King Khaled International Airport

OERK / RUH

Riyadh, SA

Last Updated
Apr 22, 17:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 37 min ago
17:00Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
25°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 16°C
9 kt
10°
6 km
Visibility
4,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1014 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR OERK 221700Z 01009KT 6000 TSRA FEW030CB OVC040 25/16 Q1014 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 2,049 ft
FEW 3,000 ft AGL (CB)
OVC 4,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW (CB)
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
3,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,049 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
4,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
6,049 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

King Khaled International Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with overcast skies at 4,000 feet and 6 km visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the north (10°) at 9 knots. Runway 33 is favored with a 7-knot headwind and 6-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 6 km, below VFR minimums in some airspace classifications. Check local requirements before departing VFR. The ceiling is 4000 feet AGL (overcast), well above standard VFR minimums. Caution: cumulonimbus (thunderstorm) clouds reported at 3,000 ft AGL, indicating convective activity in the area.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 25°C (77°F) with a dewpoint of 16°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 30 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Expected weather includes: Blowing Dust, Thunderstorm Rain, Thunderstorm Hail. Winds are forecast to reach up to 28 knots during the period. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 12 to 28 knots. Temporary LIFR conditions are forecast with Blowing Dust, Thunderstorm Rain between 12:00Z and 00:00Z. There is a 30% probability of VFR conditions with Thunderstorm Hail between 16:00Z and 22:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further. 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
1014 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
946 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (2,049 ft)
Pressure Alt
2,027 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 3,719 ft
ISA Deviation: +14.1°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF OERK 221100Z 2212/2318 10012KT 7000 SCT040 TEMPO 2212/2300 VRB28KT 1500 BLDU TSRA FEW030CB BKN040 PROB30 TEMPO 2216/2222 TSGR
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
17:36Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 100° 12 kt
Visibility: 7 km

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
ERK
15L
33R ✈️
15R
33L ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 15L/33R
Active: 33R
13,796 ft 197 ft ASP 150°
6.9 kt 5.8 kt
40° angle
✈️ 15R/33L
Active: 33L
13,796 ft 197 ft ASP 150°
6.9 kt 5.8 kt
40° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - OERK

5,116 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
87.9%
MVFR
9.1%
IFR
2.5%
LIFR
0.5%

King Khaled International Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 87.9% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the SE averaging 5.2 knots. Temperature extremes range from 4°C to 44°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are October, February, November.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SE (135°)
Average Speed: 5.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 27 kt
Calm Winds: 7.7%
Direction Distribution:
N
16.5%
NE
12.2%
E
13%
SE
22.6%
S
7.2%
SW
2.5%
W
9.5%
NW
8.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 21.8°C
Range: 4°C to 44°C
4°C 44°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.5%

Best Months for VFR

October February November

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 15L/33R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2.9 kt
Runway 15R/33L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2.9 kt

Statistics computed from 5,116 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

King Khaled International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: OERK
IATA Code: RUH
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 2,049 ft MSL

Location

City: Riyadh
Country: SA
Latitude: 24.957600°
Longitude: 46.698799°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-3

Runway Information

Runway 15L/33R
Length: 13,796 ft
Width: 197 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 15R/33L
Length: 13,796 ft
Width: 197 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

Nearby Airports

VFR MVFR IFR LIFR No Data

About King Khaled International Airport

Overview

King Khaled International Airport serves as the primary international airport for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, located at an elevation of 2,049 feet mean sea level. As a large airport with two parallel runways each measuring 13,796 feet in length, it supports significant commercial and potentially military aviation operations in the central region of the country.

Flying Conditions

Riyadh's airport environment experiences extreme temperature variations characteristic of an arid desert climate, which can significantly impact aircraft performance. Pilots should anticipate potential challenges with high-density altitude during summer months, particularly given the airport's elevation of 2,049 feet and regional temperature extremes.

Notable Features

The airport features two parallel runways (15L/33R and 15R/33L) constructed with asphalt surfaces, both identically sized at 13,796 feet in length. Its geographical positioning at coordinates 24.957600, 46.698799 places the airport in a flat, open terrain typical of the Saudi Arabian central plateau region.

Approach Considerations

With parallel runways oriented at 15/33 heading, pilots can expect approach options aligned with the predominant regional wind patterns. The substantial runway lengths of 13,796 feet provide ample space for most aircraft types, offering flexibility in landing and takeoff operations under varying 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.