Dane County Regional Truax Field
KMSN / MSN
Madison, US
Current TAF Forecast
Detailed TAF Table
| Parameter |
Sat
20:00Z
+-1h
|
Sat
21:00Z
+0h
|
Sat
22:00Z
+1h
|
Sat
23:00Z
+2h
|
Sun
00:00Z
+3h
|
Sun
01:00Z
+4h
|
Sun
02:00Z
+5h
|
Sun
03:00Z
+6h
|
Sun
04:00Z
+7h
|
Sun
05:00Z
+8h
|
Sun
06:00Z
+9h
|
Sun
07:00Z
+10h
|
Sun
08:00Z
+11h
|
Sun
09:00Z
+12h
|
Sun
10:00Z
+13h
|
Sun
11:00Z
+14h
|
Sun
12:00Z
+15h
|
Sun
13:00Z
+16h
|
Sun
14:00Z
+17h
|
Sun
15:00Z
+18h
|
Sun
16:00Z
+19h
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wind Dir |
280°
W
|
280°
W
|
280°
W
|
280°
W
|
300°
NW
|
300°
NW
|
300°
NW
|
300°
NW
|
300°
NW
|
280°
W
|
280°
W
|
280°
W
|
280°
W
|
280°
W
|
280°
W
|
280°
W
|
240°
SW
|
240°
SW
|
240°
SW
|
240°
SW
|
240°
SW
|
| Wind Speed |
12kt
|
12kt
|
12kt
|
12kt
|
12kt
G21kt
|
12kt
G21kt
|
12kt
G21kt
|
12kt
G21kt
|
12kt
G21kt
|
10kt
G21kt
|
10kt
|
10kt
|
10kt
|
10kt
|
10kt
|
12kt
|
10kt
|
10kt
|
10kt
|
10kt
|
10kt
|
| Visibility |
3SM
|
3SM
|
5SM
|
5SM
|
>6SM
|
>6SM
|
>6SM
|
>6SM
|
>6SM
|
>6SM
|
>6SM
|
>6SM
|
>6SM
|
>6SM
|
>6SM
|
3SM
|
>6SM
|
>6SM
|
>6SM
|
>6SM
|
>6SM
|
| Weather |
Light Snow
-SN
|
Light Snow
-SN
|
Light Snow
-SN
30%
|
Light Snow
-SN
30%
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
Light Snow
-SN
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
☀️ Clear
|
| Clouds |
OVC014
|
OVC014
|
OVC009
|
OVC009
|
OVC020
|
OVC020
|
OVC020
|
OVC020
|
OVC020
|
BKN025
|
BKN025
|
BKN025
|
BKN025
|
BKN025
|
BKN025
|
OVC014
|
BKN027
|
BKN027
|
BKN027
|
BKN027
|
BKN027
|
| Ceiling |
1400ft
AGL
|
1400ft
AGL
|
900ft
AGL
|
900ft
AGL
|
2000ft
AGL
|
2000ft
AGL
|
2000ft
AGL
|
2000ft
AGL
|
2000ft
AGL
|
2500ft
AGL
|
2500ft
AGL
|
2500ft
AGL
|
2500ft
AGL
|
2500ft
AGL
|
2500ft
AGL
|
1400ft
AGL
|
2700ft
AGL
|
2700ft
AGL
|
2700ft
AGL
|
2700ft
AGL
|
2700ft
AGL
|
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | MVFR | MVFR | MVFR | MVFR | MVFR | MVFR | MVFR | MVFR | MVFR | MVFR | MVFR | IFR | MVFR | MVFR | MVFR | MVFR | MVFR |
| Day/Night |
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
|
🌙
Night
🌅
07:13
|
🌙
Night
🌅
07:13
|
🌅
Dawn
🌅
07:13
|
☀️
Day
🌅
07:13
|
☀️
Day
🌅
07:13
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
|
☀️
Day
🌇
16:46
|
☀️
Day
🌇
16:46
|
☀️
Day
🌇
16:46
|
Forecast Periods
📖 Plain English Explanation:
This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West (280°) at 12kt. Visibility will be good at 3SM. Weather conditions: Light Snow. Overcast skies at 1400 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.
📖 Plain English Explanation:
Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be moderate at 1/2SM. Weather conditions: Snow. Vertical visibility at 900 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.
📖 Plain English Explanation:
Winds from the West (280°) at 12kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Overcast skies at 1400 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.
📖 Plain English Explanation:
There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be good at 5SM. Weather conditions: Light Snow. Overcast skies at 900 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.
📖 Plain English Explanation:
Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 12kt. Gusts up to 21kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Overcast skies at 2000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.
📖 Plain English Explanation:
Winds from the West (280°) at 10kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 2500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.
📖 Plain English Explanation:
Winds from the West-Southwest (240°) at 10kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 2700 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.
📚 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.