Dane County Regional Truax Field

KMSN / MSN

Madison, US

Last Updated
May 15, 13:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 55 min ago
13:53Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
17°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 7°C
15 kt
190° G23 kt
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1010 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KMSN 151353Z 19015G23KT 10SM SCT100 17/07 A2984 RMK AO2 SLP104 T01720072

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 887 ft
SCT 10,000 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
10,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
10,887 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Dane County Regional Truax Field is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with scattered clouds at 10,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (190°) at 15 knots with gusts to 23 knots. Runway 18/36 is favored with a 15-knot headwind and 3-knot crosswind component (gusting to 4 knots crosswind). Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: scattered at 10,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 17°C (63°F) with a dewpoint of 7°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 22 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Light Thunderstorm Rain, Light Showers Rain, Thunderstorm Rain. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 04:00Z and 05:00Z. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Thunderstorm Rain between 05:00Z and 09:00Z. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Light Showers Rain between 09:00Z and 11:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. The forecast indicates conditions may deteriorate. Ensure you have fuel reserves and a viable alternate airport.

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

QNH
1010 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
980 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (887 ft)
Pressure Alt
985 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,438 ft
ISA Deviation: +3.8°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
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
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
14:48Z BASE
+0h
VFR 200° 13 kt
Visibility: >6SM

24-Hour Weather Evolution

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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
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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
MSN
03
21
14
32
18 ✈️
36

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
03/21 7,200 ft 150 ft CON 28°
14.3 kt 4.6 kt
162° angle
14/32 5,846 ft 150 ft CON 137°
9.0 kt 12.0 kt
53° angle
✈️ 18/36
Active: 18
9,005 ft 150 ft CON 181°
14.8 kt 2.6 kt
10° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KMSN

7,129 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
69%
MVFR
19.5%
IFR
8%
LIFR
3.6%

Dane County Regional Truax Field typically experiences VFR conditions 69% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 11.6% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 7.9 knots. Calm conditions occur 17% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -28°C to 31°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are May, October, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 7.9 kt
Maximum Recorded: 30 kt
Calm Winds: 17%
Direction Distribution:
E
8%
N
11.9%
S
19.2%
W
9.8%
NE
4.1%
NW
16.7%
SE
6.1%
SW
7.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 3.5°C
Range: -28°C to 31°C
-28°C 31°C

Visibility

Average: 9 SM
Below 3 SM: 4.5%
Fog Frequency: 1%

Best Months for VFR

May October September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 03/21
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.2 kt
Runway 14/32
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.4 kt
Runway 18/36
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.4 kt

Statistics computed from 7,129 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Dane County Regional Truax Field - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KMSN
IATA Code: MSN
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 887 ft MSL

Location

City: Madison
Country: US
Latitude: 43.139900°
Longitude: -89.337502°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 03/21
Length: 7,200 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 14/32
Length: 5,846 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 18/36
Length: 9,005 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About Dane County Regional Truax Field

Overview

Dane County Regional Truax Field serves Madison, Wisconsin as a medium-sized airport situated at 887 feet mean sea level. Located at coordinates 43.139900, -89.337502, the airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for the central Wisconsin region. The facility features three concrete runways ranging from 5,846 to 9,005 feet in length.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at KMSN demonstrate significant variability, with visual flight rules (VFR) predominating at 65.3% of observations. Pilots can expect moderate meteorological challenges, with marginal VFR conditions occurring 20.3% of the time and instrument flight rules 14.3% of the time. Temperature ranges from -28°C to 31°C, with prevailing southerly winds averaging 7.2 knots and occasional gusts up to 24 knots.

Notable Features

The airport's three runways provide flexible operational capabilities with consistent wind coverage. Runway 18/36 offers the longest surface at 9,005 feet, while runways 03/21 and 14/32 provide additional operational flexibility. Calm wind conditions occur in 18.9% of observations, suggesting potential for variable runway selection.

Approach Considerations

September through November represent the most favorable VFR flying months, with optimal visibility and minimal meteorological restrictions. All three runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with modest average crosswind components ranging from 3.9 to 5 knots. Visibility averages 8.7 statute miles, with infrequent periods of reduced visibility (below 3 miles in 6.1% of observations) and minimal fog events (1.3%).

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.