Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

KDCA / DCA

Washington, US

Last Updated
Jun 10, 20:27Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 21 min ago
20:27Z

🌙 Night
IFR
Flight Rules
25°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 21°C
12 kt
300° G30 kt
2.011 km
Visibility
3,200 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1011 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

SPECI KDCA 102027Z 30012G30KT 8SM -RA BKN032 BKN044CB OVC090 25/21 A2985 RMK AO2 PK WND 30030/2020 WSHFT 2011 RAB1959 CB ALQDS MOV E P0000 T02500211

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 15 ft
BKN 3,200 ft AGL
BKN 4,400 ft AGL (CB)
OVC 9,000 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
3,200 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,215 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN (CB)
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
4,400 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,415 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
9,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
9,015 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

IFR

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is currently reporting instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions with overcast skies at 9,000 feet and 2.011 km visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west-northwest (300°) at 12 knots with gusts to 30 knots. The significant gust spread of 18 knots may cause challenging turbulence on approach. Runway 33 is favored with a 10-knot headwind and 6-knot crosswind component (gusting to 15 knots crosswind). Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is reduced to 2.011 km. IFR conditions prevail and an instrument clearance is required for operations in controlled airspace. The ceiling is 3200 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums. Caution: cumulonimbus (thunderstorm) clouds reported at 4,400 ft AGL, indicating convective activity in the area.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 25°C (77°F) with a dewpoint of 21°C. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread suggests high humidity and potential for visibility restrictions, especially during cooling periods.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 30 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Thunderstorm Rain, Light Showers Rain.

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
1011 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1011 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (15 ft)
Pressure Alt
83 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,287 ft
ISA Deviation: +10.0°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KDCA 101740Z 1018/1124 18011G20KT P6SM SCT035 BKN050 FM101900 24012G30KT 3SM TSRA SCT025 BKN035CB FM102200 22007KT 5SM -SHRA VCTS OVC035CB FM110100 22003KT P6SM FEW040 SCT250 FM111400 26007KT P6SM SCT150
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
20:48Z BASE
+0h
VFR 180° 11 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 5,000 ft
22:00Z FM102200
+2h
MVFR 220° 7 kt
Visibility: 5SM
Ceiling: 3,500 ft
Light Showers Rain
01:00Z FM110100
+5h
VFR 220° 3 kt
Visibility: >6SM

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
DCA
01
19
04
22
15
33 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
01/19 7,169 ft 150 ft ASP 356°
6.7 kt 9.9 kt
56° angle
04/22 5,000 ft 150 ft ASP 26°
0.8 kt 12.0 kt
86° angle
✈️ 15/33
Active: 33
5,204 ft 150 ft ASP 142°
10.4 kt 6.0 kt
30° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KDCA

7,448 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
78.4%
MVFR
12.4%
IFR
7.2%
LIFR
2%

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 78.4% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 9.2% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 8.4 knots, with gusts recorded up to 37 knots. Temperature extremes range from -12°C to 35°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are June, January, November.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 8.4 kt
Maximum Recorded: 37 kt
Calm Winds: 8.8%
Direction Distribution:
N
16%
NE
12.3%
E
5.6%
SE
3.9%
S
26.4%
SW
7.2%
W
6.3%
NW
13.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 10.9°C
Range: -12°C to 35°C
-12°C 35°C

Visibility

Average: 9.3 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.6%
Fog Frequency: 2.2%

Best Months for VFR

June January November

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 01/19
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.2 kt
Runway 04/22
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.4 kt
Runway 15/33
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.6 kt

Statistics computed from 7,448 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KDCA
IATA Code: DCA
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 15 ft MSL

Location

City: Washington
Country: US
Latitude: 38.852100°
Longitude: -77.037697°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 01/19
Length: 7,169 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 04/22
Length: 5,000 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 15/33
Length: 5,204 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

Overview

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA) is a critical transportation hub located in Washington, D.C., serving the national capital region. Situated at a low elevation of 15 feet mean sea level, the airport plays a crucial role in providing air transportation for government, business, and civilian passengers in the metropolitan area.

Flying Conditions

The airport's low elevation and proximity to the Potomac River create unique microclimate conditions that can impact flight operations. Pilots should anticipate potential wind variations and localized weather patterns typical of the mid-Atlantic coastal region, with seasonal changes affecting approach and departure conditions across the three available runways.

Notable Features

Ronald Reagan National features three asphalt runways with varying lengths: Runway 01/19 at 7,169 feet, Runway 04/22 at 5,000 feet, and Runway 15/33 at 5,204 feet. The airport's location within the densely populated Washington, D.C. metropolitan area requires precise navigation and adherence to specific airspace protocols.

Approach Considerations

Runway selection at KDCA will depend on current wind conditions, with the longer 01/19 runway offering the most flexibility for larger aircraft operations. Pilots should carefully review current meteorological data and be prepared for potential wind shifts due to the airport's coastal and urban environment.

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.