Grand Forks International Airport

KGFK / GFK

Grand Forks, US

Last Updated
Apr 22, 20:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 59 min ago
20:53Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
28°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 6°C
16 kt
150° G27 kt
9 SM
Visibility
20,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1000 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KGFK 222053Z 15016G27KT 9SM FEW090 BKN200 28/06 A2953 RMK AO2 PK WND 14029/2040 SLP997 VIRGA OHD-W T02780061 57035

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 845 ft
FEW 9,000 ft AGL
BKN 20,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
9,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
9,845 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
20,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
20,845 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Grand Forks International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 20,000 feet and 9 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south-southeast (150°) at 16 knots with gusts to 27 knots. Runway 17L/35R is favored with a 15-knot headwind and 5-knot crosswind component (gusting to 9 knots crosswind). Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 9 SM. The ceiling is 20000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 28°C (82°F) with a dewpoint of 6°C, indicating very dry conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 22 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight.

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

QNH
1000 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
972 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (845 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,243 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 3,006 ft (High - Reduced Performance)
ISA Deviation: +14.7°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KGFK 222020Z 2220/2318 15017G25KT P6SM FEW090 BKN250 FM230000 12017G24KT P6SM BKN250 FM230300 16015G24KT P6SM BKN220 WS020/17050KT FM231100 18014KT P6SM BKN250
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
21:52Z BASE
+0h
VFR 150° 17 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 25,000 ft
00:00Z FM230000
+3h
VFR 120° 17 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 25,000 ft
03:00Z FM230300
+6h
VFR 160° 15 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 22,000 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
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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
GFK
09L
27R
09R
27L
17L ✈️
35R
17R ✈️
35L

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
09L/27R 4,206 ft 100 ft CONC-G 90°
8.0 kt 13.9 kt
60° angle
09R/27L 3,300 ft 60 ft CON 90°
8.0 kt 13.9 kt
60° angle
✈️ 17L/35R
Active: 17L
3,900 ft 75 ft CON 180°
15.0 kt 5.5 kt
20° angle
✈️ 17R/35L
Active: 17R
7,349 ft 150 ft ASP 180°
15.0 kt 5.5 kt
20° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KGFK

6,413 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
64.3%
MVFR
23%
IFR
9.7%
LIFR
3%

Grand Forks International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 64.3% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 12.7% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the N averaging 10.9 knots, with gusts recorded up to 38 knots. Temperature extremes range from -29°C to 56°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. Low visibility conditions (below 3 SM) occur in 5.2% of weather observations. The best months for VFR flying are October, September, November.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: N (0°)
Average Speed: 10.9 kt
Maximum Recorded: 38 kt
Calm Winds: 4.2%
Direction Distribution:
N
24.7%
NE
3.3%
E
5.5%
SE
8.4%
S
21.6%
SW
4.5%
W
9.4%
NW
18.4%

Temperature Range

Average: -2.3°C
Range: -29°C to 56°C
-29°C 56°C

Visibility

Average: 8.6 SM
Below 3 SM: 5.2%
Fog Frequency: 3.5%

Best Months for VFR

October September November

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 09L/27R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 8.7 kt
Runway 09R/27L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 8.7 kt
Runway 17L/35R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.3 kt
Runway 17R/35L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.3 kt

Statistics computed from 6,413 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Grand Forks International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KGFK
IATA Code: GFK
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 845 ft MSL

Location

City: Grand Forks
Country: US
Latitude: 47.949299°
Longitude: -97.176102°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 09L/27R
Length: 4,206 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: CONC-G
ILS: No
Runway 09R/27L
Length: 3,300 ft
Width: 60 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 17L/35R
Length: 3,900 ft
Width: 75 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 17R/35L
Length: 7,349 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Grand Forks International Airport

Overview

Grand Forks International Airport serves the metropolitan area of Grand Forks, North Dakota, as a medium-sized airport situated at 845 feet above mean sea level. Located at coordinates 47.949299, -97.176102, the airport supports regional and commercial aviation operations with four distinct runways. Its international classification indicates capability for handling diverse aircraft and potential cross-border traffic.

Flying Conditions

Meteorological data reveals highly variable flying conditions typical of the Northern Plains region. Visual flight rules (VFR) predominate 66% of the time, with marginal VFR conditions occurring 24.4% of observations. Temperature extremes range from -29°C to 56°C, creating challenging seasonal transitions that demand comprehensive preflight weather assessment. Prevailing winds from the south average 10.8 knots, with occasional gusts up to 38 knots.

Notable Features

The airport features four runways with varying lengths and surfaces: two concrete and two asphalt runways ranging from 3,300 to 7,349 feet. The longest runway (17R/35L at 7,349 feet) provides substantial landing and takeoff capabilities for larger aircraft. Calm wind conditions occur in 4.8% of observations, while crosswinds average between 4.3 and 8.5 knots depending on runway orientation.

Approach Considerations

Pilots should anticipate favorable wind conditions across all runways, with 100% wind compatibility reported. September through November represent the most consistently favorable VFR months. Visibility averages 8.7 statute miles, though 4.8% of observations show reduced visibility below 3 miles, and fog occurs in 2.1% of reports. Careful attention to current METAR information is recommended during approach and landing.

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.