Dane County Regional Truax Field (KMSN) Aviation Weather: METAR, TAF & ATIS
As of 12:53 AM CDT, Oct 29, KMSN is currently VFR with variable winds at 6 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and a 9,000 ft ceiling. The FAA lists no ground stop or delay program for KMSN right now.
Live aviation weather for Dane County Regional Truax Field in Madison, WI, including METAR, TAF, ATIS, flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling, altimeter and runway crosswinds.
Dane County Regional Truax Field (KMSN) is a regional airport serving Madison, WI at a field elevation of 887 ft. KMSN reports its own METAR and publishes a TAF, decoded live on this page as flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling and altimeter. It has 3 physical runways (03/21, 14/32, 18/36), the longest 9,006 ft. The official FAA airport diagram is at the bottom of the page.
Wind variable at 6 kt, visibility 10+ statute miles, a few clouds at 4,400 ft, broken clouds at 9,000 ft, overcast at 11,000 ft, temperature 18°C (64°F), altimeter 30.02 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR), ceiling 9,000 ft.
METAR KMSN 290553Z AUTO VRB06KT 10SM -RA FEW044 BKN090 OVC110 18/12 A3002 RMK AO2 RAB43 SLP161 P0000 60001 T01780117 10206 20178 402330083 53010
What changed at KMSN?
Since the 0453Z (11:53 PM CDT) report, compared automatically against the latest METAR.
- Rain began (-RA).
- Wind direction is now variable.
- Wind speed down from 15 to 6 kt.
- Gusts are no longer reported.
- Pressure rising: altimeter 29.99 → 30.02 inHg.
Current pilot readout for KMSN
KMSN is currently VFR with variable winds at 6 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and a 9,000 ft ceiling. Density altitude is approximately 1,300 ft (field elevation 887 ft). Review the latest TAF below for forecast changes before departure.
KMSN by the numbers
What the long-run records say about flying here, computed for this airport alone.
The FAA issued no ground stop or ground delay program for MSN in the 12 months to October 2026. Delays here come from the airlines or from programs at other airports rather than from MSN's own airspace.
KMSN reported VFR in 76% of daylight observations over 20 years, about 250 flyable days a year. July is the most reliable month and December the least, with IFR or worse 19% of the time. When conditions drop it is usually a mix of low ceilings (under 1,000 ft 6% of hours) and low visibility (under 3 miles 5%).
Over 20 years of hourly winds, runway 32 had the best headwind 25% of the time, runway 18 20%, and winds were calm 24% of hours. Winds most often blow from the south. Crosswind on the best available runway topped 15 kt in under 1% of hours.
Snow fell on about 61 days a year and freezing rain or drizzle on 7. From December to February KMSN was IFR or worse 16% of the time, against 5% from June to August.
MSN departures left within 15 minutes of schedule 81% of the time across 13,495 flights, June 2025 to May 2026. Before 9 AM departures did best (89%) and 3 to 6 PM did worst (73%).
Thunderstorms were reported on about 41 days a year. 60% of storm hours fall in June, July and August, peaking in June when storms were in the air 2% of the time.
Sources: FAA ATCSCC advisories, hourly observations 2006 to 2025, the per-runway wind climatology 2006 to 2025 and BTS airline on-time data. 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 →
Runway wind check
Estimated head/tailwind and crosswind for each runway end from the current reported wind.
Current wind is variable at 6 kt: light and variable wind like this is generally not a factor for runway selection, and with no steady direction there is no head/tail or crosswind component to compute. Live numbers return automatically once a report includes a wind direction.
| Runway | Length | Surface | Head / Tail | Crosswind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03 | 7,200 ft | CON | - | - |
| 14 | 5,846 ft | CON | - | - |
| 18 | 9,006 ft | CON | - | - |
| 21 | 7,200 ft | CON | - | - |
| 32 | 5,846 ft | CON | - | - |
| 36 | 9,006 ft | CON | - | - |
Open the crosswind calculator to try your own wind and runway numbers →
KMSN runways
3 physical runways · 6 runway ends. Each card opens the runway's intelligence page: equipment and lighting, LAHSO, frequencies, today's configuration, predicted use, history and approaches.
- Restricted (NOTAM)Runway 03/217,200 × 150 ft · CONCurrent useno stated-runway source at KMSNWind
- 03
- no steady wind
- 21
- no steady wind
1 active equipment NOTAMView Runway Intelligence → - Restricted (NOTAM)Runway 14/325,846 × 150 ft · CONCurrent useno stated-runway source at KMSNWind
- 14
- no steady wind
- 32
- no steady wind
no active equipment NOTAM receivedView Runway Intelligence → - Restricted (NOTAM)Runway 18/369,006 × 150 ft · CONCurrent useno stated-runway source at KMSNWind
- 18
- no steady wind
- 36
- no steady wind
no active equipment NOTAM receivedView Runway Intelligence →
“Current use” is what the facilitystates; 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 0→6 kt, ceiling unlimited → 9,000 ft.
KMSN 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 KMSN
Reported by pilots in flight over the past 6 hours, via aviationweather.gov.
Show raw report
MKE UA /OV MKE256005/TM 0617/FL046/TP B734/TB NEG
MKE UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV MKE256005Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0617Reported at 06:17 UTC.FL046Altitude: 4,600 ft MSL.TP B734Aircraft type reporting.TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.Show raw report
DBQ UA /OV DBQ/TM 0517/FL200/TP B752/TB MOD
DBQ UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV DBQLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0517Reported at 05:17 UTC.FL200Altitude: 20,000 ft MSL.TP B752Aircraft type reporting.TB MODTurbulence: moderate.Show raw report
DBQ UA /OV DBQ/TM 0336/FL130/TP A306/TB OCNL LGT CHOP 230-130
DBQ UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV DBQLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0336Reported at 03:36 UTC.FL130Altitude: 13,000 ft MSL.TP A306Aircraft type reporting.TB OCNL LGT CHOP 230-130Turbulence: occasional light chop 23,000–13,000 ft.Show raw report
MSN UA /OV MSN360001/TM 0305/FL1100/TP CRJ7/TB MOD/RM +/- 5-10 KTS ON SHORT FINAL RWY 18
MSN UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV MSN360001Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0305Reported at 03:05 UTC.FL1100Altitude: 11,000 ft MSL.TP CRJ7Aircraft type reporting.TB MODTurbulence: moderate.RM +/- 5-10 KTS ON SHORT FIN…Remarks.Show raw report
CWA UA /OV CWA/TM 0146/FL380/TP GA6C/SK T380/TB LGT
CWA UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV CWALocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0146Reported at 01:46 UTC.FL380Altitude: 38,000 ft MSL.TP GA6CAircraft type reporting.SK T380Sky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.TB LGTTurbulence: light.⚠️ PIREPs are unverified pilot reports. Not for operational use: conditions change between reports.
Recent aviation weather trends at KMSN
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, KMSN reported mostly VFR across 24 observations, with 0 flight-category changes. The strongest gust reached 20 kt, the lowest ceiling was 6,500 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.
- 18
- 45%
- 32
- 13%
- 14
- 12%
- 21
- 12%
- 03
- 11%
- 36
- 7%
TAF | Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
Issued 0608Z (1:08 AM CDT)
TAF KMSN 290608Z 2906/3006 22010KT 6SM -SHRA BR OVC060 WS020/22045KT TEMPO 2906/2909 4SM -SHRA BR OVC050 FM290900 23008KT 6SM BR OVC050 FM291100 29006KT P6SM BKN025 FM291300 31007KT P6SM SCT025 FM300400 00000KT P6SM SKC
New to TAFs? How to read one →
Get KMSN weather alerts in Telegram
Stop refreshing aviation weather manually. Track KMSN 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 KMSN free on TelegramLive KMSN Weather
Live crosswind meter
Measured by KMSN's own weather station.
Wind is calm or variable. Either end works.
Concrete · 9,006 ft. Headings from FAA runway data. Not for navigation.
Field aerial
North up
Runway 03/21, 14/32, 18/36 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 · Jet A++
- Attended
- 24 hours
- Repairs
- Airframe & engine, major
- Oxygen
- Bottled, high & low pressure
- Transient parking
- Hangars
- Landing fee
- No
- Other services
- Air freight · Air ambulance · Avionics · Cargo handling · Charter · Flight instruction · Aircraft rental · Aircraft sales
- Control tower
- Yes
- Wind indicator
- Lighted
Airport
- Type
- Regional airport
- ICAO
- KMSN
- IATA
- MSN
- FAA LID
- MSN
- City
- Madison
- State
- Wisconsin
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 887 ft
- Coordinates
- 43.1399, -89.3375
- Runways
- 3 physical runways · 6 runway ends
- Longest runway
- 9,006 ft
- Weather reporting
- Reports METAR
- TAF
- Published
- ATIS
- 124.65 MHz
- CTAF
- 119.3 MHz
- Time zone
- America/Chicago
- Next sunset
- 16h 8m
Is there a ground stop at MSN today? Delay status and history →
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed KMSN'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
10 airports+4 more within 25 NM
25–50 NM
6 airports50–100 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.
- Madison Area Radio Control Society, Inc. - Co Hwy TT , Cottage Grove, WI · 9 mi
- LARCC - Lodi Area Radio Control Club - Hwy J , Lodi, WI · 17 mi
Historical Flying Weather at KMSN
2006–2025 · ATIS Alerts Flying Weather Index
Based on historical observations from 2006–2025, KMSN reported VFR conditions during about 76.3% of valid daylight observations, with an estimated 250 VFR flying days a year. July had the most VFR weather; December had the most instrument conditions. Surface winds averaged 6.2 kt, calm 16.8% of the time.
Full historical breakdown
Flight category by month
| Month | VFR % | MVFR % | IFR % | LIFR % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57.9 | 25.3 | 10.8 | 5.9 |
| Feb | 70.5 | 17.1 | 8.9 | 3.5 |
| Mar | 73.1 | 16.2 | 7.6 | 3.0 |
| Apr | 77.4 | 14.7 | 6.4 | 1.4 |
| May | 81.1 | 12.0 | 5.4 | 1.4 |
| Jun | 84.6 | 10.6 | 4.0 | 0.8 |
| Jul | 87.6 | 9.3 | 2.6 | 0.5 |
| Aug | 82.8 | 11.4 | 4.2 | 1.6 |
| Sep | 81.7 | 11.7 | 4.4 | 2.2 |
| Oct | 78.8 | 14.3 | 5.5 | 1.4 |
| Nov | 71.7 | 19.1 | 7.0 | 2.3 |
| Dec | 56.0 | 25.3 | 11.6 | 7.1 |
Average wind by month
| Month | Mean wind (kt) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 6.4 kt |
| Feb | 6.7 kt |
| Mar | 7.2 kt |
| Apr | 7.8 kt |
| May | 6.6 kt |
| Jun | 5.7 kt |
| Jul | 4.8 kt |
| Aug | 4.6 kt |
| Sep | 5.2 kt |
| Oct | 6.0 kt |
| Nov | 6.7 kt |
| Dec | 6.4 kt |
Historical summary of past observations: not a forecast or safety rating. Always check the current METAR, TAF, and a weather briefing before flight.
KMSN 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 MSN shirt or mug
MSN's real runway layout on the back, elevation and tower frequency on the front. Add your tail number on the sleeve.
Pilot PIREPs for Dane County Regional Truax Field (KMSN)
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 Dane County Regional Truax Field, 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 KMSN 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.
No D-ATIS at this airport, showing METAR.
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