CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be moderate at 2SM. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain, Mist. Scattered clouds at 1500 feet, Overcast skies at 4000 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.