Dane County Regional Truax Field

KMSN / MSN

Madison, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KMSN 272222Z 2722/2818 08008KT P6SM BKN040 BKN070 FM280000 30010G18KT P6SM FEW060 FM280200 34008KT P6SM FEW250 FM280600 02008KT P6SM SCT025

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Mon
22:00Z
+-1h
Mon
23:00Z
+0h
Tue
00:00Z
+1h
Tue
01:00Z
+2h
Tue
02:00Z
+3h
Tue
03:00Z
+4h
Tue
04:00Z
+5h
Tue
05:00Z
+6h
Tue
06:00Z
+7h
Tue
07:00Z
+8h
Tue
08:00Z
+9h
Tue
09:00Z
+10h
Tue
10:00Z
+11h
Tue
11:00Z
+12h
Tue
12:00Z
+13h
Tue
13:00Z
+14h
Tue
14:00Z
+15h
Tue
15:00Z
+16h
Tue
16:00Z
+17h
Wind Dir
80°
E
80°
E
300°
NW
300°
NW
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
20°
N
20°
N
20°
N
20°
N
20°
N
20°
N
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
Wind Speed
8 kt
8 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
8 kt
G18 kt
8 kt
G18 kt
8 kt
G18 kt
8 kt
G18 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
BKN040
BKN070
BKN040
BKN070
FEW060
FEW060
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
SCT025
SCT025
SCT025
SCT025
SCT025
SCT025
BKN040
BKN070
BKN040
BKN070
BKN040
BKN070
BKN040
BKN070
BKN040
BKN070
Ceiling
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:52Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:52Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:52Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:52Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:52Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
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
80° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN040 BKN070
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East (80°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 4000 feet, Broken clouds at 7000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM280000 00:00Z - 06:00Z
VFR
Wind
300° at 10 kt
Gusts: 18 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW060
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 18 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 6000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM280200 02:00Z - 08:00Z
VFR
Wind
340° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northwest (340°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM280600 06:00Z - 12:00Z
VFR
Wind
20° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northeast (20°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 2500 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.