Chicago Rockford International Airport

KRFD / RFD

Chicago/Rockford, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KRFD 062320Z 0700/0724 20011KT P6SM SCT100 FM070200 19012KT P6SM SCT015 BKN080 WS020/21050KT FM070600 21014G23KT 6SM -SHRA SCT006 BKN020 TEMPO 0707/0710 30020G30KT 1SM -TSRA BKN015CB FM071400 24017G26KT 6SM -DZ BR SCT005 BKN015 FM071800 29015G25KT P6SM BKN020

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
04:00Z
+-1h
Sat
05:00Z
+0h
Sat
06:00Z
+1h
Sat
07:00Z
+2h
Sat
08:00Z
+3h
Sat
09:00Z
+4h
Sat
10:00Z
+5h
Sat
11:00Z
+6h
Sat
12:00Z
+7h
Sat
13:00Z
+8h
Sat
14:00Z
+9h
Sat
15:00Z
+10h
Sat
16:00Z
+11h
Sat
17:00Z
+12h
Sat
18:00Z
+13h
Sat
19:00Z
+14h
Sat
20:00Z
+15h
Sat
21:00Z
+16h
Sat
22:00Z
+17h
Wind Dir
200°
S
200°
S
210°
SW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
210°
SW
210°
SW
200°
S
200°
S
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
Wind Speed
11 kt
11 kt
14 kt
G23 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
14 kt
G23 kt
14 kt
G23 kt
11 kt
11 kt
17 kt
G26 kt
17 kt
G26 kt
17 kt
G26 kt
17 kt
G26 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
6SM
1SM
1SM
1SM
6SM
6SM
>6SM
>6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Drizzle, Mist
-DZ BR
Light Drizzle, Mist
-DZ BR
Light Drizzle, Mist
-DZ BR
Light Drizzle, Mist
-DZ BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT100
SCT100
SCT006
BKN020
BKN015CB
BKN015CB
BKN015CB
SCT006
BKN020
SCT006
BKN020
SCT100
SCT100
SCT005
BKN015
SCT005
BKN015
SCT005
BKN015
SCT005
BKN015
BKN020
BKN020
BKN020
BKN020
BKN020
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
2,000 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR MVFR IFR IFR IFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:21Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:21Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:21Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:21Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:21Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:38Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:38Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:38Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:38Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:38Z
🌙
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
200° at 11 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 11 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 10000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM070200 02:00Z - 08:00Z
VFR
Wind
190° at 12 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT015 BKN080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (190°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 1500 feet, Broken clouds at 8000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM070600 06:00Z - 12:00Z
MVFR
Wind
210° at 14 kt
Gusts: 23 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT006 BKN020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southwest (210°) at 14 kt. Gusts up to 23 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 600 feet, Broken clouds at 2000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 07:00Z - 10:00Z
IFR
Wind
300° at 20 kt
Gusts: 30 kt
Visibility
1SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN015CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 20 kt. Gusts up to 30 kt are expected. Visibility will be moderate at 1SM. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 1500 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM071400 14:00Z - 20:00Z
MVFR
Wind
240° at 17 kt
Gusts: 26 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Drizzle, Mist
Clouds
SCT005 BKN015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Southwest (240°) at 17 kt. Gusts up to 26 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Drizzle, Mist. Scattered clouds at 500 feet, Broken clouds at 1500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM071800 18:00Z - 00:00Z
MVFR
Wind
290° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Northwest (290°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 2000 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.