Chicago Rockford International Airport

KRFD / RFD

Chicago/Rockford, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KRFD 101455Z 1015/1112 21014G24KT P6SM FEW030 BKN050 TEMPO 1019/1022 27035G55KT 1SM +TSRA BR BKN010 OVC040CB FM102300 20012KT 6SM -SHRA VCTS BKN040CB PROB30 1023/1103 VRB20G35KT 2SM TSRA BR BKN010 OVC040CB FM110300 23010KT P6SM BKN100

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
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
210°
SW
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
Wind Speed
14 kt
G24 kt
14 kt
G24 kt
14 kt
G24 kt
14 kt
G24 kt
35 kt
G55 kt
35 kt
G55 kt
35 kt
G55 kt
14 kt
G24 kt
20 kt
G35 kt
20 kt
G35 kt
20 kt
G35 kt
20 kt
G35 kt
10 kt
G24 kt
10 kt
G24 kt
10 kt
G24 kt
10 kt
G24 kt
10 kt
G24 kt
10 kt
G24 kt
14 kt
G24 kt
14 kt
G24 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
1SM
1SM
1SM
>6SM
2SM
2SM
2SM
2SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Heavy Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
+TSRA BR
Heavy Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
+TSRA BR
Heavy Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
+TSRA BR
☀️ Clear
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
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW030
BKN050
FEW030
BKN050
FEW030
BKN050
FEW030
BKN050
BKN010
OVC040CB
BKN010
OVC040CB
BKN010
OVC040CB
FEW030
BKN050
BKN010
OVC040CB
BKN010
OVC040CB
BKN010
OVC040CB
BKN010
OVC040CB
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
FEW030
BKN050
FEW030
BKN050
Ceiling
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR VFR IFR IFR IFR IFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:18Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:18Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:18Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:18Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:18Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:40Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:40Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:40Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:40Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:40Z
☀️
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
210° at 14 kt
Gusts: 24 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW030 BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southwest (210°) at 14 kt. Gusts up to 24 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 3000 feet, Broken clouds at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 19:00Z - 22:00Z
IFR
Wind
270° at 35 kt
Gusts: 55 kt
Visibility
1SM
Weather
Heavy Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
Clouds
BKN010 OVC040CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the West (270°) at 35 kt. Gusts up to 55 kt are expected. Visibility will be moderate at 1SM. Weather conditions: Heavy Thunderstorm Rain, Mist. Broken clouds at 1000 feet, Overcast skies at 4000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM102300 23:00Z - 05:00Z
MVFR
Wind
200° at 12 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN040CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 4000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

PROB30 23:00Z - 03:00Z
IFR
Wind
VRB° at 20 kt
Gusts: 35 kt
Visibility
2SM
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
Clouds
BKN010 OVC040CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Winds will be variable in direction at 20 kt. Gusts up to 35 kt are expected. Visibility will be moderate at 2SM. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain, Mist. Broken clouds at 1000 feet, Overcast skies at 4000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM110300 03:00Z - 09:00Z
VFR
Wind
230° at 10 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (230°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 10000 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.