Bradley International Airport

KBDL / BDL

Hartford, US

Last Updated
Apr 22, 11:21Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 24 min ago
11:21Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
5°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 3°C
7 kt
170°
10 SM
Visibility
1,300 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1022 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

SPECI KBDL 221121Z 17007KT 10SM BKN013 OVC020 05/03 A3017 RMK AO2 T00500033

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 173 ft
BKN 1,300 ft AGL
OVC 2,000 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
1,300 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,473 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
2,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,173 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Bradley International Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with overcast skies at 2,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (170°) at 7 knots. Runway 15/33 is favored with a 7-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 1300 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 5°C (41°F) with a dewpoint of 3°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 27 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 Showers Rain.

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 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
1022 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1016 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (173 ft)
Pressure Alt
-90 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -1,248 ft
ISA Deviation: -9.7°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KBDL 220853Z 2209/2312 19008KT P6SM -SHRA SCT020 OVC050 FM221800 17009KT P6SM OVC020 FM230000 00000KT P6SM OVC008
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
11:44Z BASE
+0h
VFR 190° 8 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 5,000 ft
Light Showers Rain
18:00Z FM221800
+7h
MVFR 170° 9 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 2,000 ft

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
BDL
1
19 ✈️
15
33
6
24

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 1/19
Active: 19
5,145 ft 100 ft ASP 359°
6.6 kt 2.4 kt
20° angle
15/33 6,847 ft 150 ft ASP 135°
5.7 kt 4.0 kt
35° angle
6/24 9,510 ft 200 ft ASP 44°
4.1 kt 5.7 kt
126° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KBDL

6,115 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
73.9%
MVFR
15.6%
IFR
7%
LIFR
3.5%

Bradley International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 73.9% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 10.5% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 8.1 knots. Calm conditions occur 15.1% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -21°C to 31°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are November, September, February.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 8.1 kt
Maximum Recorded: 28 kt
Calm Winds: 15.1%
Direction Distribution:
N
19.4%
NE
4.2%
E
2.2%
SE
3.9%
S
20.9%
SW
8.1%
W
10%
NW
16.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 4.1°C
Range: -21°C to 31°C
-21°C 31°C

Visibility

Average: 9.1 SM
Below 3 SM: 4.9%
Fog Frequency: 2.6%

Best Months for VFR

November September February

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 15/33
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.3 kt

Statistics computed from 6,115 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Bradley International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KBDL
IATA Code: BDL
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 173 ft MSL

Location

City: Hartford
Country: US
Latitude: 41.938510°
Longitude: -72.688066°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 1/19
Length: 5,145 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 15/33
Length: 6,847 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 6/24
Length: 9,510 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Bradley International Airport

Overview

Bradley International Airport serves the greater Hartford, Connecticut metropolitan area as a major regional airport. Located at 41.938510, -72.688066, the airport sits at 173 feet above mean sea level and provides critical commercial and cargo transportation services for southern New England. As a large airport with multiple runways, Bradley supports significant passenger and freight operations.

Flying Conditions

The airport's three asphaltic runways offer substantial operational flexibility across different wind conditions. Runway configurations include 1/19 at 5,145 feet, 15/33 at 6,847 feet, and the primary 6/24 at 9,510 feet, which provides extensive landing and takeoff options. Given its inland Connecticut location, pilots should anticipate variable seasonal weather patterns that can impact approach and departure conditions.

Notable Features

Bradley International is situated in a relatively flat terrain region of southern New England, which generally provides stable approach environments. The airport's multiple runway orientations (1/19, 15/33, 6/24) allow for strategic wind management and operational adaptability. Its geographic position provides access to both metropolitan Hartford and surrounding regional transportation networks.

Approach Considerations

Pilots should note the airport's substantial primary runway (6/24) at 9,510 feet, which offers extensive landing capability for various aircraft types. The three runway configuration allows for strategic approach selection based on prevailing wind direction and speed. Approach planning should consider the airport's 173-foot elevation and the surrounding terrain characteristics of the Connecticut river valley region.

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.