Chicago Rockford International Airport

KRFD / RFD

Chicago/Rockford, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KRFD 150526Z 1506/1606 16008KT P6SM SCT060 OVC100 TEMPO 1506/1508 6SM -SHRA BKN050 FM151200 19015G25KT P6SM SCT040 BKN070 FM160000 17010KT P6SM BKN100

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Fri
06:00Z
+-1h
Fri
07:00Z
+0h
Fri
08:00Z
+1h
Fri
09:00Z
+2h
Fri
10:00Z
+3h
Fri
11:00Z
+4h
Fri
12:00Z
+5h
Fri
13:00Z
+6h
Fri
14:00Z
+7h
Fri
15:00Z
+8h
Fri
16:00Z
+9h
Fri
17:00Z
+10h
Fri
18:00Z
+11h
Fri
19:00Z
+12h
Fri
20:00Z
+13h
Fri
21:00Z
+14h
Fri
22:00Z
+15h
Fri
23:00Z
+16h
Sat
00:00Z
+17h
Sat
01:00Z
+18h
Sat
02:00Z
+19h
Sat
03:00Z
+20h
Sat
04:00Z
+21h
Wind Dir
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
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
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 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
SCT060
OVC100
SCT060
OVC100
SCT060
OVC100
SCT060
OVC100
SCT060
OVC100
SCT060
OVC100
SCT040
BKN070
SCT040
BKN070
SCT040
BKN070
SCT040
BKN070
SCT040
BKN070
SCT040
BKN070
SCT060
OVC100
SCT060
OVC100
SCT060
OVC100
SCT060
OVC100
SCT060
OVC100
SCT060
OVC100
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
Ceiling
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 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
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 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
🌅 04:56Z
☀️
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
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
SCT060 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 6000 feet, Overcast skies at 10000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 06:00Z - 08:00Z
VFR
Visibility
6SM
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be excellent at 6SM. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM151200 12:00Z - 18:00Z
VFR
Wind
190° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT040 BKN070
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (190°) 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.

FM160000 00:00Z - 06:00Z
VFR
Wind
170° at 10 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (170°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 10000 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.