Chicago Midway International Airport

KMDW / MDW

Chicago, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KMDW 150526Z 1506/1612 16008KT P6SM SCT070 OVC100 PROB30 1508/1512 -SHRA BKN070 FM151300 20015G25KT P6SM SCT040 BKN070 FM160100 18008KT P6SM SCT100 FM160800 19010KT 5SM -SHRA SCT040 OVC080 PROB30 1608/1612 3SM -TSRA BKN050CB

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Fri
07:00Z
+-1h
Fri
08:00Z
+0h
Fri
09:00Z
+1h
Fri
10:00Z
+2h
Fri
11:00Z
+3h
Fri
12:00Z
+4h
Fri
13:00Z
+5h
Fri
14:00Z
+6h
Fri
15:00Z
+7h
Fri
16:00Z
+8h
Fri
17:00Z
+9h
Fri
18:00Z
+10h
Fri
19:00Z
+11h
Fri
20:00Z
+12h
Fri
21:00Z
+13h
Fri
22:00Z
+14h
Fri
23:00Z
+15h
Sat
00:00Z
+16h
Sat
01:00Z
+17h
Sat
02:00Z
+18h
Sat
03:00Z
+19h
Sat
04:00Z
+20h
Sat
05:00Z
+21h
Sat
06:00Z
+22h
Sat
07:00Z
+23h
Sat
08:00Z
+24h
Sat
09:00Z
+25h
Sat
10:00Z
+26h
Wind Dir
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
Wind Speed
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 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
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
30%
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
30%
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
30%
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
30%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Clouds
SCT070
OVC100
BKN070
BKN070
BKN070
BKN070
SCT070
OVC100
SCT040
BKN070
SCT040
BKN070
SCT040
BKN070
SCT040
BKN070
SCT040
BKN070
SCT040
BKN070
SCT070
OVC100
SCT070
OVC100
SCT070
OVC100
SCT070
OVC100
SCT070
OVC100
SCT070
OVC100
SCT100
SCT100
SCT100
SCT100
SCT100
SCT100
SCT070
OVC100
BKN050CB
BKN050CB
BKN050CB
Ceiling
10,000 ft
AGL
7,000 ft
AGL
7,000 ft
AGL
7,000 ft
AGL
7,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
7,000 ft
AGL
7,000 ft
AGL
7,000 ft
AGL
7,000 ft
AGL
7,000 ft
AGL
7,000 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
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
10,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:03Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:03Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:03Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:03Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:03Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:55Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:55Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:55Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:55Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:55Z
☀️
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 occurrence • AGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
160° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT070 OVC100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southeast (160°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 7000 feet, Overcast skies at 10000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 08:00Z - 12:00Z
VFR
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN070
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 7000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM151300 13:00Z - 19:00Z
VFR
Wind
200° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT040 BKN070
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet, Broken clouds at 7000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM160100 01:00Z - 07:00Z
VFR
Wind
180° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (180°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 10000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM160800 08:00Z - 14:00Z
MVFR
Wind
190° at 10 kt
Visibility
5SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT040 OVC080
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (190°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be good at 5SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet, Overcast skies at 8000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

PROB30 08:00Z - 12:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
3SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN050CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be good at 3SM. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 5000 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.