Washington Dulles International Airport

KIAD / IAD

Dulles, US

Last Updated
Jul 28, 02:52Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 25 min ago
02:52Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
24°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 20°C
5 kt
200°
10 SM
Visibility
10,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1009 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KIAD 280252Z 20005KT 10SM FEW075 BKN100 24/20 A2979 RMK AO2 SLP082 T02440200 58002

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 312 ft
FEW 7,500 ft AGL
BKN 10,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
7,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
7,812 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
10,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
10,312 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Washington Dulles International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 10,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots. Runway 19 is favored with a 5-knot headwind and 1-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 10000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 24°C (75°F) with a dewpoint of 20°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 27 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Light Thunderstorm Rain. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 14:00Z and 18:00Z.

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
999 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (312 ft)
Pressure Alt
440 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,595 ft
ISA Deviation: +9.6°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KIAD 280259Z 2803/2906 20005KT P6SM FEW080 BKN100 FM281200 18008G16KT P6SM BKN060 PROB30 2814/2818 6SM -TSRA BKN030CB
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
03:16Z BASE
+0h
VFR 200° 5 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 10,000 ft
12:00Z FM281200
+9h
VFR 180° 8 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 6,000 ft
14:00Z PROB30
+11h
MVFR
Visibility: 6SM
Ceiling: 3,000 ft
Light Thunderstorm Rain

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
IAD
01L
19R ✈️
01C
19C ✈️
01R
19L
12
30

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 01C/19C
Active: 19C
11,501 ft 150 ft CONC-G
4.9 kt 0.9 kt
10° angle
✈️ 01L/19R
Active: 19R
9,400 ft 150 ft CON
4.9 kt 0.9 kt
10° angle
01R/19L 11,500 ft 150 ft CON
4.7 kt 1.7 kt
160° angle
12/30 10,501 ft 150 ft CON 110°
0.0 kt 5.0 kt
90° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KIAD

8,294 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
80%
MVFR
11.8%
IFR
5.8%
LIFR
2.4%

Washington Dulles International Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 80% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 7.7 knots, with gusts recorded up to 41 knots. Calm conditions occur 16.6% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -16°C to 37°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are June, January, November.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 7.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 41 kt
Calm Winds: 16.6%
Direction Distribution:
E
6.4%
N
12.5%
S
21%
W
7.6%
NE
5.7%
NW
17.6%
SE
5.8%
SW
6.9%

Temperature Range

Average: 12.3°C
Range: -16°C to 37°C
-16°C 37°C

Visibility

Average: 9.3 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.7%
Fog Frequency: 0.8%

Best Months for VFR

June January November

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 12/30
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.6 kt
Runway 01C/19C
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.4 kt
Runway 01L/19R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.4 kt
Runway 01R/19L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.4 kt

Statistics computed from 8,294 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Washington Dulles International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KIAD
IATA Code: IAD
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 312 ft MSL

Location

City: Dulles
Country: US
Latitude: 38.944500°
Longitude: -77.455803°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 01C/19C
Length: 11,501 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CONC-G
ILS: No
Runway 01L/19R
Length: 9,400 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 01R/19L
Length: 11,500 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 12/30
Length: 10,501 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About Washington Dulles International Airport

Overview

Washington Dulles International Airport serves as a critical international gateway for the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Located in Dulles, Virginia, the airport handles significant commercial and international air traffic, situated at an elevation of 312 feet mean sea level. Its strategic location provides essential air transportation infrastructure for the national capital region.

Flying Conditions

The airport's multi-runway configuration offers significant operational flexibility across different wind conditions. With four runways ranging from 9,400 to 11,501 feet in length, pilots can expect adaptable approach and departure options. The airport's elevation and geographic position suggest potential for variable wind patterns and seasonal meteorological transitions.

Notable Features

Dulles features three concrete runways (01L/19R, 01C/19C, 01R/19L) and one concrete/grooved runway (12/30), providing robust operational capabilities. The airport's coordinate location at 38.944500, -77.455803 places it in a region with complex terrain and potential airspace interactions characteristic of the mid-Atlantic coastal zone. Runway lengths exceeding 9,400 feet accommodate a wide range of aircraft types and operational requirements.

Approach Considerations

Pilots should anticipate multiple runway options based on prevailing wind conditions, with primary runways 01C/19C and 01R/19L offering the longest operational surfaces at 11,500 feet. The diverse runway configuration allows for flexible approach and departure strategies, particularly during challenging meteorological conditions. Standard instrument approach procedures will vary based on specific runway and wind vector interactions.

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.