Dane County Regional Truax Field

KMSN / MSN

Madison, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KMSN 041741Z 0418/0518 35003KT P6SM SCT020 BKN120 TEMPO 0418/0422 -SHRA BKN020 FM050300 VRB03KT P6SM FEW020 SCT110 FM051400 04007KT P6SM SCT025 BKN040

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
18:00Z
+-1h
Sat
19:00Z
+0h
Sat
20:00Z
+1h
Sat
21:00Z
+2h
Sat
22:00Z
+3h
Sat
23:00Z
+4h
Sun
00:00Z
+5h
Sun
01:00Z
+6h
Sun
02:00Z
+7h
Sun
03:00Z
+8h
Sun
04:00Z
+9h
Sun
05:00Z
+10h
Sun
06:00Z
+11h
Sun
07:00Z
+12h
Sun
08:00Z
+13h
Sun
09:00Z
+14h
Sun
10:00Z
+15h
Sun
11:00Z
+16h
Sun
12:00Z
+17h
Sun
13:00Z
+18h
Sun
14:00Z
+19h
Sun
15:00Z
+20h
Sun
16:00Z
+21h
Wind Dir
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
Wind Speed
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 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
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT020
BKN120
SCT020
BKN120
SCT020
BKN120
SCT020
BKN120
SCT020
BKN120
SCT020
BKN120
SCT020
BKN120
SCT020
BKN120
SCT020
BKN120
FEW020
SCT110
FEW020
SCT110
FEW020
SCT110
FEW020
SCT110
FEW020
SCT110
FEW020
SCT110
SCT020
BKN120
SCT020
BKN120
SCT020
BKN120
SCT020
BKN120
SCT020
BKN120
SCT025
BKN040
SCT025
BKN040
SCT025
BKN040
Ceiling
12,000 ft
AGL
12,000 ft
AGL
12,000 ft
AGL
12,000 ft
AGL
12,000 ft
AGL
12,000 ft
AGL
12,000 ft
AGL
12,000 ft
AGL
12,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
12,000 ft
AGL
12,000 ft
AGL
12,000 ft
AGL
12,000 ft
AGL
12,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 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
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌇 19:20Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:20Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:20Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:20Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:39Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:39Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:39Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:39Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:39Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
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 occurrenceAGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
350° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT020 BKN120
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the North (350°) at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet, Broken clouds at 12000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 18:00Z - 22:00Z
MVFR
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 2000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM050300 03:00Z - 09:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW020 SCT110
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 2000 feet, Scattered clouds at 11000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM051400 14:00Z - 20:00Z
VFR
Wind
40° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT025 BKN040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northeast (40°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 2500 feet, Broken clouds at 4000 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.