Chicago Rockford International Airport

KRFD / RFD

Chicago/Rockford, US

Last Updated
May 15, 03:54Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 54 min ago
03:54Z

🌅 Dawn
VFR
Flight Rules
16°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 1°C
5 kt
130°
10 SM
Visibility
18,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1016 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KRFD 150354Z 13005KT 10SM OVC180 16/01 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP155 T01610006

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 742 ft
OVC 18,000 ft AGL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
18,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
18,742 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Chicago Rockford International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with overcast skies at 18,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the southeast (130°) at 5 knots. Runway 19 is favored with a 3-knot headwind and 4-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 18000 feet AGL (overcast), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 16°C (61°F) with a dewpoint of 1°C, indicating relatively dry conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 21 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain. Temporary VFR conditions are forecast with Light Showers Rain between 05:00Z and 07:00Z. There is a 30% probability of VFR conditions with Light Showers Rain between 07:00Z and 11:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight.

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

QNH
1016 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
991 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (742 ft)
Pressure Alt
660 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 958 ft
ISA Deviation: +2.5°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KRFD 150306Z 1503/1524 14007KT P6SM SCT100 BKN250 TEMPO 1505/1507 6SM -SHRA BKN040 FM150700 16009KT P6SM SCT040 BKN070 PROB30 1507/1511 6SM -SHRA BKN050 FM151200 20015G25KT P6SM SCT040 BKN070
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
04:47Z BASE
+0h
VFR 140° 7 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 25,000 ft
05:00Z TEMPO
+1h
VFR
Visibility: 6SM
Ceiling: 4,000 ft
Light Showers Rain
07:00Z FM150700
+3h
VFR 160° 9 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 7,000 ft
07:00Z PROB30
+3h
VFR
Visibility: 6SM
Ceiling: 5,000 ft
Light Showers Rain

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
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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
RFD
01
19 ✈️
07
25

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 01/19
Active: 19
8,199 ft 150 ft ASP
2.5 kt 4.3 kt
60° angle
07/25 10,004 ft 150 ft PEM 65°
2.1 kt 4.5 kt
65° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KRFD

10,114 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
68.8%
MVFR
19.2%
IFR
8.1%
LIFR
3.9%

Chicago Rockford International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 68.8% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 12% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 9.2 knots, with gusts recorded up to 31 knots. Calm conditions occur 13.4% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -26°C to 32°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are May, October, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 9.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 31 kt
Calm Winds: 13.4%
Direction Distribution:
N
11%
NE
4.1%
E
7.6%
SE
10%
S
16.2%
SW
8.8%
W
17.5%
NW
11.4%

Temperature Range

Average: 4.2°C
Range: -26°C to 32°C
-26°C 32°C

Visibility

Average: 9 SM
Below 3 SM: 3.9%
Fog Frequency: 2.3%

Best Months for VFR

May October September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 01/19
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6 kt
Runway 07/25
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.2 kt

Statistics computed from 10,114 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Chicago Rockford International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KRFD
IATA Code: RFD
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 742 ft MSL

Location

City: Chicago/Rockford
Country: US
Latitude: 42.195400°
Longitude: -89.097198°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 01/19
Length: 8,199 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 07/25
Length: 10,004 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: PEM
ILS: No

About Chicago Rockford International Airport

Overview

Chicago Rockford International Airport serves the greater Chicago metropolitan area, located approximately 85 miles northwest of Chicago proper. As a medium-sized airport with two substantial runways, KRFD supports diverse aviation operations including cargo, general aviation, and commercial traffic. The airport's elevation of 742 feet MSL provides consistent terrain characteristics for pilots.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at KRFD demonstrate significant variability, with visual flight rules (VFR) predominating at 64.7% of observations. Pilots should anticipate moderate wind conditions, with a prevailing westerly wind at an average of 8.9 knots and occasional gusts up to 29 knots. Temperature ranges from -26°C to 32°C indicate potential challenging winter and summer flying conditions, with October, September, and November offering the most consistently favorable VFR weather.

Notable Features

Both primary runways (01/19 and 07/25) offer extensive lengths of 8,199 and 10,004 feet respectively, providing ample landing and takeoff options for various aircraft types. The runways feature asphaltic (ASP) and Portland Expanded Mesh (PEM) surfaces, with consistently favorable wind alignments—both runways demonstrate 100% wind compatibility. Visibility averages 8.8 statute miles, with only 5.3% of observations reporting visibility below 3 miles.

Approach Considerations

Wind conditions suggest minimal crosswind challenges, with average crosswind components of 6.3 knots for runway 01/19 and 5.7 knots for runway 07/25. Pilots should be prepared for potential instrument meteorological conditions, as IFR and LIFR conditions combine for approximately 14.3% of observations. Calm wind conditions occur in 15.2% of reports, providing additional flexibility in runway selection.

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.