Rafha Domestic Airport

OERF / RAH

Rafha, SA

Last Updated
Jul 4, 11:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 35 min ago
11:00Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
41°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: -1°C
11 kt
290°
--
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1004 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR OERF 041100Z 29011KT CAVOK 41/M01 Q1004 NOSIG

Weather Briefing

VFR

Rafha Domestic Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with clear skies.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west-northwest (290°) at 11 knots. Runway 29 is favored with a 11-knot headwind and 0-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Skies are clear with unlimited ceiling.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 41°C (106°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.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 30 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
1004 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
955 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,474 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,752 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 5,226 ft (High - Reduced Performance)
ISA Deviation: +28.9°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF OERF 032300Z 0400/0506 30010KT CAVOK
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
11:34Z BASE
+0h
VFR 300° 10 kt
Visibility: >10km

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
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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
ERF
11
29 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 11/29
Active: 29
9,834 ft 147 ft ASP 114°
11.0 kt 0.0 kt
0° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - OERF

6,729 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
85.8%
MVFR
10.5%
IFR
3.2%
LIFR
0.5%

Rafha Domestic Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 85.8% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the SE averaging 8.3 knots, with gusts recorded up to 47 knots. Temperature extremes range from -2°C to 46°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are June, July, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SE (135°)
Average Speed: 8.3 kt
Maximum Recorded: 47 kt
Calm Winds: 9.8%
Direction Distribution:
E
13.1%
N
9.7%
S
10.5%
W
12.1%
NE
8.1%
NW
15%
SE
15.5%
SW
6.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 22.1°C
Range: -2°C to 46°C
-2°C 46°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0%

Best Months for VFR

June July October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 11/29
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.5 kt

Statistics computed from 6,729 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Rafha Domestic Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: OERF
IATA Code: RAH
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,474 ft MSL

Location

City: Rafha
Country: SA
Latitude: 29.626400°
Longitude: 43.490601°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-3

Runway Information

Runway 11/29
Length: 9,834 ft
Width: 147 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Rafha Domestic Airport

Overview

Rafha Domestic Airport serves the northeastern region of Saudi Arabia, located in a remote desert area near the Iraq border. As a medium-sized airport with a single 9,834-foot asphalt runway, it provides critical transportation infrastructure for the local Rafha community and surrounding regions.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly VFR conditions 88.3% of the time, with stable weather patterns characterized by a southeastern prevailing wind at 7.3 knots. Temperature ranges from -2°C to 44°C, with an average of 20.2°C, creating potential for significant thermal variations that pilots should anticipate during different seasons.

Notable Features

Situated at an elevation of 1,474 feet mean sea level, Rafha Domestic Airport is positioned in a flat desert terrain with minimal surrounding geographic obstacles. The airport's wind profile shows calm conditions 13.7% of the time, with occasional strong wind events reaching up to 47 knots from the southeastern quadrant.

Approach Considerations

Runway 11/29 offers favorable wind alignment 100% of the time, with an average crosswind component of just 4.4 knots. October, November, and January represent the most consistent VFR months, providing optimal flying conditions for pilots approaching or departing the airport.

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.