ATIS Alerts

KMDW Runway 13R/31L Chicago Midway International Airport

3,859 × 60 ft concrete · true headings 134° / 314° · field elevation 620 ft

Runway 13R/31L at Chicago Midway International Airport (KMDW) in Chicago, IL is 3,859 ft long and 60 ft wide, concrete, with true headings 134° and 314°. Over 2005–2025 the wind gave runway 13R the headwind 48.8% of the time and runway 31L 51.2%, with a crosswind above 15 kt in 3.5% of wind hours. KMDW publishes a digital ATIS, so this page shows the runway the tower is actually using right now and builds a record of how often each end is assigned.

Runway 13R/31L — current status

NO CLOSURE REPORTED
  • The tower's TFDM closure record lists no closure for this runway and the current D-ATIS names no closure, restriction or outage for it. No received NOTAM closes or restricts this runway, but the NOTAM stream has no complete initial load yet — verify NOTAMs before flight.

Sources: FAA runway record (OurAirports) · FAA NOTAMs · Tower TFDM configuration (FAA SWIM) · D-ATIS · Tower TFDM 0222Z (9:22 PM CDT) · D-ATIS 0218Z (9:18 PM CDT). Runway NOTAMs stream live from the FAA NOTAM Management Service (SWIM); the official text is shown verbatim below the card. Always confirm with a current briefing.

No received NOTAM currently names runway 13R/31L at KMDW. NOTAMs are received live from the FAA NOTAM Management Service through SWIM and recorded since Sep 19, 2026; a NOTAM issued before that and not re-issued since may be missing. Get a full briefing before flight.

Current active runways at KMDW

As stated by the tower — its TFDM surface system and its D-ATIS broadcast. Not an estimate.

Information Delta · 0218Z (9:18 PM CDT)
Tower configuration (TFDM)
“04_FLOW” · updated recently
Arrivals
04L04R
Departures
04L04R

Airport rates: 32 arrivals / 32 departures per hour. In effect since 2026-09-17 2112Z (4:12 PM CDT).

D-ATIS broadcast
Arrivals
04R
Departures
04

A bare number (04) means the broadcast did not say which parallel.

This D-ATIS configuration has been stated since 1653Z (11:53 AM CDT).

Show the D-ATIS text
MDW ATIS INFO D 0218Z SPECIAL. 12008KT 10SM OVC031 22/14 A3012 (THREE ZERO ONE TWO) RMK AO2 T02170144. ILS RWY 4R APCH IN USE. LNDG AND DEPG RWYS 4. NOTICE TO AIRMEN. TWY Y3 CLSD. Y PAD CLSD. AIRCRAFT SHOULD OPERATE MODE CEE ON ALL TWYS AND RWYS. HAZD WEA INFO FOR MDW AREA AVBL ON FSS FREQ. CLEARANCE DELIVERY CLOSED. CTC GROUND 118.075 FOR CLEARANCE. MIDWAY A/C ON FREQUENCY 135.2. READBACK ALL RWY HOLD SHORT INSTRUCTIONS AND ALT ASSIGNMENTS. ...ADVS YOU HAVE INFO D.

Current wind on Runway 13R/31L

Wind from the east-southeast (120°) at 8 kt

METAR 0218Z (9:18 PM CDT)
Runway 13R
FAVORED BY WIND
Headwind
8 kt
Crosswind
2 ktfrom left
Runway 31L
Tailwind
8 kt
Crosswind
2 ktfrom right
N13R31L8 kt

Wind-favored runway at KMDW right now: 13L (8 kt headwind) — a different runway than this one.

Components use TRUE runway headings and TRUE METAR wind. “Favored by wind” is arithmetic, not an ATC assignment.

ATIS Alerts Predicted Runway

Which runway at KMDW is likely to be in use over the next 12 hours — an estimate, not an ATC assignment.

TimeLikely runwayConfidenceWind
Now0232Z · 9:32 PM CDT04L and 04Ractive · tower TFDM
stated by the tower (TFDM)
stated120° at 8 kt
+1 h0332Z · 10:32 PM CDT13Lthen 13RLow50%090° at 10 kt
+2 h0432Z · 11:32 PM CDT13Lthen 13RLow47%090° at 10 kt
+3 h0532Z · 12:32 AM CDT13Lthen 13RLow44%090° at 10 kt
+6 h0832Z · 3:32 AM CDT13Lthen 13RLow35%090° at 10 kt
+12 h1432Z · 9:32 AM CDT13Lthen 13R
TEMPO group in effect
Low20%120° at 12 kt G18

ATIS Alerts Predicted Runway is an estimate from the TAF wind forecast and runway geometry (most headwind, crosswind penalised, tailwind over 5 kt avoided, longest runway breaks ties). It is not an ATC assignment and does not know about noise abatement, traffic flow or construction unless the D-ATIS states them. TAF issued 2320Z (6:20 PM CDT).

Tower demand plan (TFDM) · 0230Z0445Z17 arrivals · 13 departures expected at KMDW
04Rarr 0 dep 1313Rarr 0 dep 031Larr 0 dep 0

Counts the tower's surface system expects per runway over the next two hours — the tower's plan, not an ATIS Alerts estimate and not an ATC assignment. A runway with zero expected demand is not in the plan for that period. During a runway change the plan can lag the configuration above for a few minutes (flights already assigned to the old runways stay counted there until reassigned).

Traffic management restrictions at KMDW (tower TFDM)as of 0222Z
  • GDP → DEN · since 09/18 2200Z · by DCC · Weather:Thunderstorms:ground delay program
  • GDP → SAN · since 09/19 0000Z · by DCC · Volume/Terminal:Volume:ground delay program
  • GDP → SFO · since 09/19 0200Z · by DCC · Volume/Terminal:Volume:ground delay program
  • APREQ → ORD/PWK/UGN · since 07/29 1233Z · until further noticeapproval request — departures need a release time
  • APREQ → KGRB · since 09/19 0201Z · until further notice · by ZAUapproval request — departures need a release time
  • APREQ → KYIP · since 09/19 0201Z · until further notice · by ZAUapproval request — departures need a release time

Restrictions on departures from KMDWtoward the named airports or fixes, as recorded by the tower's surface system; they change the departure flow, not the runway in use. Not an FAA product.

Runway 13R/31L overview

Physical characteristics from the FAA-derived runway record.

Length
3,859 ft
Width
60 ft
Surface
Concrete
Runway lights
Lighted
Airport elevation
620 ft
FAA record status
Open
Runway 13R
True heading
134°
Magnetic (approx.)
≈ 138°
FAA record
Open
Runway 31L
True heading
314°
Magnetic (approx.)
≈ 318°
FAA record
Open

Runway 13R/31L numbers are magnetic; the stored geometry and every wind calculation on this page are TRUE north, so they never need a variation correction. Magnetic variation here is about 4.1°W (World Magnetic Model). Displaced thresholds, declared distances (TORA/TODA/ASDA/LDA), approach lighting, PAPI/VASI, ILS equipment and traffic-pattern direction are FAA NASR fields not yet loaded — they are omitted rather than guessed.

Recorded runway use at KMDW — last 30 days

How often the tower's TFDM configuration listed each end for arrivals and departures (the tower's own statement, via FAA SWIM).

Over the last 30 days ATIS Alerts captured 29 hours of stated runway configuration at KMDW (1.2 days, 1 configuration change). Shares are the fraction of those hours in which the tower's TFDM system listed each end.

Runway 13R
Arrivals
0% (0 h)
Departures
0% (0 h)
Runway 31L
Arrivals
0% (0 h)
Departures
0% (0 h)
Recorded arrival share of runway 13R and 31L by wind direction at the time of each D-ATIS configuration
Wind fromHours13R arrivals31L arrivals13R departures31L departures
Calm / light (< 5 kt)290%0%0%0%
night (8 h)
13R arr 0% · 31L arr 0%
morning (6 h)
13R arr 0% · 31L arr 0%
afternoon (8 h)
13R arr 0% · 31L arr 0%
evening (7 h)
13R arr 0% · 31L arr 0%

Time of day is airport-local.This is the facility's stated configuration, not an estimate from wind.

Historical wind and crosswind on runway 13R/31L

20-year hourly climatology from the ASOS archive, computed per runway end.

From 175,296 hourly observations at KMDW (2005–2025), 163,419 with a steady wind direction (6.8% calm, variable or direction-less). One observation per clock hour; TRUE headings against TRUE wind.

Crosswind on runway 13R/31L (either end)

Mean crosswind
6.3 kt
median 5.7 kt
90th / 95th percentile
12.1 / 14.2 kt
max 98.9 kt
Above 10 kt
17.9%
> 15 kt: 3.5% · > 20 kt: 0.5%
Gust crosswind > 15 kt
13.3%
90th pct gust 17.3 kt
0%26%52%45%0–5 kt37%5–10 kt15%10–15 kt3.0%15–20 kt0.4%20–25 kt0.1%25+ kt
Share of wind hours by crosswind band on runway 13R/31L at KMDW, 2005–2025
Crosswind (kt)Share of wind hours
0–545.1%
5–1036.9%
10–1514.5%
15–203%
20–250.4%
25+0.1%

Strongest-crosswind month on average: Apr; calmest: Aug. Percentiles are streaming approximations (t-digest), accurate to about 0.1 kt.

Runway 13R

Headwind
48.8%
of wind hours
Tailwind > 5 kt
25.7%
> 10 kt: 8.1%
Wind-favored end
9%
most headwind of all runways

Runway 31L

Headwind
51.2%
of wind hours
Tailwind > 5 kt
18.1%
> 10 kt: 2.6%
Wind-favored end
12.5%
most headwind of all runways

“Wind-favored” counts the hours this end had the most headwind of every open runway at KMDW — wind arithmetic, not an ATC assignment (parallel runways with the same heading share the credit equally). Recorded D-ATIS use, where available, is the section above.

By wind direction

Wind-favored share of runway 13R and 31L by wind sector, 2005–2025
Wind fromShare of wind hours13R favored31L favoredMean crosswindCrosswind > 15 kt
N 338–023°10%0%17.3%7 kt2.9%
NE 023–068°10%0%0%9.5 kt8.6%
E 068–113°12%29.1%0%5.6 kt0.6%
SE 113–158°6%50%0%1.3 kt0%
S 158–203°18%13.8%0%6.6 kt2.6%
SW 203–248°16%0%0%8.9 kt7.5%
W 248–293°18%0%30%6.7 kt3.6%
NW 293–338°11%0%50%1.6 kt0%

By time of day (airport-local)

morning
13R favored 8% · 31L 13.3%
mean crosswind 6.4 kt · calm 7.9%
afternoon
13R favored 8.2% · 31L 11.1%
mean crosswind 7.7 kt · calm 4%
evening
13R favored 11.7% · 31L 11.1%
mean crosswind 6 kt · calm 3.4%
night
13R favored 9% · 31L 13.8%
mean crosswind 5.3 kt · calm 9.7%

Seasonal runway conditions

048JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Mean crosswind on runway 13R/31L at KMDW by month, 2005–2025
MonthMean crosswind (kt)
Jan6.3 kt
Feb6.4 kt
Mar7.0 kt
Apr7.2 kt
May6.7 kt
Jun6.4 kt
Jul5.9 kt
Aug5.6 kt
Sep5.7 kt
Oct6.1 kt
Nov6.2 kt
Dec6.2 kt
Monthly wind and weather statistics for runway 13R/31L at KMDW, 2005–2025
MonthPrevailingMean windGustyMean xwxw > 10xw > 15xw > 2013R tail > 531L tail > 5IFRTSFog
JanW9.3 kt22.3%6.3 kt19.2%3.3%0.3%39%15%16.1%0.09%17.9%
FebW9.4 kt21.2%6.4 kt19.6%4.6%1%38.7%14.7%11.7%0.21%14%
MarS9.5 kt25.5%7 kt24.2%6.3%1.1%27.7%22.6%8.4%0.52%10.6%
AprE9.7 kt28.2%7.2 kt25.5%6.5%0.9%27%23.9%7%0.78%8.9%
MayS8.4 kt19.9%6.7 kt19.9%3.7%0.4%19.2%21.9%5.9%1.2%6.8%
JunSW7.9 kt17.4%6.4 kt16.8%2.4%0.3%16.9%17.7%4.4%1.81%5%
JulSW7.2 kt12.8%5.9 kt13%1.4%0%16.5%13.6%1.6%1.8%2.7%
AugSW6.9 kt11.8%5.6 kt11.4%1.1%0.1%14.1%15.1%1.7%1.67%3.2%
SepS7.3 kt13.1%5.7 kt13.2%1.8%0.1%17.6%17.4%2.7%0.72%4.4%
OctS8.4 kt21.2%6.1 kt16.7%3.6%0.5%27%18.7%5.3%0.51%6.7%
NovS8.9 kt24.1%6.2 kt17.8%3.6%0.6%29.9%19%5.8%0.14%8.4%
DecW8.9 kt20.9%6.2 kt17.2%3.3%0.6%33.2%17.6%14.4%0.08%16.7%

IFR, thunderstorm (TS) and fog columns are airport-wide shares of hours; the crosswind and tailwind columns are specific to this runway. Prevailing = most common 45° wind sector among wind hours.

Runway 13R/31L closure history

Runway NOTAM history begins when the NOTAM feed goes live (next phase).

D-ATIS broadcasts recorded since Sep 17, 2026 declared runway 13R closed on 0 days and runway 31L closed on 0 days in the last 30 days. Scheduled and unscheduled closure NOTAMs, with start and end times and the official text, will appear here once ATIS Alerts records runway NOTAMs; there is no retrievable archive, so history accrues from that date forward.

Instrument approaches to runway 13R/31L

From the FAA d-TPP, linked to the official plates.

Runway 13R

No straight-in instrument approach published to this end.

Runway 31L

No straight-in instrument approach published to this end.

1 departure procedure · 5 STARs · FAA hot spots page ↗ · FAA d-TPP cycle 2610. Plates open on aeronav.faa.gov (public domain); ATIS Alerts does not reproduce charts or minimums.

Methodology and sources

Short version below; the full write-up is at Runway Intelligence methodology, and every launched airport is listed on the Runway Intelligence hub.

  • Active runwayscome first from the tower's TFDM (Terminal Flight Data Manager) airport configuration, received as structured data through the FAA SWIM Cloud Distribution Service at towers that have it (KMDW does); otherwise from the airport's D-ATIS text (community relay of the FAA broadcast) with an open, tested parser, and the broadcast text is always shown. Every change is recorded, so “recorded use” is what the facility stated, never an inference. ATIS Alerts is not an FAA product and this is not FAA data; SWIM content is for non-operational use.
  • Wind components use the current METAR (aviationweather.gov) against TRUE runway headings from the OurAirports/FAA runway record.
  • Runway visual range, tower demand and traffic-management restrictions come from FAA SWIM: STDDS Airport Data (RVR and light settings, about 130 airports) and TFDM (15-minute runway demand, APREQ/MIT restrictions). Each block is stamped with its own time; none of it is an FAA product or a clearance.
  • Predicted runway scores each open end from the TAF wind (headwind, crosswind penalty, tailwind avoidance, longest-runway tie-break); confidence falls with forecast distance, gusts and TAF age. It does not model noise abatement or flow programs.
  • Climatology: Iowa Environmental Mesonet ASOS archive, one observation per hour, 45° wind sectors, percentiles via t-digest; runway geometry is today's record applied to all years. Methodology v1.
  • Approaches: FAA d-TPP metafile, current charting cycle; plates link to aeronav.faa.gov. No minimums are reproduced.
  • Data freshness: METAR and D-ATIS refresh every minute on this page; the D-ATIS recorder ran 2 min ago; the tower TFDM feed last delivered 10 min ago; climatology through 2025-12-31.

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Other runways at KMDW

KMDW live weather, METAR, TAF & D-ATIS

Tools for this runway

⚠️ ATIS Alerts provides informational runway analysis based on available weather, D-ATIS, FAA data and historical observations. Active runways shown here are read from D-ATIS text and may lag or be misread; predicted runways are an ATIS Alerts estimate, not an ATC assignment. Not for operational use. Always verify with official FAA-approved preflight weather sources before flight.

Runway page score 68/100 · indexed (rollout wave gate).