Chicago Midway International Airport

KMDW / MDW

Chicago, US

Last Updated
Jul 5, 00:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 19 min ago
00:53Z

🌙 Night
IFR
Flight Rules
22°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 21°C
0 kt
8 SM
Visibility
700 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1014 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KMDW 050053Z 00000KT 8SM BKN007 BKN140 OVC250 22/21 A2993 RMK AO2 RAE52 SLP127 P0003 T02170206 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 620 ft
BKN 700 ft AGL
BKN 14,000 ft AGL
OVC 25,000 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
700 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,320 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
14,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
14,620 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
25,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
25,620 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

IFR

Chicago Midway International Airport is currently reporting instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions with overcast skies at 25,000 feet and 8 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are calm, presenting no crosswind concerns for any runway.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 8 SM. The ceiling is 700 feet AGL (broken). Only precision approaches may be usable depending on minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 22°C (72°F) with a dewpoint of 21°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 30 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Expected weather includes: Mist. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Mist between 00:00Z and 03:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

An instrument rating and IFR flight plan are required. Verify that destination and alternate approach minimums are above current and forecast conditions. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

QNH
1014 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
993 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (620 ft)
Pressure Alt
598 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,587 ft
ISA Deviation: +8.2°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KMDW 050018Z 0500/0606 06010KT P6SM SCT009 BKN080 TEMPO 0500/0503 6SM BR BKN009 FM050300 03008KT 6SM BR FEW005 SCT010 FM050600 36007KT P6SM SCT005 BKN035 FM051300 04010KT P6SM BKN015 FM051800 03012KT P6SM SCT025 BKN035
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
01:11Z BASE
+0h
VFR 60° 10 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 8,000 ft
03:00Z FM050300
+2h
VFR 30° 8 kt
Visibility: 6SM
Mist
06:00Z FM050600
+5h
VFR 360° 7 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 3,500 ft
13:00Z FM051300
+12h
MVFR 40° 10 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 1,500 ft

24-Hour Weather Evolution

Loading weather data...
Data Sources
  • • Current conditions from METAR observations
  • • Historical data from past 24 hours
  • • No forecast or predicted data included
  • • Data updated with each new METAR report
Chart Features
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Note: Future values beyond current TAF validity are estimates based on climatological data and trends. Always verify with current forecasts before flight operations.

Airport Runway Layout

N
MDW
04L
22R
04R
22L
13L
31R
13C
31C
13R
31L

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
04L/22R 5,507 ft 150 ft ASP 43°
0.0 kt 0.0 kt
43° angle
04R/22L 6,446 ft 150 ft PEM 43°
0.0 kt 0.0 kt
43° angle
13C/31C 6,522 ft 150 ft CON 134°
0.0 kt 0.0 kt
134° angle
13L/31R 5,141 ft 150 ft ASP 134°
0.0 kt 0.0 kt
134° angle
13R/31L 3,859 ft 60 ft CON 134°
0.0 kt 0.0 kt
134° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KMDW

8,007 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
73.4%
MVFR
18.3%
IFR
5.8%
LIFR
2.4%

Chicago Midway International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 73.4% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 8.2% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 9.6 knots, with gusts recorded up to 36 knots. Temperature extremes range from -23°C to 34°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are July, September, May.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 9.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 36 kt
Calm Winds: 4.3%
Direction Distribution:
E
10.9%
N
8.4%
S
15.3%
W
18.2%
NE
8.1%
NW
12%
SE
6%
SW
16.9%

Temperature Range

Average: 8.5°C
Range: -23°C to 34°C
-23°C 34°C

Visibility

Average: 9.3 SM
Below 3 SM: 2.2%
Fog Frequency: 1.1%

Best Months for VFR

July September May

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 04L/22R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.6 kt
Runway 04R/22L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.6 kt
Runway 13C/31C
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.6 kt
Runway 13L/31R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.6 kt
Runway 13R/31L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.6 kt

Statistics computed from 8,007 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Chicago Midway International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KMDW
IATA Code: MDW
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 620 ft MSL

Location

City: Chicago
Country: US
Latitude: 41.785999°
Longitude: -87.752403°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 04L/22R
Length: 5,507 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 04R/22L
Length: 6,446 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: PEM
ILS: No
Runway 13C/31C
Length: 6,522 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 13L/31R
Length: 5,141 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 13R/31L
Length: 3,859 ft
Width: 60 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About Chicago Midway International Airport

Overview

Chicago Midway International Airport serves as a major commercial airport located in Chicago, Illinois. Situated at an elevation of 620 feet MSL, it handles significant passenger and cargo traffic for the Chicago metropolitan area. The airport's strategic location and multiple runways make it a critical transportation hub in the Midwest region.

Flying Conditions

The airport's five runways provide operational flexibility across different wind conditions, with lengths ranging from 3,859 to 6,522 feet. Runway surfaces include asphalt (ASP), portland cement (PEM), and concrete (CON) compositions, which can influence landing and takeoff characteristics. Pilots should anticipate variable wind conditions typical of the Great Lakes region, particularly during seasonal transitions.

Notable Features

Midway features five runways with diverse orientations (04/22, 13/31), allowing for multiple approach and departure options based on wind direction. The airport's relatively modest elevation of 620 feet MSL provides consistent atmospheric conditions without significant altitude-related performance challenges. Its urban location means pilots must be prepared for complex airspace interactions and potential air traffic density.

Approach Considerations

Runway selection will depend primarily on prevailing wind conditions, with multiple options available due to the five-runway configuration. The longest runway (13C/31C at 6,522 feet) provides the most substantial landing and takeoff capabilities. Pilots should carefully review current wind data and air traffic instructions when planning approaches to this multi-runway airport.

Data Sources & Accuracy: Airport information sourced from OurAirports.com, a collaborative database of worldwide airport data. Weather data from official aviation weather services including NOAA Aviation Weather Center and international METAR/TAF providers. Information is updated regularly but pilots should always verify current conditions and NOTAMs through official channels before flight operations.

Official Data Sources

Weather NOAA Aviation Weather Center • International METAR/TAF Network
Airports OurAirports.com • Public domain airport database
NOTAMs FAA NOTAM System • ICAO NOTAM Distribution
Last updated: Jan 1, 1970 12:00 AM UTC

Disclaimer: Data is provided for informational purposes only. Pilots must verify all information through official sources before flight operations. Weather conditions change rapidly; always obtain a current briefing from approved weather services.