Acadiana Regional Airport

KARA / ARA

New Iberia, US

Last Updated
Apr 22, 09:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 44 min ago
09:53Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
18°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 16°C
5 kt
70°
10 SM
Visibility
12,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1020 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KARA 220953Z AUTO 07005KT 10SM FEW060 BKN120 18/16 A3011 RMK AO2 SLP195 T01830156

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 24 ft
FEW 6,000 ft AGL
BKN 12,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
6,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
6,024 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
12,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
12,024 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Acadiana Regional Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 12,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east-northeast (70°) at 5 knots. Runway 16/34 is favored with a 0-knot headwind and 5-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 12000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 18°C (64°F) with a dewpoint of 16°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain, Mist. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Light Showers Rain, Mist between 17:00Z and 22:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours. The forecast indicates conditions may deteriorate. Ensure you have fuel reserves and a viable alternate airport.

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

QNH
1020 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1019 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (24 ft)
Pressure Alt
-179 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 187 ft
ISA Deviation: +3.0°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KARA 220529Z 2206/2306 VRB06KT P6SM BKN250 FM221200 12006KT P6SM SCT090 FM221600 13008KT P6SM VCSH SCT080 PROB30 2217/2222 4SM -SHRA BR OVC025 FM230000 18004KT P6SM OVC050
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
10:36Z BASE
+0h
VFR VRB 6 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 25,000 ft
12:00Z FM221200
+2h
VFR 120° 6 kt
Visibility: >6SM
16:00Z FM221600
+6h
VFR 130° 8 kt
Visibility: >6SM
17:00Z PROB30
+7h
MVFR
Visibility: 4SM
Ceiling: 2,500 ft
Light Showers Rain, Mist

24-Hour Weather Evolution

Loading weather data...
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
ARA
16
34
16W ✈️
34W

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
16/34 8,002 ft 200 ft CON 167°
0.6 kt 5.0 kt
97° angle
✈️ 16W/34W
Active: 16W
5,000 ft 150 ft WATER
0.0 kt 5.0 kt
90° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KARA

5,457 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
72.5%
MVFR
15.2%
IFR
6.8%
LIFR
5.5%

Acadiana Regional Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 72.5% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 12.3% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 7.9 knots. Calm conditions occur 13.7% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -6°C to 35°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are October, September, November.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 7.9 kt
Maximum Recorded: 26 kt
Calm Winds: 13.7%
Direction Distribution:
N
15.9%
NE
8.9%
E
9.1%
SE
16.3%
S
24.4%
SW
5.7%
W
3%
NW
3.1%

Temperature Range

Average: 18.6°C
Range: -6°C to 35°C
-6°C 35°C

Visibility

Average: 9.1 SM
Below 3 SM: 2.5%
Fog Frequency: 7.3%

Best Months for VFR

October September November

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 16/34
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.9 kt
Runway 16W/34W
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.9 kt

Statistics computed from 5,457 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Acadiana Regional Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KARA
IATA Code: ARA
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 24 ft MSL

Location

City: New Iberia
Country: US
Latitude: 30.037800°
Longitude: -91.883904°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 16/34
Length: 8,002 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 16W/34W
Length: 5,000 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: WATER
ILS: No

About Acadiana Regional Airport

Overview

Acadiana Regional Airport serves New Iberia, Louisiana, situated at 30.037800, -91.883904 with an elevation of 24 feet MSL. The airport provides a medium-sized facility with two primary runways, including a substantial 8,002-foot concrete runway (16/34) and a 5,000-foot water runway (16W/34W). Its strategic location supports regional aviation operations in southern Louisiana.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect predominantly favorable flying conditions, with VFR conditions present 77.2% of the time. Temperature ranges from -3°C to 35°C, creating variable atmospheric conditions throughout the year. Visibility averages 9.2 statute miles, though 8.1% of observations include fog events. September through November represent the most consistent VFR months, offering optimal flying weather.

Notable Features

The airport features two runways aligned 16/34, both demonstrating 100% favorable wind coverage with an average crosswind of 4 knots. Prevailing winds originate from the north at an average speed of 7.1 knots, with occasional gusts up to 26 knots. Wind conditions are calm approximately 16% of the time, providing stable approach environments.

Approach Considerations

Both runways offer consistent wind alignments, facilitating predictable approaches and departures. With low elevation and minimal terrain variations, pilots can expect straightforward navigation. MVFR conditions occur 12.3% of the time, while IFR and LIFR conditions combined represent approximately 10.6% of observations, suggesting generally reliable visual flying conditions.

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.