Dyess Air Force Base

KDYS / DYS

Abilene, US

Last Updated
Apr 23, 01:55Z

Military Airport

Restricted

This is a U.S. military installation. Civil aircraft operations are generally prohibited without prior authorization.

Access Notes:

Most military airfields closed to civil traffic; some joint-use exceptions exist

Consult official AIP (FAA AIP GEN 3.3) for current access procedures and restrictions.

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 36 min ago
01:55Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
24°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 18°C
13 kt
170°
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1009 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KDYS 230155Z AUTO 17013KT 10SM CLR 24/18 A2981 RMK AO2 SLP077 T02400175 $

Weather Briefing

VFR

Dyess Air Force Base is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with clear skies and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (170°) at 13 knots. Runway 16/34 is favored with a 13-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

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

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 24°C (75°F) with a dewpoint of 18°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 29 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Winds are forecast to reach up to 25 knots during the period. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 12 to 25 knots.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. 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
1009 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
949 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,789 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,917 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 3,426 ft
ISA Deviation: +12.6°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KDYS 230122Z 2301/2406 17012G18KT 9999 SKC QNH2977INS BECMG 2306/2307 18020G30KT 9999 FEW020 QNH2974INS BECMG 2310/2311 20015G25KT 9999 BKN015 QNH2974INS BECMG 2312/2313 20025G35KT 9999 BKN015 QNH2975INS BECMG 2314/2315 20025G35KT 9999 FEW030 QNH2975INS BECMG 2315/2316 20015G25KT 9999 FEW150 QNH2960INS BECMG 2401/2402 18025G35KT 9999 SKC QNH2962INS TX34/2321Z TN20/2312Z LAST NO AMDS AFT 2301 NEXT 2311
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
02:30Z BASE
+0h
VFR 170° 12 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
06:00Z BECMG
+4h
VFR 180° 20 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
10:00Z BECMG
+8h
MVFR 200° 15 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 1,500 ft
12:00Z BECMG
+10h
MVFR 200° 25 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 1,500 ft

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
  • • Hover for exact values and timestamps
  • • Click legend items to toggle data series
  • • Zoom and pan for detailed analysis
  • • Units automatically converted to preferences
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
DYS
16 ✈️
34
161
341
162
342

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 16/34
Active: 16
13,500 ft 300 ft PEM 168°
12.8 kt 2.3 kt
10° angle
161/341 3,500 ft 60 ft GRE 161°
12.8 kt 2.0 kt
9° angle
162/342 3,500 ft 60 ft ASPH
12.8 kt 2.3 kt
170° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KDYS

5,772 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
84.1%
MVFR
8.1%
IFR
3.2%
LIFR
4.6%

Dyess Air Force Base enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 84.1% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 10 knots, with gusts recorded up to 38 knots. Temperature extremes range from -13°C to 39°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are October, September, February.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 10 kt
Maximum Recorded: 38 kt
Calm Winds: 9%
Direction Distribution:
N
15.7%
NE
5.6%
E
2.6%
SE
5.7%
S
36.1%
SW
14.1%
W
6.2%
NW
4.9%

Temperature Range

Average: 15.4°C
Range: -13°C to 39°C
-13°C 39°C

Visibility

Average: 9.7 SM
Below 3 SM: 0.4%
Fog Frequency: 0.1%

Best Months for VFR

October September February

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 16/34
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.2 kt
Runway 161/341
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.2 kt
Runway 162/342
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.2 kt

Statistics computed from 5,772 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Dyess Air Force Base - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KDYS
IATA Code: DYS
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,789 ft MSL

Location

City: Abilene
Country: US
Latitude: 32.420799°
Longitude: -99.854599°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+7

Runway Information

Runway 16/34
Length: 13,500 ft
Width: 300 ft
Surface: PEM
ILS: No
Runway 161/341
Length: 3,500 ft
Width: 60 ft
Surface: GRE
ILS: No
Runway 162/342
Length: 3,500 ft
Width: 60 ft
Surface: ASPH
ILS: No

About Dyess Air Force Base

Dyess Air Force Base is a military facility. Civilian access may be restricted or require Prior Permission (PPR). Pilots should consult the US AIP for current access procedures and restrictions.

Overview

Dyess Air Force Base is located in Abilene, Texas, serving as a strategic military airfield primarily supporting Air Force transport and combat operations. The base sits at an elevation of 1,789 feet MSL and features three runways capable of handling large military aircraft, with the primary runway 16/34 offering a substantial 13,500-foot pavement length.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect predominantly favorable VFR conditions 88.3% of the time, with only 4.4% of observations presenting challenging IFR or LIFR conditions. The region experiences significant temperature variation, ranging from -8°C to 39°C, with an average of 16.6°C. Prevailing winds from the south at an average of 9 knots, with occasional gusts up to 38 knots, characterize the local wind environment.

Notable Features

The airport's geographic location in west-central Texas presents a relatively flat terrain typical of the region. All three runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with consistent average crosswind conditions of 5.1 knots. Visibility is generally excellent, with an average of 9.8 statute miles and minimal occurrences of reduced visibility (fog present in only 0.2% of observations).

Approach Considerations

September through November offer the most consistent flying conditions, with optimal weather parameters for both VFR and instrument operations. The extensive primary runway (16/34 at 13,500 feet) provides ample landing and takeoff options for various aircraft types. Pilots should anticipate south-oriented winds and plan approaches accordingly, with calm conditions present in 11.2% of observations.

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.