Chicago Rockford International Airport (KRFD) Aviation Weather, METAR, TAF & ATIS Alerts
Live aviation weather for Chicago Rockford International Airport in Chicago/Rockford, IL, including METAR, TAF, flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling, altimeter, runway crosswinds, and Telegram airport alerts.
Chicago Rockford International Airport (KRFD) is a regional airport serving Chicago/Rockford, IL at 742 ft. KRFD reports its own METAR and publishes a TAF — decoded live on this page as flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling and altimeter. Its 4 runways (01, 07, 19, 25) — longest 10,002 ft — are checked against the current wind in the crosswind table below. The official FAA airport diagram is at the bottom of the page. Track KRFD in the ATIS Alerts Telegram bot to get a message when a new METAR changes the picture — flight category, wind, or ceiling past your selected minimums.
Wind from the east (080°) at 4 kt, visibility 10+ statute miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 ft, temperature 23°C (73°F), altimeter 29.92 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
METAR KRFD 290154Z 08004KT 10SM SCT250 23/16 A2992 RMK AO2 SLP128 T02280161
What changed at KRFD?
Since the 0054Z (7:54 PM CDT) report — compared automatically against the latest METAR.
- The 25,000 ft ceiling dissipated — no ceiling now.
- Pressure rising: altimeter 29.90 → 29.92 inHg.
- Temperature down 3°C.
This is exactly what ATIS Alerts watches for you — get a Telegram message when KRFD's weather changes, free →
Current pilot readout for KRFD
KRFD is currently VFR with winds from 080° at 4 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and no ceiling reported. The strongest crosswind component is currently on runway 01, about 4 knots. Density altitude is approximately 1,850 ft (field elevation 742 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 →
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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 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 KRFD. This is intended as a planning aid only and should not replace official performance calculations or pilot judgment.
| Runway | Length | Surface | Head / Tail | Crosswind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07FAV | 10,002 ft | PEM | 4 kt head | 1 kt right |
| 01 | 8,200 ft | ASP | 1 kt head | 4 kt right |
| 19 | 8,200 ft | ASP | 1 kt tail | 4 kt left |
| 25 | 10,002 ft | PEM | 4 kt tail | 1 kt left |
Open the crosswind calculator — 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.
KRFD weather radar
Live NEXRAD + lightning, with a 4-hour future-radar forecast — drag to pan, tap ⚡ to toggle lightning.
Live weather radar around Chicago Rockford International Airport in Chicago/Rockford, 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 KRFD is headed.
Radar: NOAA/NWS via IEM · Forecast: NOAA HRRR · Lightning: NOAA · Map © OpenStreetMap © CARTO
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 KRFD
Reported by pilots in flight over the past 6 hours — via aviationweather.gov.
Show raw report
JOT UA /OV JOT180030/TM 0123/FL210/TP B39M/TB NEG
JOT UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV JOT180030Location — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0123Reported at 01:23 UTC.FL210Altitude: 21,000 ft MSL.TP B39MAircraft type reporting.TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.Show raw report
PIA UA /OV BDF360045/TM 2319/FL320/TP CRJ7/TB NEG CHOP
PIA UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV BDF360045Location — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2319Reported at 23:19 UTC.FL320Altitude: 32,000 ft MSL.TP CRJ7Aircraft type reporting.TB NEG CHOPTurbulence: none reported chop.Show raw report
MDW UA /OV MDW140020/TM 2049/FL060/TP E545/SK VMC/TB NEG/RM DURD
MDW UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV MDW140020Location — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2049Reported at 20:49 UTC.FL060Altitude: 6,000 ft MSL.TP E545Aircraft type reporting.SK VMCSky condition — cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.RM DURDRemarks.⚠️ 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 2 flight-category changes. The strongest gust reached 17 kt, the lowest ceiling was 1,300 ft. Wind most often came from the N.
Most recent change: MVFR → VFR
Most recent change: MVFR → VFR
- 19
- 40%
- 01
- 24%
- 25
- 24%
- 07
- 12%
TAF — Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
Issued 2320Z (6:20 PM CDT)
TAF KRFD 282320Z 2900/2924 04007KT P6SM SCT200 FM290300 VRB03KT P6SM FEW200 FM291500 06005KT P6SM FEW060
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Airport facts
Reference data from the OurAirports dataset.
- 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
- 4
- Longest runway
- 10,002 ft
- Weather reporting
- Reports METAR
- TAF
- Published
- ATIS
- 126.7 MHz
- Time zone
- America/Chicago
- Next sunset
- 23h 15m
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
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.
The FAA airport diagram for Chicago Rockford International Airport in Chicago/Rockford, IL shows the runway and taxiway layout across 4 runways, ramp areas, and hold-short positions — review it before taxiing at an unfamiliar field.
Official FAA airport diagram · d-TPP cycle 2608 · Not for navigation. Download the official FAA PDF ↗
KRFD weather — frequently asked
What runways are available at KRFD?+
KRFD has 4 runways — 01, 07, 19, 25; the longest is 10,002 ft. This page computes the live crosswind for each runway end from the current wind.
Does KRFD report its own weather?+
Yes — Chicago Rockford International Airport has its own weather station and publishes METAR observations, which this page decodes live.
Does KRFD have a TAF?+
Yes — the TAF is shown on this page below the current conditions.
Does KRFD broadcast D-ATIS?+
No — KRFD does not broadcast D-ATIS. Alerts for KRFD from the ATIS Alerts bot (@atisalerts_bot) are based on its METAR instead.
Where can I find the KRFD airport diagram?+
The official FAA airport diagram for Chicago Rockford International Airport (KRFD) is shown on this page — it maps the runway and taxiway layout, ramps, and hold-short lines. Tap it to zoom, or download the official FAA PDF free from the link under the diagram (updated every 28-day FAA charting cycle).
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.
Why pilots use ATIS Alerts
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- Get pinged the moment KRFD drops below VFR or a new report moves your numbers.
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⚠️ 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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