Dane County Regional Truax Field

KMSN / MSN

Madison, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KMSN 042331Z 0500/0524 07006KT P6SM BKN250 FM050500 VRB03KT P6SM BKN026 FM050800 VRB03KT P6SM BKN016 FM051100 VRB04KT 5SM BR OVC009 PROB30 0513/0516 2SM -RA BR OVC004 FM051600 06006KT 4SM BR BKN008 PROB30 0516/0517 2SM -RA BR OVC004 FM051700 06006KT 3SM BR BKN007

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
00:00Z
+-1h
Thu
01:00Z
+0h
Thu
02:00Z
+1h
Thu
03:00Z
+2h
Thu
04:00Z
+3h
Thu
05:00Z
+4h
Thu
06:00Z
+5h
Thu
07:00Z
+6h
Thu
08:00Z
+7h
Thu
09:00Z
+8h
Thu
10:00Z
+9h
Thu
11:00Z
+10h
Thu
12:00Z
+11h
Thu
13:00Z
+12h
Thu
14:00Z
+13h
Thu
15:00Z
+14h
Thu
16:00Z
+15h
Thu
17:00Z
+16h
Thu
18:00Z
+17h
Thu
19:00Z
+18h
Thu
20:00Z
+19h
Thu
21:00Z
+20h
Thu
22:00Z
+21h
Wind Dir
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
Wind Speed
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
4 kt
4 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
5SM
5SM
2SM
2SM
2SM
2SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
30%
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
30%
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
30%
Light Rain, Mist
-RA BR
30%
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Clouds
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
BKN026
BKN026
BKN026
BKN016
BKN016
BKN016
OVC009
OVC009
OVC004
OVC004
OVC004
OVC004
BKN007
BKN007
BKN007
BKN007
BKN007
BKN007
Ceiling
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
2,600 ft
AGL
2,600 ft
AGL
2,600 ft
AGL
1,600 ft
AGL
1,600 ft
AGL
1,600 ft
AGL
900 ft
AGL
900 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
700 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR IFR IFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:25Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:25Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:25Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:25Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:25Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:35Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:35Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:35Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:35Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:35Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
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
70° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East-Northeast (70°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050500 05:00Z - 11:00Z
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN026
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 2600 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM050800 08:00Z - 14:00Z
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN016
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 1600 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM051100 11:00Z - 17:00Z
IFR
Wind
VRB° at 4 kt
Visibility
5SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
OVC009
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 4 kt. Visibility will be good at 5SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Overcast skies at 900 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

PROB30 13:00Z - 16:00Z
LIFR
Visibility
2SM
Weather
Light Rain, Mist
Clouds
OVC004
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be moderate at 2SM. Weather conditions: Light Rain, Mist. Overcast skies at 400 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

FM051600 16:00Z - 22:00Z
IFR
Wind
60° at 6 kt
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN008
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East-Northeast (60°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 800 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

PROB30 16:00Z - 17:00Z
LIFR
Visibility
2SM
Weather
Light Rain, Mist
Clouds
OVC004
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be moderate at 2SM. Weather conditions: Light Rain, Mist. Overcast skies at 400 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

FM051700 17:00Z - 23:00Z
IFR
Wind
60° at 6 kt
Visibility
3SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN007
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East-Northeast (60°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be good at 3SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 700 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.