Chicago Rockford International Airport

KRFD / RFD

Chicago/Rockford, US

Last Updated
Jul 4, 06:54Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 40 min ago
06:54Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
21°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 20°C
3 kt
100°
9 SM
Visibility
19,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1016 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KRFD 040654Z 10003KT 9SM FEW015 FEW075 BKN190 OVC220 21/20 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP154 T02060200

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 742 ft
FEW 1,500 ft AGL
FEW 7,500 ft AGL
BKN 19,000 ft AGL
OVC 22,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
1,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,242 ft AMSL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
7,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
8,242 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
19,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
19,742 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
22,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
22,742 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Chicago Rockford International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with overcast skies at 22,000 feet and 9 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east (100°) at 3 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 9 SM. The ceiling is 19000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 21°C (70°F) with a dewpoint of 20°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 24 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: Light Thunderstorm Rain, Thunderstorm Rain, Mist. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 13:00Z and 15:00Z. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Thunderstorm Rain, Mist between 18:00Z and 22:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours. 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
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: 1,558 ft
ISA Deviation: +7.5°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KRFD 040535Z 0406/0506 VRB05KT P6SM FEW035 SCT120 FM041300 27007KT P6SM SCT025 SCT120 PROB30 0413/0415 3SM -TSRA BKN040CB FM041800 09005KT P6SM SCT040 BKN150 TEMPO 0418/0422 2SM TSRA BR SCT015 OVC040CB FM050000 05007KT P6SM SCT040 BKN100
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
07:33Z BASE
+0h
VFR VRB 5 kt
Visibility: >6SM
13:00Z FM041300
+6h
VFR 270° 7 kt
Visibility: >6SM
13:00Z PROB30
+6h
MVFR
Visibility: 3SM
Ceiling: 4,000 ft
Light Thunderstorm Rain
18:00Z FM041800
+11h
VFR 90° 5 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 15,000 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
RFD
01
19
07 ✈️
25

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
01/19 8,199 ft 150 ft ASP
0.3 kt 3.0 kt
95° angle
✈️ 07/25
Active: 07
10,004 ft 150 ft PEM 65°
2.6 kt 1.5 kt
30° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KRFD

12,089 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
71.9%
MVFR
17.6%
IFR
7.3%
LIFR
3.3%

Chicago Rockford International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 71.9% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 10.6% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 9 knots, with gusts recorded up to 31 knots. Calm conditions occur 13.5% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -26°C to 33°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are July, May, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 9 kt
Maximum Recorded: 31 kt
Calm Winds: 13.5%
Direction Distribution:
E
8%
N
10.1%
S
17.7%
W
16.4%
NE
5%
NW
10.4%
SE
10.1%
SW
8.8%

Temperature Range

Average: 6.8°C
Range: -26°C to 33°C
-26°C 33°C

Visibility

Average: 9.1 SM
Below 3 SM: 3.4%
Fog Frequency: 2%

Best Months for VFR

July May October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 01/19
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.8 kt
Runway 07/25
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6 kt

Statistics computed from 12,089 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 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.