Desert Rock Airport

KDRA / DRA

Mercury, US

Last Updated
Apr 21, 23:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 18 min ago
23:53Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
23°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 1°C
30 kt
190° G41 kt
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1009 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KDRA 212353Z AUTO 19030G41KT 10SM CLR 23/01 A2980 RMK AO2 PK WND 15043/2258 SLP052 T02330006 10261 20228 56014

Weather Briefing

VFR

Desert Rock Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with clear skies and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (190°) at 30 knots with gusts to 41 knots. Runway 20 is favored with a 30-knot headwind and 5-knot crosswind component (gusting to 7 knots crosswind). These are strong winds that may exceed crosswind limits for light aircraft.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. Skies are clear with unlimited ceiling.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 23°C (73°F) with a dewpoint of 1°C, indicating very dry conditions. High temperatures at this elevation may result in significant density altitude effects. Pilots should calculate density altitude and adjust performance expectations accordingly.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. 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
1009 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
899 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (3,314 ft)
Pressure Alt
3,442 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 5,197 ft
ISA Deviation: +14.6°C

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
DRA
02
20 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 02/20
Active: 20
7,515 ft 100 ft ASP 34°
29.5 kt 5.2 kt
10° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KDRA

6,934 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
95.7%
MVFR
2.6%
IFR
1.1%
LIFR
0.6%

Desert Rock Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 95.7% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the NE averaging 8.5 knots, with gusts recorded up to 36 knots. Calm conditions occur 18.8% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -3°C to 37°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are October, March, April.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NE (45°)
Average Speed: 8.5 kt
Maximum Recorded: 36 kt
Calm Winds: 18.8%
Direction Distribution:
N
15.2%
NE
15.5%
E
14.6%
SE
5.5%
S
14%
SW
8.5%
W
4%
NW
3.8%

Temperature Range

Average: 14.3°C
Range: -3°C to 37°C
-3°C 37°C

Visibility

Average: 9.9 SM
Below 3 SM: 0.1%
Fog Frequency: 0%

Best Months for VFR

October March April

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 02/20
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.3 kt

Statistics computed from 6,934 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Desert Rock Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KDRA
IATA Code: DRA
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 3,314 ft MSL

Location

City: Mercury
Country: US
Latitude: 36.619400°
Longitude: -116.032997°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+8

Runway Information

Runway 02/20
Length: 7,515 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Desert Rock Airport

Overview

Desert Rock Airport is a medium-sized airport located in Mercury, Nevada, situated at an elevation of 3,314 feet mean sea level. Positioned in a desert environment, the airport serves the unique aviation needs of its remote region, offering a 7,515-foot asphalted runway oriented 02/20.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly VFR conditions 93.9% of the time, with excellent visibility averaging 9.9 statute miles. Temperature ranges from -1°C to 37°C, with an average of 13.9°C, and wind patterns typically from the east at an average of 8.2 knots, occasionally gusting to 31 knots.

Notable Features

Desert Rock Airport's location features a desert terrain with minimal surrounding obstacles. The airport benefits from consistent wind conditions, with calm periods occurring 19.9% of the time. The geographic positioning provides stable atmospheric conditions typical of the southwestern United States.

Approach Considerations

Runway 02/20 offers highly favorable wind alignment, with wind conditions supporting 100% of approaches. The average crosswind is minimal at 4 knots, making for generally comfortable landing conditions. September, October, and December represent the most consistently favorable VFR months for operations.

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.