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.

VFR

Observed 0554Z (12:54 AM CDT)live · refreshes every 60s

Wind

340° 4 kt

Visibility

10+ sm

Ceiling

Unlimited

Altimeter

30.02"

Temp / Dew

61°F / 16°C

dew 57°F / 14°C

Wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 4 kt, visibility 10+ statute miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 ft, temperature 16°C (61°F), altimeter 30.02 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR).

Raw METAR

METAR KRFD 130554Z 34004KT 10SM SCT250 16/14 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP160 T01610139 10233 20161 403060144 53018 $

What changed at KRFD?

Since the 0454Z (11:54 PM CDT) report, compared automatically against the latest METAR.

Pressure rising: altimeter 29.99 → 30.02 inHg.

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 340° at 4 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and no ceiling reported. The strongest crosswind component is currently on runway 07, about 4 knots. Density altitude is approximately 950 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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Staying over at KRFD

For pilots and crews overnighting at Chicago Rockford International Airport (KRFD).

Nearby Pilot Hotel Deals

Well-reviewed places under $500 a night near KRFD (RFD); drag to explore or tap a pin for the rate.

Crew Rental Car Deals

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Runway 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
01FAV	8,200 ft	ASP	4 kt head	2 kt left
07	10,002 ft	PEM	0 kt head	4 kt left
25	10,002 ft	PEM	0 kt head	4 kt right
19	8,200 ft	ASP	4 kt tail	2 kt right

Open the crosswind calculator to try your own wind and runway numbers →

24-hour trend

Wind, ceiling and flight category over the last 24 hours.

Wind (kt)Gusts (kt)Bottom strip, flight category:VFRMVFRIFRLIFRNo report

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.

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Loading radar…

Radar: NOAA/NWS via IEM · Forecast: NOAA HRRR · Lightning: NOAA · Map © Stadia Maps © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap

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.

PIREP0223Z (9:23 PM CDT) · 93 NM E of KRFD · 32,000 ft MSL · UAL1283

Show raw report

ARP UAL1283 4156N 08703W 0223 F320 283/049KT TB MOD CHOP IC

ARP UAL1283 4156N 08703W 022…Header: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.

PIREP0215Z (9:15 PM CDT) · 93 NM E of KRFD · 32,000 ft MSL · B38M

continuous light chop occasional moderate chop turbulence

Show raw report

PWK UA /OV OBK120045/TM 0215/FL320/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP OCNL MOD CHOP

PWK UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.

OV OBK120045Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.

TM 0215Reported at 02:15 UTC.

FL320Altitude: 32,000 ft MSL.

TP B38MAircraft type reporting.

TB CONS LGT CHOP OCNL MOD CH…Turbulence: continuous light chop occasional moderate chop.

PIREP0206Z (9:06 PM CDT) · 85 NM NE of KRFD · 36,000 ft MSL · BCS3

continuous light occasional moderate turbulence

Show raw report

MWC UA /OV BAE090030/TM 0206/FL360/TP BCS3/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD

MWC UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.

OV BAE090030Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.

TM 0206Reported at 02:06 UTC.

FL360Altitude: 36,000 ft MSL.

TP BCS3Aircraft type reporting.

TB CONS LGT OCNL MODTurbulence: continuous light occasional moderate.

PIREP0107Z (8:07 PM CDT) · 69 NM E of KRFD · 31,000 ft MSL · B38M

intermittent light chop turbulence

Show raw report

ORD UA /OV CGT360040/TM 0107/FL310/TP B38M/TB INTMT LGT CHOP

ORD UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.

OV CGT360040Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.

TM 0107Reported at 01:07 UTC.

FL310Altitude: 31,000 ft MSL.

TP B38MAircraft type reporting.

TB INTMT LGT CHOPTurbulence: intermittent light chop.

PIREP0104Z (8:04 PM CDT) · 52 NM SE of KRFD · during climb · B737

occasional light chop turbulence

Show raw report

JOT UA /OV JOT/TM 0104/FL280/TP B737/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM DURC

JOT UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.

OV JOTLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.

TM 0104Reported at 01:04 UTC.

FL280Altitude: 28,000 ft MSL.

TP B737Aircraft type reporting.

TB OCNL LGT CHOPTurbulence: occasional light chop.

RM DURCRemarks.

PIREP0038Z (7:38 PM CDT) · 14 NM NE of KRFD · 35,000 ft MSL · A321

continuous light 350 turbulence

Show raw report

ORD UA /OV C77/TM 0038/FL350/TP A321/TB CONS LGT 350

ORD UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.

OV C77Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.

TM 0038Reported at 00:38 UTC.

FL350Altitude: 35,000 ft MSL.

TP A321Aircraft type reporting.

TB CONS LGT 350Turbulence: continuous light 350.

⚠️ 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 lowest ceiling was 4,000 ft. Wind most often came from the SW.

Last 24 hours

VFR 100%

Wind avg/max: 6/12 kt

Max gust: -

Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft

Lowest vis: -

Prevailing wind: SW

Category changes: 0

Last 7 days

VFR 91%MVFR 6%IFR 2%LIFR 1%

Wind avg/max: 5/16 kt

Max gust: 23 kt

Lowest ceiling: 400 ft

Lowest vis: 3 sm

Prevailing wind: SE

Category changes: 13

Most recent change: MVFR → VFR

Active Runway - past 30 days

19: 40%
25: 24%
01: 23%
07: 13%

TAF | Terminal Aerodrome Forecast

Issued 0529Z (12:29 AM CDT)

TAF KRFD 130529Z 1306/1406 32005KT P6SM SCT150 FM131500 34010KT P6SM BKN090 TEMPO 1318/1321 -RA BKN070 FM132300 33005KT P6SM SCT050

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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: 17h 43m

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.

VFRMVFRIFRLIFRNo report

Within 25 NM

9 airports

KRPJRochelle Municipal Airport - Koritz FieldRochelle, IL18 nm SVFR METAR KFEPAlbertus AirportFreeport, IL22 nm WVFR METAR KDKBDeKalb Taylor Municipal AirportDeKalb, IL23 nm SEVFR METAR 1C8Cottonwood AirportRockford, IL6 nm N 4IL3Thrifty Acres AirportStillman Valley, IL7 nm SW LL78LZ Fairwinds AirportRockford, IL7 nm N

+3 more within 25 NM

25–50 NM

7 airports

KEFTMonroe Municipal AirportMonroe, WI33 nm NWVFR METAR KSQIWhiteside County Airport - Joseph H Bittorf FieldRock Falls, IL38 nm SWVFR METAR KARRAurora Municipal AirportChicago/Aurora, IL38 nm SEMVFR METAR KDPADupage AirportChicago/West Chicago, IL42 nm SEVFR METAR · TAF KSFYTri Township AirportSavanna, IL46 nm WVFR METAR KBUUBurlington Municipal AirportBurlington, WI46 nm NEVFR METAR

+1 more within 50 NM

50–100 NM

8 airports

KVYSIllinois Valley Regional Airport Walter A Duncan FieldPeru, IL51 nm SVFR METAR KPWKChicago Executive AirportChicago/Prospect Heights/Wheeling, IL53 nm EVFR METAR KORDChicago O'Hare International AirportChicago, IL55 nm EVFR METAR · TAF KUGNWaukegan National AirportChicago/Waukegan, IL56 nm EVFR METAR KLOTLewis University AirportChicago/Romeoville, IL57 nm SEVFR METAR KENWKenosha Regional AirportKenosha, WI57 nm NEVFR METAR · TAF

+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

All RC flying fields →

See all Illinois airports →

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.

VFR Score

Wind Score

Reliability Score

National VFR rank

#1057 of 1,400

Regional rank

#27

State rank

#19

Full historical breakdown

Daylight VFR

78.2%

MVFR

14.2%

IFR

5.8%

LIFR

2.4%

Est. VFR days/yr

258

Most VFR month

July

Fewest VFR month

December

Median ceiling

6,000 ft

Median visibility

10 sm

Calm wind

12.4%

Median wind

7 kt

Gusty hours

13.9%

Crosswind >15 kt

0.5%

Fog/mist days/yr

149

Thunderstorm days/yr

Summer density alt

2,266 ft

Flight category by month

VFRMVFRIFRLIFR

KRFD monthly flight-category distribution, 2006–2025
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

KRFD average wind by month, 2006–2025
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

Great Lakes flying weather Most VFR airports Windiest airports Flying Weather Index

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 2610 · 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-submitted

Community-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.

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