Western Neb. Rgnl/William B. Heilig Airport

KBFF / BFF

Scottsbluff, US

Last Updated
Apr 24, 21:20Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 6 min ago
21:20Z

🌙 Night
IFR
Flight Rules
17°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: -4°C
13 kt
250° G38 kt
2.1 km
Visibility
9,500 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1005 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

SPECI KBFF 242120Z AUTO 25013G38KT 10SM -RA FEW042 BKN095 OVC110 17/M04 A2968 RMK AO2 PK WND 21038/2111 WSHFT 2100 RAB11 P0000 T01671039

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 3,967 ft
FEW 4,200 ft AGL
BKN 9,500 ft AGL
OVC 11,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
4,200 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
8,167 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
9,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
13,467 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
11,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
14,967 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

IFR

Western Neb. Rgnl/William B. Heilig Airport is currently reporting instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions with overcast skies at 11,000 feet and 2.1 km visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west-southwest (250°) at 13 knots with gusts to 38 knots. The significant gust spread of 25 knots may cause challenging turbulence on approach. Runway 23 is favored with a 12-knot headwind and 4-knot crosswind component (gusting to 13 knots crosswind). These are strong winds that may exceed crosswind limits for light aircraft.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is reduced to 2.1 km. IFR conditions prevail and an instrument clearance is required for operations in controlled airspace. The ceiling is 9500 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 17°C (63°F) with a dewpoint of -4°C, indicating very dry conditions.

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. Winds are forecast to reach up to 22 knots during the period. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 10 to 22 knots.

Pilot Recommendations

An instrument rating and IFR flight plan are required. Verify that destination and alternate approach minimums are above current and forecast conditions. Gusty conditions may exceed demonstrated crosswind components for many general aviation aircraft. Check your aircraft's limitations.

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

QNH
1005 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
873 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (3,967 ft)
Pressure Alt
4,215 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 5,407 ft
ISA Deviation: +9.9°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KBFF 241720Z 2418/2518 13010G20KT P6SM SCT100 FM242000 05012KT P6SM -SHRA SCT060 BKN100 FM242200 36022G32KT P6SM -SHRA SCT060 BKN100 FM250000 35018G30KT P6SM BKN060 FM250400 05010KT 5SM BR OVC040
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
21:26Z BASE
+0h
VFR 130° 10 kt
Visibility: >6SM
22:00Z FM242200
+1h
VFR 360° 22 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 10,000 ft
Light Showers Rain
00:00Z FM250000
+3h
VFR 350° 18 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 6,000 ft
04:00Z FM250400
+7h
MVFR 50° 10 kt
Visibility: 5SM
Ceiling: 4,000 ft
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
Chart Features
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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
BFF
05
23 ✈️
12
30

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 05/23
Active: 23
8,001 ft 150 ft ASP 68°
12.2 kt 4.4 kt
20° angle
12/30 8,279 ft 150 ft ASP 136°
5.3 kt 11.9 kt
114° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KBFF

5,570 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
90.1%
MVFR
5.7%
IFR
2.4%
LIFR
1.9%

Western Neb. Rgnl/William B. Heilig Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 90.1% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the NW averaging 9.5 knots, with gusts recorded up to 43 knots. Temperature extremes range from -29°C to 33°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are October, April, February.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NW (315°)
Average Speed: 9.5 kt
Maximum Recorded: 43 kt
Calm Winds: 8.6%
Direction Distribution:
E
16.1%
N
10.3%
S
3.7%
W
21.2%
NE
4.4%
NW
24.9%
SE
9.1%
SW
1.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 6.3°C
Range: -29°C to 33°C
-29°C 33°C

Visibility

Average: 9.7 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.2%
Fog Frequency: 1.1%

Best Months for VFR

October April February

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 05/23
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 7.7 kt
Runway 12/30
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.8 kt

Statistics computed from 5,570 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Western Neb. Rgnl/William B. Heilig Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KBFF
IATA Code: BFF
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 3,967 ft MSL

Location

City: Scottsbluff
Country: US
Latitude: 41.874001°
Longitude: -103.596001°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+7

Runway Information

Runway 05/23
Length: 8,001 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 12/30
Length: 8,279 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Western Neb. Rgnl/William B. Heilig Airport

Overview

Western Nebraska Regional/William B. Heilig Airport serves the Scottsbluff area as a medium-sized regional airport situated at 3,967 feet mean sea level. Located in western Nebraska, the airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for the region with two substantial asphalt runways measuring 8,001 and 8,279 feet in length. Its strategic position supports both general aviation and potential regional commercial operations.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly favorable Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions, with 90.9% of observations indicating clear flying weather. Wind patterns are consistently from the northwest at an average of 9.2 knots, with occasional gusts up to 43 knots. Temperature variations are significant, ranging from -21°C to 33°C, which pilots should consider for performance calculations and equipment preparation.

Notable Features

Positioned at a relatively high elevation of 3,967 feet MSL, the airport presents altitude considerations for aircraft performance. Both runways offer excellent wind alignment, with 100% favorable wind coverage and manageable crosswind components averaging 7.5 and 3.5 knots for runways 05/23 and 12/30 respectively. The geographic location suggests potential for mountain wave and thermal activity typical of western Nebraska's terrain.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect reliable runway accessibility due to the airport's consistent wind patterns. Runway 05/23 and 12/30 both provide long, substantial landing surfaces exceeding 8,000 feet, accommodating a wide range of aircraft types. October, November, and January statistically offer the most consistent VFR conditions, with visibility typically averaging 9.7 statute miles and minimal fog interference.

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.