Chicago Rockford International Airport

KRFD / RFD

Chicago/Rockford, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KRFD 212320Z 2200/2224 25011G17KT P6SM FEW060 SCT250 FM220100 25005KT P6SM FEW250 FM221000 07005KT 4SM BR FEW005 BKN015 FM221500 11008KT P6SM SCT015

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
00:00Z
+-1h
Wed
01:00Z
+0h
Wed
02:00Z
+1h
Wed
03:00Z
+2h
Wed
04:00Z
+3h
Wed
05:00Z
+4h
Wed
06:00Z
+5h
Wed
07:00Z
+6h
Wed
08:00Z
+7h
Wed
09:00Z
+8h
Wed
10:00Z
+9h
Wed
11:00Z
+10h
Wed
12:00Z
+11h
Wed
13:00Z
+12h
Wed
14:00Z
+13h
Wed
15:00Z
+14h
Wed
16:00Z
+15h
Wed
17:00Z
+16h
Wed
18:00Z
+17h
Wed
19:00Z
+18h
Wed
20:00Z
+19h
Wed
21:00Z
+20h
Wed
22:00Z
+21h
Wind Dir
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
250°
W
250°
W
Wind Speed
11 kt
G17 kt
5 kt
G17 kt
5 kt
G17 kt
5 kt
G17 kt
5 kt
G17 kt
5 kt
G17 kt
5 kt
G17 kt
11 kt
G17 kt
11 kt
G17 kt
11 kt
G17 kt
5 kt
G17 kt
5 kt
G17 kt
5 kt
G17 kt
5 kt
G17 kt
5 kt
G17 kt
8 kt
G17 kt
8 kt
G17 kt
8 kt
G17 kt
8 kt
G17 kt
8 kt
G17 kt
8 kt
G17 kt
11 kt
G17 kt
11 kt
G17 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW060
SCT250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW250
FEW060
SCT250
FEW060
SCT250
FEW060
SCT250
FEW005
BKN015
FEW005
BKN015
FEW005
BKN015
FEW005
BKN015
FEW005
BKN015
SCT015
SCT015
SCT015
SCT015
SCT015
SCT015
FEW060
SCT250
FEW060
SCT250
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:20Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:20Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:20Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:20Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:20Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:39Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:39Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:39Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:39Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:39Z
🌙
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 occurrence • AGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
250° at 11 kt
Gusts: 17 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW060 SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 11 kt. Gusts up to 17 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 6000 feet, Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM220100 01:00Z - 07:00Z
VFR
Wind
250° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM221000 10:00Z - 16:00Z
MVFR
Wind
70° at 5 kt
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
FEW005 BKN015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East-Northeast (70°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Mist. Few clouds at 500 feet, Broken clouds at 1500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM221500 15:00Z - 21:00Z
VFR
Wind
110° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East-Southeast (110°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 1500 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.