Dane County Regional Truax Field

KMSN / MSN

Madison, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KMSN 101144Z 1012/1112 17007KT P6SM SCT045 FM101600 19012KT P6SM SCT060 FM101900 20013G24KT 4SM +TSRA SCT025 BKN040CB FM102200 21014G27KT P6SM SCT030 BKN080 PROB30 1022/1104 4SM -TSRA BKN030CB FM110400 22011KT P6SM BKN035 WS020/21045KT FM110700 25008KT P6SM SCT080

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
15:00Z
+-1h
Wed
16:00Z
+0h
Wed
17:00Z
+1h
Wed
18:00Z
+2h
Wed
19:00Z
+3h
Wed
20:00Z
+4h
Wed
21:00Z
+5h
Wed
22:00Z
+6h
Wed
23:00Z
+7h
Thu
00:00Z
+8h
Thu
01:00Z
+9h
Thu
02:00Z
+10h
Thu
03:00Z
+11h
Thu
04:00Z
+12h
Thu
05:00Z
+13h
Thu
06:00Z
+14h
Thu
07:00Z
+15h
Thu
08:00Z
+16h
Thu
09:00Z
+17h
Thu
10:00Z
+18h
Wind Dir
170°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
Wind Speed
7 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
13 kt
G24 kt
13 kt
G24 kt
13 kt
G24 kt
7 kt
G27 kt
7 kt
G27 kt
7 kt
G27 kt
7 kt
G27 kt
7 kt
G27 kt
7 kt
G27 kt
11 kt
11 kt
11 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Heavy Thunderstorm Rain
+TSRA
Heavy Thunderstorm Rain
+TSRA
Heavy Thunderstorm Rain
+TSRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT045
SCT060
SCT060
SCT060
SCT025
BKN040CB
SCT025
BKN040CB
SCT025
BKN040CB
BKN030CB
BKN030CB
BKN030CB
BKN030CB
BKN030CB
BKN030CB
BKN035
BKN035
BKN035
SCT080
SCT080
SCT080
SCT080
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:20Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:20Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:20Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:20Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:20Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:39Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:39Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:39Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:39Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:39Z
☀️
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 occurrenceAGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
170° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT045
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South (170°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 4500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM101600 16:00Z - 22:00Z
VFR
Wind
190° at 12 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT060
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (190°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 6000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM101900 19:00Z - 01:00Z
MVFR
Wind
200° at 13 kt
Gusts: 24 kt
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Heavy Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
SCT025 BKN040CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 13 kt. Gusts up to 24 kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Heavy Thunderstorm Rain. Scattered clouds at 2500 feet, Broken clouds at 4000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM102200 22:00Z - 04:00Z
VFR
Wind
210° at 14 kt
Gusts: 27 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT030 BKN080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southwest (210°) at 14 kt. Gusts up to 27 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 3000 feet, Broken clouds at 8000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 22:00Z - 04:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN030CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 3000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM110400 04:00Z - 10:00Z
VFR
Wind
220° at 11 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN035
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 11 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 3500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM110700 07:00Z - 13:00Z
VFR
Wind
250° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 8000 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.