O.R. Tambo International Airport

FAOR / JNB

Johannesburg, ZA

Last Updated
Apr 23, 02:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 31 min ago
02:00Z

🌙 Night
IFR
Flight Rules
13°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 12°C
11 kt
70°
10+ km
Visibility
800 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1027 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR FAOR 230200Z 07011KT 9999 OVC008 13/12 Q1027 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 5,558 ft
OVC 800 ft AGL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
800 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
6,358 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

IFR

O.R. Tambo International Airport is currently reporting instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions with overcast skies at 800 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east-northeast (70°) at 11 knots. Runway 03L/21R is favored with a 8-knot headwind and 7-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 800 feet AGL (overcast). Only precision approaches may be usable depending on minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 13°C (55°F) with a dewpoint of 12°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 30 hours. IFR conditions are expected to persist or develop. An instrument rating and IFR flight plan are recommended. Expected weather includes: Light Rain, Mist, Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain. There is a 30% probability of LIFR conditions with Light Rain, Mist between 01:00Z and 07:00Z. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Light Showers Rain between 12:00Z and 18:00Z. There is a 30% probability of LIFR conditions with Showers Rain between 18:00Z and 06:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

An instrument rating and IFR flight plan are required. Verify that destination and alternate approach minimums are above current and forecast conditions. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours. 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
1027 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
842 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (5,558 ft)
Pressure Alt
5,146 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 6,240 ft
ISA Deviation: +9.1°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF FAOR 222200Z 2300/2406 09010KT 9999 BKN010 TX15/2310Z TN11/2304Z PROB30 TEMPO 2301/2307 5000 -RA BR BKN004 PROB30 TEMPO 2312/2318 -SHRA FEW035TCU PROB30 TEMPO 2318/2406 5000 SHRA BKN004 FEW035TCU
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
02:30Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 90° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 1,000 ft
12:00Z PROB30 TEMPO
+10h
MVFR
Light Showers Rain

24-Hour Weather Evolution

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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
AOR
03L ✈️
21R
03R ✈️
21L

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 03L/21R
Active: 03L
14,495 ft 200 ft ASP 14°
8.4 kt 7.1 kt
40° angle
✈️ 03R/21L
Active: 03R
11,155 ft 197 ft ASP 14°
8.4 kt 7.1 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 - FAOR

8,805 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
80.1%
MVFR
9.9%
IFR
6.8%
LIFR
3.2%

O.R. Tambo International Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 80.1% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the N averaging 8.7 knots. Temperatures typically range between 7°C and 30°C with an average of 18.9°C. The best months for VFR flying are February, September, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: N (0°)
Average Speed: 8.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 30 kt
Calm Winds: 0.2%
Direction Distribution:
N
29.7%
NE
12.8%
E
13.4%
SE
3.2%
S
8.5%
SW
4.1%
W
9.3%
NW
18.8%

Temperature Range

Average: 18.9°C
Range: 7°C to 30°C
7°C 30°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.7%

Best Months for VFR

February September October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 03L/21R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.5 kt
Runway 03R/21L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.5 kt

Statistics computed from 8,805 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

O.R. Tambo International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: FAOR
IATA Code: JNB
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 5,558 ft MSL

Location

City: Johannesburg
Country: ZA
Latitude: -26.139200°
Longitude: 28.246000°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-2

Runway Information

Runway 03L/21R
Length: 14,495 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 03R/21L
Length: 11,155 ft
Width: 197 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About O.R. Tambo International Airport

Overview

O.R. Tambo International Airport serves as the primary international gateway for Johannesburg, South Africa, and is a major hub for both domestic and international air traffic. Located at an elevation of 5,558 feet mean sea level, this large airport plays a critical role in regional and continental aviation infrastructure.

Flying Conditions

The high elevation of 5,558 ft MSL significantly impacts aircraft performance, requiring careful weight and balance calculations, especially during warmer periods. Being situated in the Gauteng province, the airport experiences varied seasonal weather patterns that can affect visibility, temperature, and aircraft operations.

Notable Features

The airport features two substantial parallel runways: 03L/21R at 14,495 feet and 03R/21L at 11,155 feet, both constructed with asphalt surfaces. Its geographic coordinates at -26.139200, 28.246000 position the airport in the highveld region, characterized by a plateau environment that presents unique aeronautical considerations for pilots.

Approach Considerations

Runway orientation suggests potential crosswind scenarios, with 03/21 headings indicating potential wind variations. Pilots should be prepared for elevation-related performance calculations and be aware of the substantial runway lengths available, which provide significant margin for diverse aircraft types and operational 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.