Chicago Rockford International Airport

KRFD / RFD

Chicago/Rockford, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KRFD 212100Z 2121/2218 24012G18KT P6SM SCT050 FM220100 VRB04KT P6SM SKC FM221000 07006KT 4SM BR FEW005 BKN015 FM221500 07008KT P6SM SCT015

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Tue
23:00Z
+0h
Wed
00:00Z
+1h
Wed
01:00Z
+2h
Wed
02:00Z
+3h
Wed
03:00Z
+4h
Wed
04:00Z
+5h
Wed
05:00Z
+6h
Wed
06:00Z
+7h
Wed
07:00Z
+8h
Wed
08:00Z
+9h
Wed
09:00Z
+10h
Wed
10:00Z
+11h
Wed
11:00Z
+12h
Wed
12:00Z
+13h
Wed
13:00Z
+14h
Wed
14:00Z
+15h
Wed
15:00Z
+16h
Wed
16:00Z
+17h
Wind Dir
240°
SW
240°
SW
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
Wind Speed
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
4 kt
G18 kt
4 kt
G18 kt
4 kt
G18 kt
4 kt
G18 kt
4 kt
G18 kt
4 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
12 kt
G18 kt
6 kt
G18 kt
6 kt
G18 kt
6 kt
G18 kt
6 kt
G18 kt
6 kt
G18 kt
8 kt
G18 kt
8 kt
G18 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT050
SCT050
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
SCT050
SCT050
SCT050
FEW005
BKN015
FEW005
BKN015
FEW005
BKN015
FEW005
BKN015
FEW005
BKN015
SCT015
SCT015
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ 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
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
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
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
240° at 12 kt
Gusts: 18 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West-Southwest (240°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 18 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM220100 01:00Z - 07:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 4 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Skies will be clear. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM221000 10:00Z - 16:00Z
MVFR
Wind
70° at 6 kt
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Mist
Clouds
FEW005 BKN015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East-Northeast (70°) at 6 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
70° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East-Northeast (70°) 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.