KMSN/MSN METAR & TAF Dane County Regional Truax Field

Madison, WisconsinElevation 887 ftMedium airport

CURRENT STATUS

VFR9 min old

Ceiling 24,000 ft, visibility 10 SM.

FLIGHT CATEGORY

VFR

ceiling & visibility

WIND

330@4

steady

VISIBILITY

10 SM

16.1 km

CEILING

24,000 ft

lowest BKN/OVC

DENSITY ALT

686 ft

-201 ft vs field

CURRENT METAR

Decoded observation

Observed 0253Z (9:53 PM local) · 9 min old

KMSN is currently VFR. Winds are from the northwest at 4 knots. Visibility is 10 statute miles. The ceiling is 24,000 feet AGL.

WIND

330° at 4 kt

Steady.

VISIBILITY

10 statute miles

16.1 km, good.

CEILING & SKY

Ceiling 24,000 ft

Lowest broken or overcast layer.

TEMP / DEWPOINT

15°C / 12°C

59°F / 54°F. 3°C spread.

ALTIMETER

30.33 inHg

1027.1 hPa, above standard.

WEATHER & HAZARDS

No significant hazards

No precipitation or obscuration reported.

Codes in this report: BKN RMK AO2

Hover or tap any group for a plain-English explanation.

REMARKS: DECODED

AO2

automated station with a precipitation discriminator (can tell rain from snow)

SLP271

sea-level pressure 1027.1 hPa

T01500117

precise temperature 15.0°C, dew point 11.7°C

52009

3-hour pressure tendency: rising steadily (0.9 hPa change)

$

station needs maintenance

TERMINAL AERODROME FORECAST

TAF timeline

Issued 2320Z (6:20 PM local) · valid to 0000Z (7:00 PM local)

KMSN forecast starts VFR at 00Z. Conditions are roughly steady over the period.

BKN25025,000 ft

BKN0606,000 ft

BKN0808,000 ft

0000Z7:00 PM0448Z11:48 PM0936Z4:36 AM1424Z9:24 AM1912Z2:12 PM0000Z7:00 PM

Codes in this report: P6SM BKN SCT

Tap any group to decode it.

FAA: no delays reported at MSN.

Source: FAA System Operations (ASWS). Operational status only; verify with official FAA sources and NOTAMs.

SUGGESTED RISK · TRAINING USE

Suggested risk level: Low

›No significant weather concerns in the current report.

A suggested risk level for training and situational awareness only, not a go/no-go authority. Verify with official sources and apply your personal minimums.

FORECAST & PILOT NOTES · SUPPLEMENTAL

Extended forecast and pilot notes

Current aviation conditions show flight category VFR, wind from 330° at 4 kt, visibility 10 SM, ceiling 24,000 ft. Forecast suggests tonight mostly cloudy, low near 48F, 3% chance of precipitation. Key risks: thunderstorms in the forecast.

PILOT WEATHER NOTES

Thunderstorms in the forecastWeather.gov

Thursday: Chance Showers And Thunderstorms. Watch for developing convection and plan alternates.

Day	Conditions	Temp F	Wind	Gusts	Precip	Pilot note
Tonight	Mostly Cloudy	48	N 4 kt	–	3%
Monday	Mostly Cloudy	58/44	NE 9 kt	–	10%
Tuesday	Partly Sunny	67/53	SE 9 kt	–	13%
Wednesday	Mostly Sunny	73/56	S 9 kt	–	49%
Thursday	Chance Showers And Thunderstorms	72/51	SW 9 kt	–	49%	Thunderstorms in the forecast
Friday	Chance Rain Showers	71/54	SE 4 kt	–	45%
Saturday	Chance Rain Showers	69/53	SE 9 kt	–	56%
Sunday	Chance Rain Showers	66	W 4 kt	–	32%

Source: National Weather Service (office MKX). Forecast issued 0231Z.

Radar

Radar data: NOAA/NWS MRMS composite reflectivity. For situational awareness only, not a substitute for an official weather briefing.

RUNWAYS & WIND

3 runways · crosswind ranking

ON-FIELD METAR

READING THE BARB · SWIPE FOR MORE →

Calm

5 kt

10 kt

15 kt

20 kt

25 kt

30 kt

35 kt

40 kt

45 kt

50 kt

65 kt

75 kt

100 kt

105 kt

Half feather = 5 kt, full = 10 kt, filled pennant = 50 kt; add them up. The staff points the direction the wind blows from.

WIND USED

330° at 4 kt

Components computed from the current on-field METAR wind.

RECOMMENDED

RWY 324 kt headwind · 1 kt crosswind

RUNWAYS BY WIND · best end

32

HEAD

4 kt

CROSS

1 kt R

BEST

36

HEAD

3 kt

CROSS

2 kt L

OK

03

HEAD

2 kt

CROSS

3 kt L

OK

21

HEAD

2 kt tail

CROSS

3 kt R

OK

18

HEAD

3 kt tail

CROSS

2 kt R

OK

14

HEAD

4 kt tail

CROSS

1 kt L

OK

Components are estimates from the current METAR wind and runway heading. Verify with the Chart Supplement and NOTAMs.

RUNWAYS

Runway detail & declared distances

3 runways · longest 9,006 ft

18/36

Dimensions

9,006 x 150 ft

Surface

Concrete (fair)

Edge lights

HIGH

RWY 18182°T

Landing length (LDA)8,606 ft

TORA / TODA / ASDA9,006 / 9,006 / 9,006 ft

Displaced threshold400 ft

ILSILS/DME

Approach lightsMALSR

VGSIPAPI (P4L)

Traffic patternLeft

RWY 362°T

Landing length (LDA)8,006 ft

TORA / TODA / ASDA9,006 / 9,006 / 9,006 ft

Displaced threshold1,001 ft

ILSILS/DME

Approach lightsALSF2

VGSIPAPI (P4L)

Traffic patternLeft

03/21

Dimensions

7,200 x 150 ft

Surface

Concrete (good)

Edge lights

HIGH

RWY 0329°T

Landing length (LDA)6,770 ft

TORA / TODA / ASDA7,200 / 7,200 / 7,200 ft

Displaced threshold431 ft

REILYes

VGSIPAPI (P4L)

RWY 21209°T

Landing length (LDA)7,015 ft

TORA / TODA / ASDA6,770 / 6,770 / 7,015 ft

ILSILS/DME

Approach lightsMALSR

VGSIPAPI (P4L)

14/32

Dimensions

5,846 x 150 ft

Surface

Concrete (good)

Edge lights

HIGH

RWY 14136°T

Landing length (LDA)5,369 ft

TORA / TODA / ASDA5,846 / 5,846 / 5,846 ft

Displaced threshold477 ft

REILYes

VGSIPAPI (P4L)

Traffic patternLeft

RWY 32316°T

Landing length (LDA)5,846 ft

TORA / TODA / ASDA5,846 / 5,846 / 5,846 ft

REILYes

VGSIPAPI (P4L)

Traffic patternLeft

Runway data from the FAA NASR dataset (effective 2026-06-11). Verify with the current Chart Supplement and NOTAMs.

FIELD CONDITIONS

Performance & density altitude

Density altitude

686 ft

Pressure altitude

477 ft

Field elevation

887 ft MSL

Temperature

15°C (59°F)

Dewpoint

12°C (54°F)

Altimeter

30.33 inHg

Density altitude estimates how the aircraft performs versus standard atmosphere. Higher density altitude reduces climb performance and increases takeoff distance.

DAYLIGHT & NIGHT

Sun & logging windows

Sunset

2259Z 5:59 PM

Sunrise

1224Z 7:24 AM

Loggable night

2328Z (6:28 PM local) → 1155Z (6:55 AM local)

end of evening to start of morning civil twilight

Position lights required

2259Z (5:59 PM local) → 1224Z (7:24 AM local)

sunset to sunrise (91.209)

Night passenger currency

2359Z (6:59 PM local) → 1124Z (6:24 AM local)

1 hr after sunset to 1 hr before sunrise (61.57(b))

FAA definitions, shown in Zulu with airport-local time. Verify for your operation.

AIRPORT INFORMATION

Facility & services

Dane County Regional Truax Field is in Madison, Wisconsin. Field elevation 887 ft MSL. Airport facts are drawn from OurAirports and the FAA NASR dataset.

OPERATIONS & CONTACT

OwnershipPublicly owned

UseOpen to the public

TypeMedium airport

Airline serviceYes

ManagerMARK PAPKO

Manager phone605-246-3390

AttendedContinuous (24 hours)

CHARTS & AIRSPACE

ICAO / IATAKMSN / MSN

SectionalCHICAGO

Center (ARTCC)CHICAGO

Flight service (AFSS)GREEN BAY

RegionWisconsin

CountryUnited States

Coordinates43.1399, -89.3375

Distance from city5 NM NE

SERVICES & LIGHTING

Fuel100LL · Jet A · Jet A+

Control towerTowered

Field lightingSee remarks

BeaconSunset to sunrise · White-green (lighted land airport)

CTAF119.300

UNICOM122.950

FREQUENCIES

Communications

120.1

MADISON APP

APP

124.65

ATIS

121.62

MADISON CLNC DEL

CLD

119.3

CTAF

126.85

MADISON DEP

DEP

121.9

MADISON GND

GND

40.8

ARNG OPS

MISC

138.25

ANG OPS

OPS

122.6

GREEN BAY RDO

RDO

119.3

MADISON TWR

TWR

122.95

UNICOM

UNIC

122.950

UNICOM

Not all tower/ground/approach frequencies are in our datasets. Verify with the FAA Chart Supplement.

AIRCRAFT ACTIVITY

KMSN traffic patterns

2026-06-12 to 2026-10-23, 70 days observed · data 2026-10-23

High confidence

TRAFFIC VOLUME (30-DAY)

AVG LANDINGS/DAY

65.6

AVG OPS/DAY

90.6

Operations trend (18 days)

Busiest day: Mon · Busiest month: Sep

FLEET MIX

Airliner 32%Piston single 31%Jet 15%Unknown 13%Turboprop 4%Helicopter 3%Twin 2%

Mostly airliner-class aircraft.

TOP AIRCRAFT TYPES

›C172 (Piston single) · ~82 landings/mo

›P28A (Piston single) · ~69 landings/mo

›E75L (Airliner) · ~59 landings/mo

›CRJ7 (Airliner) · ~35 landings/mo

›C152 (Piston single) · ~34 landings/mo

LIKELY BASED AIRCRAFT

Low-confidence estimate

Aircraft likely based near this airport (estimate), mostly single-engine piston aircraft.

›C172 (Piston single)

›P28A (Piston single)

›C152 (Piston single)

›H60 (Helicopter)

›SR20 (Piston single)

This is an estimate based on repeated flight patterns, not registration data. Do not rely on it to identify specific aircraft or owners.

Data limitations (4)

›ADS-B coverage is incomplete; counts are an observed lower bound, not official totals.

›Some aircraft do not transmit usable ADS-B and are not counted.

›Aircraft types and based estimates are inferred and may be wrong.

›This is not official ATC, FAA, or airport data.

NEARBY AIRPORTS

Weather reference stations

Current flight category at nearby reporting stations.

KUNU Dodge County Airport

33 NM NE

VFR

KJVL Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport

34 NM SE

VFR

KLNR Tri-County Regional Airport

37 NM W

VFR

KUES Waukesha County Airport

49 NM E

VFR

KFLD Fond du Lac County Airport

53 NM NE

VFR

KFEP Albertus Airport

55 NM S

VFR

AIRPORT REMARKS

Operational remarks

›RWY CC NOT REPORTED.

›BIRDS ON & INVOF ARPT.

›BAK-14 BAK-12(B) (1750').

›TBJT TRNG OPS PROH.

›GEN AVN SVC AVBL E RAMP ONLY.

›TWY F MIL FIGHTER USE ONLY. TWY G PERM CLSD.

›FOR CD CTC MADISON APP/DEP CON AT 608-249-8240. WHEN MADISON APCH CLSD, FOR CD CTC CHICAGO ARTCC AT 630-906-8921.

›RWY 18, 21, 36 BAK-14 ARRESTING CABLE MIL USE ONLY; RETRACTED WHEN NOT IN USE.

›AVGAS E OR S APRON ONLY.

›W RAMP UNCTLD; PUSHBACK AT PILOT DISCRETION.

›BARRICADES ALG W EDGE OF S RAMP ADJ MIL RAMP.

›ENG RUNUP N HOLD BAY ONLY.

›HIGH RISK FLT TEST PPR - AMGR.

›ARNG: PPR; TSNT SVC LTD; HEL RQR SVC - ARMY OPS; 1300-2200Z++ MON, TUE; 1300-0400Z++ WED-FRI, CLSD SAT, SUN - D745-8310/C608-301-8310.

›NOISE ABATEMENT PROC IN EFCT; DEP RWY 03 & 36; ARR RWY 18 & 21.

›TWY L1, L6, B5, E & H NORTH OF RWY 14/32, E RAMP BTN TWY H & M CLSD TO WINGSPAN GTR THAN 118 FT. TWYS B1, J & B NORTH OF TWY M & E RAMP CLSD TO WINGSPAN GTR THAN 150 FT.

›RWY 14 & 18 APCH ENDS CLOSELY ALIGNED; VERIFY RWY & HDG BFR DEP.

›AVOID OTFC OF YAHARA RIVER INVOF ARPT BLW 2000 FT.

›ANG: PPR - 115FW.PPR.ORG@US.AF.MIL. OPS HR 1200-2230Z++MON-THURS - D724-8642/8436/C608 245-4642/4436. H24 - D724-8580 H24/C608 245-4580.

›W RAMP RSTRD TO ACR.

›TAP

›RWY CC NOT REPORTED.

›UNUSBL BYD 9 DEGS RIGHT OF CNTRLN.

›PCR VALUE: 780/R/C/W/T

›PCR VALUE: 710/R/D/W/T

›PCR VALUE: 780/R/D/W/T

›MATT POWERS - 608-661-6452

›ALSF2 OPRS AS SSALR WHEN TWR CLSD.

›APCH RATIO 40:1 FM DTHR.

›ACTVT MALSR RWY 18 & 21; REIL RWY 03, 14 & 32; HIRL RWY 03/21, 14/32 & 18/36 - CTAF. WHEN ATCT CLSD HIRL RWY 18/36 PRESET LOW INTST; INCR INTST - CTAF.

›MILITARY: OVHD TFC PAT ALT RSTRD TO 3500 FT MSL; RWY 18/36 L TURN.

›BAK-14 BAK-12(B) (1900').

›BAK-14 BAK-12(B) (1620').

OFFICIAL LINKS & SOURCES

↗Official METAR on AviationWeather.gov

↗Search NOTAMs (official FAA NOTAM Search)

↗Wikipedia

↗KMSN on OurAirports

FREQUENTLY ASKED

Does KMSN have a METAR?

Yes. KMSN has a current METAR observation, decoded into plain English on this page.

Does KMSN have a TAF?

Yes, a TAF is issued for KMSN; the decoded forecast timeline is shown above.

What is the field elevation at KMSN?

KMSN sits at 887 ft MSL, which factors into the density-altitude estimate on this page.

Is this an official preflight weather briefing for KMSN?

No. wxdecoder.com is for education and situational awareness only. It is not an official weather briefing or a substitute for official sources, NOTAM review, and pilot judgment.