Chicago Rockford International Airport

KRFD / RFD

Chicago/Rockford, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KRFD 040914Z 0409/0506 VRB05KT P6SM VCSH FEW035 BKN100 FM041300 VRB05KT P6SM VCTS SCT040CB BKN100 PROB30 0414/0419 3SM -TSRA SCT015 BKN040CB FM041900 VRB05KT P6SM SCT040 BKN150 FM050000 05007KT P6SM SCT040 BKN100

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
11:00Z
+-1h
Sat
12:00Z
+0h
Sat
13:00Z
+1h
Sat
14:00Z
+2h
Sat
15:00Z
+3h
Sat
16:00Z
+4h
Sat
17:00Z
+5h
Sat
18:00Z
+6h
Sat
19:00Z
+7h
Sat
20:00Z
+8h
Sat
21:00Z
+9h
Sat
22:00Z
+10h
Sat
23:00Z
+11h
Sun
00:00Z
+12h
Sun
01:00Z
+13h
Sun
02:00Z
+14h
Sun
03:00Z
+15h
Sun
04:00Z
+16h
Wind Dir
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
Wind Speed
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
3SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
Light Thunderstorm Rain
-TSRA
30%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW035
BKN100
FEW035
BKN100
SCT040CB
BKN100
SCT015
BKN040CB
SCT015
BKN040CB
SCT015
BKN040CB
SCT015
BKN040CB
SCT015
BKN040CB
SCT040
BKN150
SCT040
BKN150
SCT040
BKN150
SCT040
BKN150
SCT040
BKN150
SCT040
BKN100
SCT040
BKN100
SCT040
BKN100
SCT040
BKN100
SCT040
BKN100
Ceiling
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 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 MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:18Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:18Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:18Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:18Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:18Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:41Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:41Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:41Z
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
VRB° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW035 BKN100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds will be variable in direction at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 3500 feet, Broken clouds at 10000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM041300 13:00Z - 19:00Z
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT040CB BKN100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet, Broken clouds at 10000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

PROB30 14:00Z - 19:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
3SM
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
SCT015 BKN040CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be good at 3SM. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Scattered clouds at 1500 feet, Broken clouds at 4000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM041900 19:00Z - 01:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT040 BKN150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet, Broken clouds at 15000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050000 00:00Z - 06:00Z
VFR
Wind
50° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT040 BKN100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northeast (50°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet, 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.