Dane County Regional Truax Field

KMSN / MSN

Madison, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KMSN 151419Z 1514/1612 20013G23KT P6SM FEW100 FM160400 17008KT P6SM BKN100 PROB30 1604/1605 4SM -TSRA OVC025CB FM160500 18007KT 6SM -SHRA BKN070 PROB30 1605/1609 4SM TSRA OVC025CB FM160900 VRB04KT P6SM BKN060 PROB30 1609/1611 4SM -SHRA OVC025

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Fri
16:00Z
+-1h
Fri
17:00Z
+0h
Fri
18:00Z
+1h
Fri
19:00Z
+2h
Fri
20:00Z
+3h
Fri
21:00Z
+4h
Fri
22:00Z
+5h
Fri
23:00Z
+6h
Sat
00:00Z
+7h
Sat
01:00Z
+8h
Sat
02:00Z
+9h
Sat
03:00Z
+10h
Sat
04:00Z
+11h
Sat
05:00Z
+12h
Sat
06:00Z
+13h
Sat
07:00Z
+14h
Sat
08:00Z
+15h
Sat
09:00Z
+16h
Sat
10:00Z
+17h
Wind Dir
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
200°
S
Wind Speed
13 kt
G23 kt
13 kt
G23 kt
13 kt
G23 kt
13 kt
G23 kt
13 kt
G23 kt
13 kt
G23 kt
13 kt
G23 kt
13 kt
G23 kt
13 kt
G23 kt
13 kt
G23 kt
13 kt
G23 kt
13 kt
G23 kt
13 kt
G23 kt
13 kt
G23 kt
13 kt
G23 kt
13 kt
G23 kt
13 kt
G23 kt
13 kt
G23 kt
13 kt
G23 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
30%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
30%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
30%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
30%
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
30%
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
30%
Clouds
FEW100
FEW100
FEW100
FEW100
FEW100
FEW100
FEW100
FEW100
FEW100
FEW100
FEW100
FEW100
OVC025CB
OVC025CB
OVC025CB
OVC025CB
OVC025CB
OVC025
OVC025
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:04Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:04Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:04Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:04Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:04Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:54Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:54Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:54Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:54Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:54Z
☀️
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
200° at 13 kt
Gusts: 23 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 13 kt. Gusts up to 23 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 10000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM160400 04:00Z - 10:00Z
VFR
Wind
170° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (170°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 10000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 04:00Z - 05:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
OVC025CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Overcast skies at 2500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM160500 05:00Z - 11:00Z
VFR
Wind
180° at 7 kt
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN070
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (180°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 7000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 05:00Z - 09:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
OVC025CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Overcast skies at 2500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM160900 09:00Z - 15:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN060
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 4 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 6000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 09:00Z - 11:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
OVC025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Overcast skies at 2500 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.