Chicago Midway International Airport (KMDW) Aviation Weather: METAR, TAF & ATIS
As of 7:53 PM CDT, Oct 28, KMDW is currently VFR with winds from 180° at 7 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and no ceiling reported. The FAA lists no ground stop or delay program for KMDW right now.
Live aviation weather for Chicago Midway International Airport in Chicago, IL, including METAR, TAF, ATIS, flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling, altimeter and runway crosswinds.
Chicago Midway International Airport (KMDW) is one of the primary air-carrier airports serving Chicago, IL at a field elevation of 620 ft. KMDW reports its own METAR and publishes a TAF, and broadcasts digital ATIS (D-ATIS), decoded live on this page as flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling and altimeter. It has 4 physical runways (04L/22R, 04R/22L, 13L/31R, 13R/31L), the longest 6,522 ft. The official FAA airport diagram is at the bottom of the page.
Wind from the south (180°) at 7 kt, visibility 10+ statute miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 ft, temperature 21°C (69°F), altimeter 30.11 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
METAR KMDW 290053Z 18007KT 10SM SCT100 21/10 A3011 RMK AO2 SLP191 T02060100
Current runway configuration at KMDW
As stated by the facility — not an estimate. Tap a runway for its intelligence page.
Updated 7 min ago (0133Z / 8:33 PM CDT)
This configuration has been stated since 1148Z (6:48 AM CDT).
What changed at KMDW?
Since the 2353Z (6:53 PM CDT) report, compared automatically against the latest METAR.
No significant changes since the 2353Z (6:53 PM CDT) report, conditions are holding steady.
Current pilot readout for KMDW
KMDW is currently VFR with winds from 180° at 7 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and no ceiling reported. The tower TFDM states arrivals on runway 31R and 31L and departures on runway 31R and 31L; crosswind on the active runways is approximately 5 kt; the wind favors south-facing runway ends (13L, 13R, 22L, 22R). Density altitude is approximately 1,200 ft (field elevation 620 ft). Review the latest TAF below for forecast changes before departure.
KMDW by the numbers
What the long-run records say about flying here, computed for this airport alone.
The FAA issued 27 ground stops and 3 ground delay programs for MDW between October 2025 and October 2026, affecting 25 days. Thunderstorms were the most common reason (20 of 30). A typical ground stop lasted about 2 h 6 min.
KMDW reported VFR in 79% of daylight observations over 20 years, about 260 flyable days a year. July is the most reliable month and December the least, with IFR or worse 14% of the time. When conditions drop it is usually a mix of low ceilings (under 1,000 ft 5% of hours) and low visibility (under 3 miles 4%).
Over 20 years of hourly winds, the southwest-facing ends (22L, 22R) had the best headwind 36% of the time, the northwest-facing ends (31L, 31R) 25%, and winds were calm 7% of hours. Winds most often blow from the west. Crosswind on the best available runway topped 15 kt in under 1% of hours.
Snow fell on about 55 days a year and freezing rain or drizzle on 5. From December to February KMDW was IFR or worse 14% of the time, against 3% from June to August.
MDW departures left within 15 minutes of schedule 73% of the time across 74,246 flights, June 2025 to May 2026. Before 9 AM departures did best (90%) and after 9 PM did worst (47%).
Over the last 30 days of recorded D-ATIS broadcasts, KMDW ran southwest flow 33% of the time and northwest flow 28%. Runway 22L was named for arrivals most often (46% of recorded hours), and the configuration changed 121 times.
Sources: FAA ATCSCC advisories, hourly observations 2006 to 2025, the per-runway wind climatology 2006 to 2025, BTS airline on-time data and recorded runway configurations. Historical summaries, not a forecast: check the current METAR, TAF and a briefing before flight.
New to aviation weather? How to read a METAR → · What VFR/MVFR/IFR mean → · Decode any METAR/TAF → · Density altitude calculator →
D-ATIS
Digital Automatic Terminal Information Service, the live broadcast.
MDW ATIS INFO G 0053Z. 18007KT 10SM SCT100 21/10 A3011 (THREE ZERO ONE ONE) RMK AO2 SLP191 T02060100. ILS RWY 31R APCH IN USE. LNDG AND DEPG RWYS 31. NOTICE TO AIRMEN. TWY K CLSD BTN TWY, Y AND TWY F, TWY Y4 CLSD. Y PAD CLSD. AIRCRAFT SHOULD OPERATE MODE CEE ON ALL TWYS AND RWYS. BIRD ACTIVITY VICINITY ARPT. RWY 22L EEMASS OTS. MIDWAY A/C ON FREQUENCY 135.2. READBACK ALL RWY HOLD SHORT INSTRUCTIONS AND ALT ASSIGNMENTS. ...ADVS YOU HAVE INFO G.
Runway wind check
Estimated head/tailwind and crosswind for each runway end from the current reported wind.
| Runway | Length | Surface | Head / Tail | Crosswind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13LFAV | 6,522 ft | CON | 5 kt head | 5 kt right |
| 13R | 3,859 ft | CON | 5 kt head | 5 kt right |
| 22L | 6,445 ft | PEM | 5 kt head | 5 kt left |
| 22R | 5,507 ft | ASP | 5 kt head | 5 kt left |
| 04L | 5,507 ft | ASP | 5 kt tail | 5 kt right |
| 04R | 6,445 ft | PEM | 5 kt tail | 5 kt right |
| 31L | 3,859 ft | CON | 5 kt tail | 5 kt left |
| 31R | 6,522 ft | CON | 5 kt tail | 5 kt left |
Open the crosswind calculator to try your own wind and runway numbers →
KMDW runways
4 physical runways · 8 runway ends. Each card opens the runway's intelligence page: equipment and lighting, LAHSO, frequencies, today's configuration, predicted use, history and approaches.
- No closure reportedRunway 04L/22R5,507 × 150 ft · ASPCurrent usenot in the stated configurationWind
- 04L
- 5 kt tailwind · 5 kt crosswind from right
- 22R
- 5 kt headwind · 5 kt crosswind from left
no active equipment NOTAM receivedView Runway Intelligence → - Closed (NOTAM)Runway 04R/22L6,445 × 150 ft · PEMCurrent usenot in the stated configurationWind
- 04R
- 5 kt tailwind · 5 kt crosswind from right
- 22L
- 5 kt headwind · 5 kt crosswind from left
no active equipment NOTAM receivedView Runway Intelligence → - No closure reportedRunway 13L/31R6,522 × 150 ft · CONCurrent use31RARR/DEPWind
- 13L
- 5 kt headwind · 5 kt crosswind from right
- 31R
- 5 kt tailwind · 5 kt crosswind from left
no active equipment NOTAM receivedView Runway Intelligence → - No closure reportedRunway 13R/31L3,859 × 60 ft · CONCurrent use31LARR/DEPWind
- 13R
- 5 kt headwind · 5 kt crosswind from right
- 31L
- 5 kt tailwind · 5 kt crosswind from left
no active equipment NOTAM receivedView Runway Intelligence →
“Current use” is what the tower TFDM configurationstates; wind components are arithmetic on the current METAR against TRUE headings; status reflects NOTAMs received through SWIM, the tower's TFDM record and the D-ATIS — a runway reads “Open” only with a complete NOTAM picture.
24-hour trend
Wind, ceiling and flight category over the last 24 hours.
Over the last 23 h: wind 4→7 kt, ceiling 13,000 ft → unlimited.
KMDW weather radar
Live NEXRAD + lightning, with a 4-hour future-radar forecast. Drag to pan, tap ⚡ to toggle lightning.
Radar: NOAA/NWS via IEM · Forecast: NOAA HRRR · Lightning: NOAA · Map © Stadia Maps © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
NOAA NEXRAD composite and lightning, updated about every five minutes; amber frames are HRRR model guidance, not observed radar. Not for navigation.
Pilot reports (PIREPs) within 100 NM of KMDW
Reported by pilots in flight over the past 6 hours, via aviationweather.gov.
Show raw report
BEH UA /OV ELX/TM 0020/FL210/TP DH8D/TB NEG
BEH UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV ELXLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0020Reported at 00:20 UTC.FL210Altitude: 21,000 ft MSL.TP DH8DAircraft type reporting.TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.Show raw report
UES UA /OV BAE/TM 0016/FL370/TP BCS3/TB NEG
UES UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV BAELocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0016Reported at 00:16 UTC.FL370Altitude: 37,000 ft MSL.TP BCS3Aircraft type reporting.TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.Show raw report
OKK UA /OV OKK360010/TM 0014/FL350/TP A21N/TB NEG/RM SMOOTH
OKK UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV OKK360010Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0014Reported at 00:14 UTC.FL350Altitude: 35,000 ft MSL.TP A21NAircraft type reporting.TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.RM SMOOTHRemarks.Show raw report
UES UA /OV BAE180015/TM 0007/FL450/TP CL35/TB NEG
UES UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV BAE180015Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0007Reported at 00:07 UTC.FL450Altitude: 45,000 ft MSL.TP CL35Aircraft type reporting.TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.Show raw report
SBN UA /OV GUS/TM 2230/FL370/TP A21N/TB CONS LGT CHOP
SBN UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV GUSLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2230Reported at 22:30 UTC.FL370Altitude: 37,000 ft MSL.TP A21NAircraft type reporting.TB CONS LGT CHOPTurbulence: continuous light chop.Show raw report
ARP UAL2641 4100N 08713W 2137 F380 MS58 253/053KT TB LIGHT SK CLEAR IC NONE
ARP UAL2641 4100N 08713W 213…Header: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.Show raw report
HNL UA /OV FREEWAY ARR/TM 2034/FL020/TP C208/SK CKH BASE 060 FEW 040/WX NO PRECIP
HNL UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV FREEWAY ARRLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2034Reported at 20:34 UTC.FL020Altitude: 2,000 ft MSL.TP C208Aircraft type reporting.SK CKH BASE 060 FEW 040Sky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.WX NO PRECIPWeather and flight visibility observed.Show raw report
SQI UA /OV SQI/TM 1957/FL100/TP BE55/TA 00/IC LGT RIME
SQI UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV SQILocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 1957Reported at 19:57 UTC.FL100Altitude: 10,000 ft MSL.TP BE55Aircraft type reporting.TA 00Outside air temperature, °C.IC LGT RIMEIcing: light rime.⚠️ PIREPs are unverified pilot reports. Not for operational use: conditions change between reports.
Recent aviation weather trends at KMDW
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, KMDW reported mostly VFR across 24 observations, with 0 flight-category changes. The strongest gust reached 20 kt, the lowest ceiling was 9,000 ft. Wind most often came from the S.
Most recent change: MVFR → VFR
Share of hours each runway had the most headwind. From wind reports, not ATC assignments.
- 22L/22R
- 39%
- 13L/13R
- 26%
- 04L/04R
- 18%
- 31L/31R
- 17%
TAF | Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
Issued 2320Z (6:20 PM CDT)
TAF KMDW 282320Z 2900/3006 20010KT P6SM SCT060 FM290400 19009KT P6SM SCT050 BKN120 WS020/22040KT FM291100 25007KT P6SM SCT020 BKN040 PROB30 2914/2919 -SHRA BKN020 FM291900 31011KT P6SM FEW040
New to TAFs? How to read one →
Get KMDW weather alerts in Telegram
Stop refreshing aviation weather manually. Track KMDW in ATIS Alerts and get notified when the ATIS changes, the airport drops below VFR, or wind and ceiling conditions move closer to your minimums.
Track KMDW free on TelegramLive KMDW Weather
Live crosswind meter
Measured by KMDW's own weather station.
Wind is 134° off runway 31R, the runway in use per the tower.
Concrete · 6,522 ft. Headings from FAA runway data. Not for navigation.
Field aerial
North up
Runway 04L/22R, 04R/22L, 13L/31R, 13R/31L drawn from FAA threshold coordinates.
Imagery: USGS The National Map (public domain). Something off? ✏️ Suggest an edit
Airport info
From the FAA airport record (cycle 2026-10-01) and OurAirports.
Services
- Fuel
- 100LL · Jet A-1+
- Attended
- 24 hours
- Repairs
- Airframe & engine, major
- Oxygen
- Bottled, low pressure · Bulk, low pressure
- Transient parking
- Tie-downs · Hangars
- Landing fee
- No
- Other services
- Air freight · Air ambulance · Avionics · Cargo handling · Charter · Flight instruction
- Control tower
- Yes
- Wind indicator
- Lighted
Airport
- Type
- Large airport
- ICAO
- KMDW
- IATA
- MDW
- FAA LID
- MDW
- City
- Chicago
- State
- Illinois
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 620 ft
- Coordinates
- 41.7860, -87.7524
- Runways
- 4 physical runways · 8 runway ends
- Longest runway
- 6,522 ft
- Weather reporting
- METAR · D-ATIS
- TAF
- Published
- ATIS
- 132.75 MHz
- AWOS/ASOS
- 132.75 MHz
- Time zone
- America/Chicago
- Next sunset
- 21h 11m
Is there a ground stop at MDW today? Delay status and history →
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed KMDW'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
8 airports+2 more within 25 NM
25–50 NM
8 airports+2 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.
- Checkerboard RC Club, Inc - Miller Meadow , Forest Park, IL · 6 mi
- Woodland Aero Modelers - Trinity Lutheran School , Burr Ridge, IL · 8 mi
- 107th Aero Squadron - Morrill Meadow Flying Field , Palos Hills, IL · 8 mi
Historical Flying Weather at KMDW
2006–2025 · ATIS Alerts Flying Weather Index
Based on historical observations from 2006–2025, KMDW reported VFR conditions during about 78.6% of valid daylight observations, with an estimated 260 VFR flying days a year. July had the most VFR weather; December had the most instrument conditions. Surface winds averaged 8.5 kt, calm 5.5% of the time.
Full historical breakdown
Flight category by month
| Month | VFR % | MVFR % | IFR % | LIFR % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58.0 | 25.9 | 11.8 | 4.3 |
| Feb | 67.7 | 20.7 | 8.5 | 3.1 |
| Mar | 73.8 | 17.8 | 6.4 | 2.0 |
| Apr | 79.9 | 13.1 | 5.7 | 1.3 |
| May | 83.4 | 10.7 | 4.6 | 1.3 |
| Jun | 87.7 | 7.9 | 3.5 | 0.9 |
| Jul | 91.8 | 6.6 | 1.4 | 0.1 |
| Aug | 90.8 | 7.5 | 1.5 | 0.2 |
| Sep | 86.8 | 10.5 | 2.3 | 0.4 |
| Oct | 81.4 | 13.3 | 4.7 | 0.6 |
| Nov | 75.2 | 19.1 | 4.7 | 1.1 |
| Dec | 57.4 | 28.2 | 11.0 | 3.5 |
Average wind by month
| Month | Mean wind (kt) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 9.3 kt |
| Feb | 9.4 kt |
| Mar | 9.5 kt |
| Apr | 9.7 kt |
| May | 8.4 kt |
| Jun | 7.9 kt |
| Jul | 7.2 kt |
| Aug | 6.9 kt |
| Sep | 7.3 kt |
| Oct | 8.4 kt |
| Nov | 8.9 kt |
| Dec | 8.9 kt |
Historical summary of past observations: not a forecast or safety rating. Always check the current METAR, TAF, and a weather briefing before flight.
KMDW airport diagram
Official FAA taxiway and runway layout. Tap to zoom.
Official FAA airport diagram · d-TPP cycle 2611 · Not for navigation. Download the official FAA PDF ↗
Customize your MDW shirt or mug
MDW's real runway layout on the back, elevation and tower frequency on the front. Add your tail number on the sleeve.
Pilot PIREPs for Chicago Midway International Airport (KMDW)
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 Chicago Midway International 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 KMDW 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.
⚠️ Not for operational use. Always verify with official FAA-approved preflight weather sources before flight.
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