Beale Air Force Base

KBAB / BAB

Beale Air Force Base, US

Last Updated
Apr 22, 00:55Z

Military Airport

Restricted

This is a U.S. military installation. Civil aircraft operations are generally prohibited without prior authorization.

Access Notes:

Most military airfields closed to civil traffic; some joint-use exceptions exist

Consult official AIP (FAA AIP GEN 3.3) for current access procedures and restrictions.

Current Weather

Display Units
Aging 1 hour ago
00:55Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
13°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 9°C
16 kt
120°
10 SM
Visibility
12,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1013 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KBAB 220055Z 12016KT 10SM FEW042 FEW070 BKN120 13/09 A2991 RMK AO2A SLP131 T01290090 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 113 ft
FEW 4,200 ft AGL
FEW 7,000 ft AGL
BKN 12,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
4,200 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,313 ft AMSL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
7,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
7,113 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
12,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
12,113 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Beale Air Force Base is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 12,000 feet and 10 SM visibility. Note: This observation is 1.1 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east-southeast (120°) at 16 knots. Runway 15/33 is favored with a 14-knot headwind and 8-knot crosswind component. Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 12000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 13°C (55°F) with a dewpoint of 9°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 26 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: Light Thunderstorm Rain, Light Showers Rain. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 23:00Z and 02:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. 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
1013 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1009 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (113 ft)
Pressure Alt
121 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -92 ft
ISA Deviation: -1.8°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF AMD KBAB 212307Z 2123/2301 12010G15KT 9999 BKN040 640709 QNH2990INS TEMPO 2123/2202 10012G18KT 3200 -TSRA BKN020CB OVC040 BECMG 2203/2204 15010G20KT 9999 BKN040 610709 QNH2990INS BECMG 2210/2211 15010G15KT 9000 -SHRA BKN012 OVC040 640709 QNH3005INS BECMG 2218/2219 14009KT 9999 NSW SCT040 QNH3012INS TX15/2123Z TN09/2214Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
02:00Z BASE
+0h
VFR 120° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 4,000 ft
03:00Z BECMG
+1h
VFR 150° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 4,000 ft
10:00Z BECMG
+8h
IFR 150° 10 kt
Visibility: 9 km
Ceiling: 1,200 ft
Light Showers Rain

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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  • • Click legend items to toggle data series
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  • • 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
BAB
15 ✈️
33

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 15/33
Active: 15
12,000 ft 300 ft CON 161°
13.9 kt 8.0 kt
30° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KBAB

6,798 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
69.1%
MVFR
11.4%
IFR
7.6%
LIFR
11.9%

Beale Air Force Base typically experiences VFR conditions 69.1% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 19.5% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SE averaging 7.5 knots, with gusts recorded up to 40 knots. Calm conditions occur 24.7% of the time. Temperature extremes range from 0°C to 37°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are March, September, April.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SE (135°)
Average Speed: 7.5 kt
Maximum Recorded: 40 kt
Calm Winds: 24.7%
Direction Distribution:
N
10.5%
NE
4.2%
E
13.6%
SE
19.4%
S
12.5%
SW
3%
W
3.7%
NW
8.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 13.2°C
Range: 0°C to 37°C
0°C 37°C

Visibility

Average: 8.9 SM
Below 3 SM: 3.1%
Fog Frequency: 6.1%

Best Months for VFR

March September April

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 15/33
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.1 kt

Statistics computed from 6,798 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Beale Air Force Base - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KBAB
IATA Code: BAB
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 113 ft MSL

Location

City: Beale Air Force Base
Country: US
Latitude: 39.136101°
Longitude: -121.436996°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+8

Runway Information

Runway 15/33
Length: 12,000 ft
Width: 300 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About Beale Air Force Base

Beale Air Force Base is a military facility. Civilian access may be restricted or require Prior Permission (PPR). Pilots should consult the US AIP for current access procedures and restrictions.

Overview

Beale Air Force Base is a medium airport located in Northern California at 39.136101, -121.436996, with an elevation of 113 ft MSL. The base serves military aviation operations, situated in a strategic location within the region. Its primary runway 15/33 provides a substantial 12,000-foot concrete surface for various aircraft.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Beale AFB demonstrate significant variability, with Visual Flight Rules (VFR) prevailing 60.4% of the time. Pilots can expect predominantly southeastern winds averaging 7.6 knots, with calm conditions occurring 27.5% of observations. Temperature ranges from 0°C to 37°C, with an average of 12.7°C, presenting potential thermal and wind considerations for flight planning.

Notable Features

The airport's geographical positioning in Northern California influences its meteorological characteristics, with potential terrain-related wind and visibility effects. Instrument meteorological conditions occur frequently, with MVFR, IFR, and LIFR conditions combining for 39.6% of observations. Visibility averages 8.5 statute miles, with fog present in 9.3% of recorded periods.

Approach Considerations

Runway 15/33 demonstrates favorable wind alignment 100% of the time, with an average crosswind of just 3.1 knots. Pilots should note September, October, and January offer the most consistently favorable VFR conditions. During approach, be prepared for potential visibility restrictions and temperature variations typical of the region's microclimate.

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.