Sir Seretse Khama International Airport

FBSK / GBE

Gaborone, BW

Last Updated
Apr 22, 12:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 58 min ago
12:00Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
21°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 17°C
5 kt
60°
10+ km
Visibility
2,500 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1018 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR FBSK 221200Z 06005KT 020V110 9999 BKN025 FEW030CB 21/17 Q1018 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 3,299 ft
BKN 2,500 ft AGL
FEW 3,000 ft AGL (CB)
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
2,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,799 ft AMSL
🌤️
FEW (CB)
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
3,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
6,299 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Sir Seretse Khama International Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with broken clouds at 2,500 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east-northeast (60°) at 5 knots. Runway 08/26 is favored with a 5-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 2500 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category. Caution: cumulonimbus (thunderstorm) clouds reported at 3,000 ft AGL, indicating convective activity in the area.

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. 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 MVFR throughout the forecast period. Expected weather includes: Thunderstorm Rain. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Thunderstorm Rain between 14:00Z and 21:00Z. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Thunderstorm Rain between 06:00Z and 18:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

QNH
1018 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
908 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (3,299 ft)
Pressure Alt
3,157 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 4,669 ft
ISA Deviation: +12.6°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF FBSK 221000Z 2212/2318 10005KT 9999 BKN015 PROB30 TEMPO 2214/2221 TSRA FEW035CB BECMG 2300/2302 OVC015 PROB30 TEMPO 2306/2318 TSRA FEW035CB
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
12:57Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 100° 5 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 1,500 ft
14:00Z PROB30 TEMPO
+2h
MVFR
Thunderstorm Rain
00:00Z BECMG
+12h
MVFR
Ceiling: 1,500 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
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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
BSK
08 ✈️
26

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 08/26
Active: 08
13,123 ft 148 ft CON 61°
4.7 kt 1.7 kt
20° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - FBSK

4,675 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
83.7%
MVFR
14.7%
IFR
1.3%
LIFR
0.3%

Sir Seretse Khama International Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 83.7% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the NE averaging 6.5 knots. Temperatures typically range between 9°C and 36°C with an average of 23.1°C. The best months for VFR flying are September, February, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NE (45°)
Average Speed: 6.5 kt
Maximum Recorded: 21 kt
Calm Winds: 0.9%
Direction Distribution:
N
7.9%
NE
37.9%
E
23.2%
SE
13.8%
S
6.7%
SW
2.6%
W
4.4%
NW
2.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 23.1°C
Range: 9°C to 36°C
9°C 36°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.3%

Best Months for VFR

September February October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 08/26
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.4 kt

Statistics computed from 4,675 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Sir Seretse Khama International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: FBSK
IATA Code: GBE
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 3,299 ft MSL

Location

City: Gaborone
Country: BW
Latitude: -24.555201°
Longitude: 25.918200°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-2

Runway Information

Runway 08/26
Length: 13,123 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About Sir Seretse Khama International Airport

Overview

Sir Seretse Khama International Airport serves as the primary international gateway for Botswana, located in the capital city of Gaborone. Situated at an elevation of 3,299 feet above mean sea level, the airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for the region. Its substantial runway of 13,123 feet supports large aircraft operations and serves as a key transportation hub for international and domestic flights.

Flying Conditions

Pilots should anticipate high-altitude conditions typical of Botswana's elevated terrain, with significant temperature variations between day and night. The airport's elevation at 3,299 feet MSL will impact aircraft performance, particularly during warmer periods. Wind patterns along the 08/26 runway orientation can influence approach and takeoff strategies, requiring careful performance calculations.

Notable Features

The airport's concrete runway (CON) provides a stable surface for heavy aircraft operations. Its geographic coordinates at -24.555201, 25.918200 place it in the southeastern region of Botswana, surrounded by relatively flat terrain. The substantial runway length of 13,123 feet accommodates a wide range of aircraft types, from regional commuters to large international jets.

Approach Considerations

Runway 08/26's extended length offers flexibility for various aircraft types and provides multiple approach options. Pilots should carefully assess wind direction and runway alignment when planning arrivals and departures. The airport's high elevation requires careful attention to density altitude effects, particularly during warmer operational periods.

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.