Buffalo Range Airport

FVCZ / BFO

Chiredzi, ZW

Last Updated
Apr 16, 06:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Stale 50 hours ago
06:00Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
21°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 20°C
2 kt
180°
5 km
Visibility
1,200 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR FVCZ 160600Z 18002KT 5000 HZ OVC012 21/20 Q1017

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,421 ft
OVC 1,200 ft AGL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
1,200 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,621 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Buffalo Range Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with overcast skies at 1,200 feet and 5 km visibility. Note: This observation is 49.7 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (180°) at 2 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 5 km, below VFR minimums in some airspace classifications. Check local requirements before departing VFR. The ceiling is 1200 feet AGL (overcast), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 21°C (70°F) with a dewpoint of 20°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

24-Hour Weather Evolution

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Data Sources
  • • Current conditions from METAR observations
  • • Historical data from past 24 hours
  • • No forecast or predicted data included
  • • Data updated with each new METAR report
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Note: Future values beyond current TAF validity are estimates based on climatological data and trends. Always verify with current forecasts before flight operations.

Airport Runway Layout

N
VCZ
14 ✈️
32

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 14/32
Active: 14
5,785 ft 98 ft BIT 130°
1.5 kt 1.3 kt
40° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - FVCZ

703 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
73.8%
MVFR
18.9%
IFR
5.1%
LIFR
2.1%

Buffalo Range Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 73.8% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 7.2% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SE averaging 4.9 knots, with gusts recorded up to 93 knots. Temperatures typically range between 12°C and 40°C with an average of 26.8°C. The best months for VFR flying are February, April, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SE (135°)
Average Speed: 4.9 kt
Maximum Recorded: 93 kt
Calm Winds: 4.7%
Direction Distribution:
N
2%
NE
4.7%
E
22.3%
SE
34.7%
S
21.2%
SW
6.3%
W
2.7%
NW
1.4%

Temperature Range

Average: 26.8°C
Range: 12°C to 40°C
12°C 40°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.5%

Best Months for VFR

February April October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 14/32
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2.3 kt

Statistics computed from 703 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Buffalo Range Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: FVCZ
IATA Code: BFO
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,421 ft MSL

Location

City: Chiredzi
Country: ZW
Latitude: -21.008101°
Longitude: 31.578600°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-2

Runway Information

Runway 14/32
Length: 5,785 ft
Width: 98 ft
Surface: BIT
ILS: No

Nearby Airports

VFR MVFR IFR LIFR No Data

About Buffalo Range Airport

Overview

Buffalo Range Airport serves the Chiredzi region in Zimbabwe, positioned at an elevation of 1421 ft MSL. Located at coordinates -21.008101, 31.578600, this medium airport provides essential aviation infrastructure for the southeastern part of the country. The airport features a single bituminous runway (14/32) with a substantial length of 5785 feet.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Buffalo Range Airport are predominantly favorable for visual flight rules (VFR), with 70.3% of observations supporting VFR operations. Winds typically blow from the southeast at an average of 5.3 knots, with occasional stronger gusts up to 93 knots. Temperature variations range from 12°C to 40°C, with an average of 27°C, providing generally stable atmospheric conditions for aviation.

Notable Features

The airport's single runway (14/32) experiences highly favorable wind conditions, with 100% wind alignment supporting operations. Crosswind components average just 2.5 knots, indicating minimal lateral wind challenges for pilots. Visibility is consistently good, with an average of 10 statute miles and minimal instances of restricted visibility.

Approach Considerations

October through December represent the optimal months for VFR flying at Buffalo Range Airport. Pilots can expect minimal meteorological complications, with only 5.3% of observations indicating instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions. The consistent southeast wind pattern and excellent visibility make this airport relatively straightforward for approach and landing procedures.

Data Sources & Accuracy: Airport information sourced from OurAirports.com, a collaborative database of worldwide airport data. Weather data from official aviation weather services including NOAA Aviation Weather Center and international METAR/TAF providers. Information is updated regularly but pilots should always verify current conditions and NOTAMs through official channels before flight operations.

Official Data Sources

Weather NOAA Aviation Weather Center • International METAR/TAF Network
Airports OurAirports.com • Public domain airport database
NOTAMs FAA NOTAM System • ICAO NOTAM Distribution
Last updated: Jan 1, 1970 12:00 AM UTC

Disclaimer: Data is provided for informational purposes only. Pilots must verify all information through official sources before flight operations. Weather conditions change rapidly; always obtain a current briefing from approved weather services.