Chicago Rockford International Airport (KRFD) Aviation Weather: METAR, TAF & ATIS
As of 1:54 PM CDT, Oct 27, KRFD is currently VFR with winds from 160° at 7 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and a 17,000 ft ceiling. The FAA lists no ground stop or delay program for KRFD right now.
Live aviation weather for Chicago Rockford International Airport in Chicago/Rockford, IL, including METAR, TAF, ATIS, flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling, altimeter and runway crosswinds.
Chicago Rockford International Airport (KRFD) is a regional airport serving Chicago/Rockford, IL at a field elevation of 742 ft. KRFD reports its own METAR and publishes a TAF, decoded live on this page as flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling and altimeter. It has 2 physical runways (01/19, 07/25), the longest 10,002 ft. The official FAA airport diagram is at the bottom of the page.
Wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 7 kt, visibility 10+ statute miles, broken clouds at 17,000 ft, broken clouds at 20,000 ft, overcast at 25,000 ft, temperature 19°C (66°F), altimeter 30.20 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR), ceiling 17,000 ft.
METAR KRFD 271854Z 16007KT 10SM BKN170 BKN200 OVC250 19/11 A3020 RMK AO2 SLP227 T01890106 $
What changed at KRFD?
Since the 1754Z (12:54 PM CDT) report, compared automatically against the latest METAR.
- Pressure falling: altimeter 30.23 → 30.20 inHg.
Current pilot readout for KRFD
KRFD is currently VFR with winds from 160° at 7 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and a 17,000 ft ceiling. the wind favors south-facing runway ends (19). Density altitude is approximately 1,050 ft (field elevation 742 ft). Review the latest TAF below for forecast changes before departure.
KRFD 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 RFD in the 12 months to October 2026. Delays here come from the airlines or from programs at other airports rather than from RFD's own airspace.
KRFD reported VFR in 78% of daylight observations over 20 years, about 258 flyable days a year. July is the most reliable month and December the least, with IFR or worse 18% 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 4%).
Over 20 years of hourly winds, runway 19 had the best headwind 34% of the time, runway 25 25%, and winds were calm 14% 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 57 days a year and freezing rain or drizzle on 9. From December to February KRFD was IFR or worse 16% of the time, against 3% from June to August.
Thunderstorms were reported on about 44 days a year. 57% of storm hours fall in June, July and August, peaking in June when storms were in the air 3% of the time.
Field elevation is 742 ft, but on a median summer afternoon the air performs like 2,266 ft, 1,524 ft higher. Plan for a longer takeoff roll and a weaker climb from June to August.
Sources: FAA ATCSCC advisories, hourly observations 2006 to 2025 and the per-runway wind climatology 2006 to 2025. 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.
| Runway | Length | Surface | Head / Tail | Crosswind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19FAV | 8,200 ft | ASP | 6 kt head | 3 kt left |
| 25 | 10,002 ft | PEM | 1 kt head | 7 kt left |
| 07 | 10,002 ft | PEM | 1 kt tail | 7 kt right |
| 01 | 8,200 ft | ASP | 6 kt tail | 3 kt right |
Open the crosswind calculator to try your own wind and runway numbers →
KRFD runways
2 physical runways · 4 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 01/198,200 × 150 ft · ASPCurrent useno stated-runway source at KRFDWind
- 01
- 6 kt tailwind · 3 kt crosswind from right
- 19
- 6 kt headwind · 3 kt crosswind from left
1 active equipment NOTAMView Runway Intelligence → - Restricted (NOTAM)Runway 07/2510,002 × 150 ft · PEMCurrent useno stated-runway source at KRFDWind
- 07
- 1 kt tailwind · 7 kt crosswind from right
- 25
- 1 kt headwind · 7 kt crosswind from left
2 active equipment NOTAMsView 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 7→7 kt, ceiling 20,000 ft → 17,000 ft.
KRFD 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 KRFD
Reported by pilots in flight over the past 6 hours, via aviationweather.gov.
Show raw report
JOT UA /OV JOT280030/TM 1920/FL240/TP C68A/TA M28/IC LGT MX
JOT UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV JOT280030Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 1920Reported at 19:20 UTC.FL240Altitude: 24,000 ft MSL.TP C68AAircraft type reporting.TA M28Outside air temperature, °C.IC LGT MXIcing: light mx.Show raw report
ORD UA /OV ORD090036/TM 1920/FL330/TP LJ31/TB OCNL LGT CHOP
ORD UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV ORD090036Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 1920Reported at 19:20 UTC.FL330Altitude: 33,000 ft MSL.TP LJ31Aircraft type reporting.TB OCNL LGT CHOPTurbulence: occasional light chop.Show raw report
JOT UA /OV JOT090015/TM 1918/FL340/TP C68A/TB LGT CHOP
JOT UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV JOT090015Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 1918Reported at 19:18 UTC.FL340Altitude: 34,000 ft MSL.TP C68AAircraft type reporting.TB LGT CHOPTurbulence: light chop.Show raw report
JOT UA /OV JOT/TM 1918/FL370/TP A21N/TB NEG
JOT UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV JOTLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 1918Reported at 19:18 UTC.FL370Altitude: 37,000 ft MSL.TP A21NAircraft type reporting.TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.Show raw report
RPJ UA /OV RPJ/TM 1918/FL190/TP E170/TB NEG
RPJ UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV RPJLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 1918Reported at 19:18 UTC.FL190Altitude: 19,000 ft MSL.TP E170Aircraft type reporting.TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.Show raw report
JVL UA /OV JVL/TM 1918/FL150/TP B38M/TB LGT CHOP
JVL UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV JVLLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 1918Reported at 19:18 UTC.FL150Altitude: 15,000 ft MSL.TP B38MAircraft type reporting.TB LGT CHOPTurbulence: light chop.Show raw report
DLL UA /OV DLL260030/TM 1917/FL050/TP SR22/TB NEG/IC NEG
DLL UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV DLL260030Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 1917Reported at 19:17 UTC.FL050Altitude: 5,000 ft MSL.TP SR22Aircraft type reporting.TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.IC NEGIcing: none reported.Show raw report
ONA UA /OV ODI-PMM/TM 1855/FL350/TP NMRS/TB CONS LGT CHOP
ONA UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV ODI-PMMLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 1855Reported at 18:55 UTC.FL350Altitude: 35,000 ft MSL.TP NMRSAircraft type reporting.TB CONS LGT CHOPTurbulence: continuous light chop.⚠️ PIREPs are unverified pilot reports. Not for operational use: conditions change between reports.
Recent aviation weather trends at KRFD
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, KRFD reported mostly VFR across 24 observations, with 0 flight-category changes. The strongest gust reached 15 kt, the lowest ceiling was 15,000 ft. Wind most often came from the NE.
Most recent change: IFR → VFR
Share of hours each runway had the most headwind. From wind reports, not ATC assignments.
- 19
- 49%
- 01
- 24%
- 25
- 15%
- 07
- 12%
TAF | Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
Issued 1726Z (12:26 PM CDT)
TAF KRFD 271726Z 2718/2818 15009KT P6SM SCT150 BKN200 FM280200 18005KT P6SM BKN150 FM281600 20011G20KT P6SM SCT100
New to TAFs? How to read one →
Get KRFD weather alerts in Telegram
Stop refreshing aviation weather manually. Track KRFD 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 KRFD free on TelegramLive KRFD Weather
Live crosswind meter
Measured by KRFD's own weather station.
Wind is 25° off runway 19, the end with the most headwind right now.
Asphalt · 8,200 ft. Headings from FAA runway data. Not for navigation.
Field aerial
North up
Runway 01/19, 07/25 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-1+
- Attended
- 24 hours
- Repairs
- Airframe & engine, major
- Oxygen
- Bottled, high pressure · Bulk, high pressure
- Transient parking
- Tie-downs · Hangars
- Landing fee
- No
- Other services
- Cargo handling · Charter · Flight instruction · Aircraft rental
- Control tower
- Yes
- Wind indicator
- Lighted
Airport
- Type
- Regional airport
- ICAO
- KRFD
- IATA
- RFD
- FAA LID
- RFD
- City
- Chicago/Rockford
- State
- Illinois
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 742 ft
- Coordinates
- 42.1954, -89.0972
- Runways
- 2 physical runways · 4 runway ends
- Longest runway
- 10,002 ft
- Weather reporting
- Reports METAR
- TAF
- Published
- ATIS
- 126.7 MHz
- Time zone
- America/Chicago
- Sunset in
- 3h 10m
Is there a ground stop at RFD today? Delay status and history →
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed KRFD'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 · 9 mi
- Rockford Aeromodelers - Swanson Rd , Roscoe, IL · 14 mi
- Rock Valley RC Flyers - Chickory Ridge Park , Roscoe, IL · 16 mi
Historical Flying Weather at KRFD
2006–2025 · ATIS Alerts Flying Weather Index
Based on historical observations from 2006–2025, KRFD reported VFR conditions during about 78.2% of valid daylight observations, with an estimated 258 VFR flying days a year. July had the most VFR weather; December had the most instrument conditions. Surface winds averaged 7.4 kt, calm 12.4% of the time.
Full historical breakdown
Flight category by month
| Month | VFR % | MVFR % | IFR % | LIFR % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 59.5 | 23.5 | 11.3 | 5.7 |
| Feb | 70.1 | 18.0 | 8.1 | 3.9 |
| Mar | 74.4 | 16.1 | 6.8 | 2.6 |
| Apr | 79.8 | 13.7 | 5.6 | 0.9 |
| May | 83.3 | 11.4 | 4.4 | 0.9 |
| Jun | 87.3 | 8.7 | 3.1 | 0.9 |
| Jul | 89.8 | 7.7 | 2.0 | 0.5 |
| Aug | 87.8 | 8.3 | 2.7 | 1.2 |
| Sep | 86.0 | 8.9 | 3.6 | 1.4 |
| Oct | 82.4 | 11.9 | 4.7 | 1.0 |
| Nov | 74.4 | 17.3 | 5.9 | 2.4 |
| Dec | 57.2 | 24.6 | 11.0 | 7.2 |
Average wind by month
| Month | Mean wind (kt) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 8.2 kt |
| Feb | 8.3 kt |
| Mar | 8.6 kt |
| Apr | 9.1 kt |
| May | 7.5 kt |
| Jun | 6.6 kt |
| Jul | 5.6 kt |
| Aug | 5.3 kt |
| Sep | 6.0 kt |
| Oct | 7.3 kt |
| Nov | 8.0 kt |
| Dec | 7.9 kt |
Historical summary of past observations: not a forecast or safety rating. Always check the current METAR, TAF, and a weather briefing before flight.
KRFD 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 RFD shirt or mug
RFD'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 Rockford International Airport (KRFD)
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 Rockford 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 KRFD 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.
Spotted incorrect airport info? ✏️ Suggest an edit