Raleigh Durham International Airport

KRDU / RDU

Raleigh/Durham, US

Last Updated
Jun 17, 08:51Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 26 min ago
08:51Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
21°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 17°C
5 kt
240°
10 SM
Visibility
25,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1010 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KRDU 170851Z 24005KT 10SM FEW095 FEW120 BKN250 21/17 A2982 RMK AO2 SLP093 T02060172 50001

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 435 ft
FEW 9,500 ft AGL
FEW 12,000 ft AGL
BKN 25,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
9,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
9,935 ft AMSL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
12,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
12,435 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
25,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
25,435 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Raleigh Durham International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 25,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots. Runway 23 is favored with a 5-knot headwind and 1-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 25000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 21°C (70°F) with a dewpoint of 17°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 24 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
1010 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
996 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (435 ft)
Pressure Alt
533 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,357 ft
ISA Deviation: +6.9°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KRDU 170520Z 1706/1806 24007KT P6SM FEW080 SCT120 OVC250
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
09:16Z BASE
+0h
VFR 240° 7 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 25,000 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
RDU
05L
23R ✈️
05R
23L ✈️
14
32

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 05L/23R
Active: 23R
10,000 ft 150 ft CON 45°
4.9 kt 0.9 kt
10° angle
✈️ 05R/23L
Active: 23L
7,500 ft 150 ft ASP 45°
4.9 kt 0.9 kt
10° angle
14/32 3,570 ft 100 ft ASP 135°
1.3 kt 4.8 kt
105° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KRDU

7,039 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
81.3%
MVFR
9.1%
IFR
6.6%
LIFR
3%

Raleigh Durham International Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 81.3% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the SW averaging 7.4 knots. Calm conditions occur 19.3% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -11°C to 39°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are June, April, November.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SW (225°)
Average Speed: 7.4 kt
Maximum Recorded: 27 kt
Calm Winds: 19.3%
Direction Distribution:
E
5.2%
N
10%
S
11.6%
W
8%
NE
13.2%
NW
4.9%
SE
3.8%
SW
23.9%

Temperature Range

Average: 13.6°C
Range: -11°C to 39°C
-11°C 39°C

Visibility

Average: 9.5 SM
Below 3 SM: 2%
Fog Frequency: 0.9%

Best Months for VFR

June April November

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 14/32
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6 kt
Runway 05L/23R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.3 kt
Runway 05R/23L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.3 kt

Statistics computed from 7,039 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Raleigh Durham International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KRDU
IATA Code: RDU
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 435 ft MSL

Location

City: Raleigh/Durham
Country: US
Latitude: 35.877602°
Longitude: -78.787498°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 05L/23R
Length: 10,000 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 05R/23L
Length: 7,500 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 14/32
Length: 3,570 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Raleigh Durham International Airport

Overview

Raleigh Durham International Airport (KRDU) serves the major metropolitan area of Raleigh and Durham in North Carolina. As a large airport situated at 435 feet above mean sea level, it provides critical aviation infrastructure for commercial, cargo, and general aviation operations in the Research Triangle region.

Flying Conditions

Located at 35.877602, -78.787498, the airport experiences variable weather typical of the southeastern United States with potential seasonal wind shifts. Pilots should be prepared for potential thermal activity and convective weather patterns common to the region, particularly during summer months.

Notable Features

The airport features three runways with significant variation in length: the primary runway 05L/23R is a 10,000-foot concrete runway, complemented by a 7,500-foot asphalt runway 05R/23L, and a shorter 3,570-foot asphalt runway 14/32. The multiple runway configuration provides operational flexibility and allows for different wind conditions and aircraft type accommodations.

Approach Considerations

Runway selection will typically depend on prevailing winds, with the longer 10,000-foot concrete runway 05L/23R being preferred for larger aircraft and commercial operations. The multiple runway orientations (05/23 and 14/32) provide options for crosswind landings and diversified approach paths based on current meteorological conditions.

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.