Chicago Rockford International Airport

KRFD / RFD

Chicago/Rockford, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KRFD 070725Z 0707/0806 20015G25KT 6SM -SHRA SCT015 BKN025 TEMPO 0707/0710 22020G32KT 2SM -TSRA BKN015 OVC035CB FM071100 24017G26KT 6SM -DZ BR SCT005 BKN015 FM071600 29015G25KT P6SM BKN020 FM080300 27010KT P6SM SCT200

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
07:00Z
+-1h
Sat
08:00Z
+0h
Sat
09:00Z
+1h
Sat
10:00Z
+2h
Sat
11:00Z
+3h
Sat
12:00Z
+4h
Sat
13:00Z
+5h
Sat
14:00Z
+6h
Sat
15:00Z
+7h
Sat
16:00Z
+8h
Sat
17:00Z
+9h
Sat
18:00Z
+10h
Sat
19:00Z
+11h
Sat
20:00Z
+12h
Sat
21:00Z
+13h
Sat
22:00Z
+14h
Sat
23:00Z
+15h
Sun
00:00Z
+16h
Sun
01:00Z
+17h
Sun
02:00Z
+18h
Sun
03:00Z
+19h
Sun
04:00Z
+20h
Wind Dir
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
270°
W
270°
W
Wind Speed
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
17 kt
G26 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
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
10 kt
G25 kt
10 kt
G25 kt
Visibility
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Drizzle, Mist
-DZ BR
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
☀️ Clear
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT015
BKN025
SCT015
BKN025
SCT015
BKN025
SCT015
BKN025
SCT005
BKN015
SCT005
BKN015
SCT005
BKN015
SCT005
BKN015
SCT005
BKN015
BKN020
BKN020
BKN020
BKN020
BKN020
BKN020
SCT015
BKN025
SCT015
BKN025
SCT015
BKN025
SCT015
BKN025
SCT015
BKN025
SCT200
SCT200
Ceiling
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
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
2,000 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
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
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:20Z
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
MVFR
Wind
200° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT015 BKN025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 1500 feet, Broken clouds at 2500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 07:00Z - 10:00Z
IFR
Wind
220° at 20 kt
Gusts: 32 kt
Visibility
2SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN015 OVC035CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 20 kt. Gusts up to 32 kt are expected. Visibility will be moderate at 2SM. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 1500 feet, Overcast skies at 3500 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM071100 11:00Z - 17:00Z
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.

FM071600 16:00Z - 22:00Z
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.

FM080300 03:00Z - 09:00Z
VFR
Wind
270° at 10 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (270°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 20000 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.