Thrifty Acres Airport (4IL3) Area Aviation Weather & Runway Winds
Aviation weather near Thrifty Acres Airport in Stillman Valley, IL, decoded from the nearest reporting station (KRFD): conditions, runway crosswinds, and free Telegram airport alerts.
Thrifty Acres Airport (4IL3) is a general aviation airport serving pilots in and around Stillman Valley, IL at 725 ft. 4IL3 has no weather station of its own. Conditions here are decoded from KRFD, about 7 nm away, the nearest reporting station, and local conditions can differ. Its 2 runways (01, 19), longest 750 ft, are checked against the current wind in the crosswind table below. The nearest TAF is issued for KRFD. Track it in the ATIS Alerts Telegram bot to get alerts read from KRFD, the station this page is based on.
No weather station at this airport: showing the nearest station KRFD, 6.6 nm away.
Wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 4 kt, visibility 10+ statute miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 ft, temperature 16°C (61°F), altimeter 30.02 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
METAR KRFD 130554Z 34004KT 10SM SCT250 16/14 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP160 T01610139 10233 20161 403060144 53018 $
What changed at KRFD (nearest station)?
Since the 0454Z (11:54 PM CDT) report, compared automatically against the latest METAR.
- Pressure rising: altimeter 29.99 → 30.02 inHg.
This is exactly what ATIS Alerts watches for you: get a Telegram message when 4IL3's weather changes, free →
Current pilot readout for 4IL3
Based on the nearest station (KRFD), 4IL3 is currently VFR with winds from 340° at 4 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and no ceiling reported. The strongest crosswind component is currently on runway 19, about 2 knots. Density altitude is approximately 900 ft (field elevation 725 ft). Review the latest TAF below for forecast changes before departure.
⚠️ Not for operational use. Always verify with official FAA-approved preflight weather sources before flight.
New to aviation weather? How to read a METAR → · What VFR/MVFR/IFR mean → · Decode any METAR/TAF → · Density altitude calculator →
Get 4IL3 weather alerts in Telegram
Stop refreshing aviation weather manually. Track 4IL3 in ATIS Alerts and get notified when a new METAR changes the picture: a category drop, or wind and ceiling moving toward your minimums.
Track 4IL3 free on TelegramRunway wind check
Estimated head/tailwind and crosswind for each runway end from the current reported wind.
Use this section to quickly compare current wind alignment across available runways at 4IL3. This is intended as a planning aid only and should not replace official performance calculations or pilot judgment.
| Runway | Length | Surface | Head / Tail | Crosswind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01FAV | 750 ft | TURF | 4 kt head | 1 kt left |
| 19 | 750 ft | TURF | 3 kt head | 2 kt right |
Open the crosswind calculator to try your own wind and runway numbers →
24-hour trend
Wind, ceiling and flight category over the last 24 hours.
Over the last 23 h: wind 3→4 kt, ceiling unlimited → unlimited.
4IL3 weather radar
Live NEXRAD + lightning, with a 4-hour future-radar forecast. Drag to pan, tap ⚡ to toggle lightning.
Live weather radar around Thrifty Acres Airport in Stillman Valley, IL: the NOAA/NWS NEXRAD composite updates about every five minutes, with NOAA lightning strike density overlaid. The loop plays the past 50 minutes, then continues into a future-radar forecast (+1 to +4 hours, NOAA HRRR model) so you can see where precipitation around 4IL3 is headed.
Radar: NOAA/NWS via IEM · Forecast: NOAA HRRR · Lightning: NOAA · Map © Stadia Maps © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Forecast frames (amber label) are HRRR model guidance, not observed radar. Lightning strike density appears as a blue-white glow when strikes are detected in view. Radar and lightning coverage are limited in parts of Alaska, Hawaii, and offshore areas. Not for navigation.
Pilot reports (PIREPs) within 100 NM of 4IL3
Reported by pilots in flight over the past 6 hours, via aviationweather.gov.
Show raw report
ARP UAL1283 4156N 08703W 0223 F320 283/049KT TB MOD CHOP IC
ARP UAL1283 4156N 08703W 022…Header: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.Show raw report
PWK UA /OV OBK120045/TM 0215/FL320/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP OCNL MOD CHOP
PWK UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV OBK120045Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0215Reported at 02:15 UTC.FL320Altitude: 32,000 ft MSL.TP B38MAircraft type reporting.TB CONS LGT CHOP OCNL MOD CH…Turbulence: continuous light chop occasional moderate chop.Show raw report
MWC UA /OV BAE090030/TM 0206/FL360/TP BCS3/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD
MWC UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV BAE090030Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0206Reported at 02:06 UTC.FL360Altitude: 36,000 ft MSL.TP BCS3Aircraft type reporting.TB CONS LGT OCNL MODTurbulence: continuous light occasional moderate.Show raw report
ORD UA /OV CGT360040/TM 0107/FL310/TP B38M/TB INTMT LGT CHOP
ORD UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV CGT360040Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0107Reported at 01:07 UTC.FL310Altitude: 31,000 ft MSL.TP B38MAircraft type reporting.TB INTMT LGT CHOPTurbulence: intermittent light chop.Show raw report
JOT UA /OV JOT/TM 0104/FL280/TP B737/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM DURC
JOT UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV JOTLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0104Reported at 01:04 UTC.FL280Altitude: 28,000 ft MSL.TP B737Aircraft type reporting.TB OCNL LGT CHOPTurbulence: occasional light chop.RM DURCRemarks.Show raw report
ORD UA /OV C77/TM 0038/FL350/TP A321/TB CONS LGT 350
ORD UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV C77Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0038Reported at 00:38 UTC.FL350Altitude: 35,000 ft MSL.TP A321Aircraft type reporting.TB CONS LGT 350Turbulence: continuous light 350.⚠️ PIREPs are unverified pilot reports. Not for operational use: conditions change between reports.
Recent aviation weather trends at 4IL3
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, the nearest station KRFD reported mostly VFR across 24 observations, with 0 flight-category changes. The lowest ceiling was 4,000 ft. Wind most often came from the SW.
Most recent change: MVFR → VFR
- 19
- 65%
- 01
- 35%
TAF | Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
Issued 0529Z (12:29 AM CDT)
TAF KRFD 130529Z 1306/1406 32005KT P6SM SCT150 FM131500 34010KT P6SM BKN090 TEMPO 1318/1321 -RA BKN070 FM132300 33005KT P6SM SCT050
New to TAFs? How to read one →
Want forecast changes pushed to you? Start free on Telegram → TAF heads-ups are part of Premium · see what Premium includes
Get free ATIS alerts for 4IL3
We'll message you on Telegram when a new report moves the picture near 4IL3 (Thrifty Acres Airport): alerts read from KRFD, the station this page uses.
Track 4IL3 on TelegramFree • no app to install • unsubscribe anytime
Airport facts
Reference data from the OurAirports dataset.
- Type
- General aviation airport
- FAA LID
- 4IL3
- City
- Stillman Valley
- State
- Illinois
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 725 ft
- Coordinates
- 42.1430, -89.2285
- Runways
- 2
- Longest runway
- 750 ft
- Weather reporting
- Nearest station KRFD
- TAF
- Nearest KRFD
- Time zone
- America/Chicago
- Next sunset
- 17h 37m
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed 4IL3's live status on your website, free →
Nearby airports
Compare nearby METAR/TAF stations within 25, 50 and 100 NM before departure or arrival.
Within 25 NM
9 airports+3 more within 25 NM
25–50 NM
7 airports+1 more within 50 NM
50–100 NM
8 airports+2 more within 100 NM
RC flying fields nearby
AMA model-aircraft club fields around this airport: live wind, crosswind & flyability on each page.
- Rock Valley RC Flyers - Harrison Rd , Rockford, IL · 11 mi
- Kishwaukee RC Flyers - Schafer Road , Clare, IL · 21 mi
- Rockford Aeromodelers - Swanson Rd , Roscoe, IL · 21 mi
4IL3 weather: frequently asked
What runways are available at 4IL3?+
4IL3 has 2 runways: 01, 19; the longest is 750 ft. This page computes the live crosswind for each runway end from the current wind.
Where does the weather shown for 4IL3 come from?+
Thrifty Acres Airport does not have its own weather station. Conditions shown here come from the nearest reporting station, KRFD, about 7 nm away, close enough for situational awareness, but local conditions at 4IL3 can differ.
Does 4IL3 have a TAF?+
Yes. The KRFD TAF is shown on this page below the current conditions.
Does 4IL3 broadcast D-ATIS?+
No. 4IL3 does not broadcast D-ATIS. Alerts for 4IL3 from the ATIS Alerts bot (@atisalerts_bot) are based on its METAR (via the nearest reporting station) instead.
Pilot PIREPs for Thrifty Acres Airport (4IL3)
Community-submittedCommunity-submitted airport notes from pilots about runway conditions, wildlife, FBOs, fuel, turbulence, ramp access, and local tips.
Read recent community-submitted pilot notes for Thrifty Acres Airport, including runway conditions, wildlife activity, FBO/fuel notes, turbulence, ramp access, and local airport tips.
⚠️ Pilot PIREPs on ATIS Alerts are community-submitted airport notes for situational awareness only. They are not official FAA PIREPs, NOTAMs, weather briefings, airport advisories, or flight-planning guidance. Always verify with official FAA/NWS sources, airport management, ATC, and current publications.
No Pilot PIREPs have been submitted for 4IL3 yet. Recently flew here? Help the next pilot by leaving a quick airport note.
Pilot PIREPs are community pilot notes for situational awareness only, not official FAA PIREPs or advisories. Verify with official sources. Notes are moderated before they appear; helpful marks and reports help us keep them useful.
Why pilots use ATIS Alerts
Free aviation weather and ATIS change alerts for GA pilots, delivered on Telegram, so a change catches your eye before it catches you off guard.
- Get pinged the moment 4IL3 drops below VFR or a new report moves your numbers.
- Live METAR, TAF, crosswinds, and FAA delays: one link, always current.
- Free, no app to install, and you can track any US airport. Unsubscribe anytime.
⚠️ Not for operational use. Always verify with official FAA-approved preflight weather sources before flight.
Spotted incorrect airport info? ✏️ Suggest an edit