Laurence G Hanscom Field

KBED / BED

Bedford, US

Last Updated
Apr 23, 01:51Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 41 min ago
01:51Z

🌙 Night
MVFR
Flight Rules
7°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 4°C
7 kt
180°
10 SM
Visibility
2,300 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1016 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KBED 230151Z 18007KT 10SM OVC023 07/04 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP178 T00720039

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 133 ft
OVC 2,300 ft AGL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
2,300 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,433 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Laurence G Hanscom Field is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with overcast skies at 2,300 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (180°) at 7 knots. Runway 23 is favored with a 4-knot headwind and 5-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 2300 feet AGL (overcast), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 7°C (45°F) with a dewpoint of 4°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 24 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: Mist.

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
1016 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1012 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (133 ft)
Pressure Alt
51 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -877 ft
ISA Deviation: -7.7°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KBED 222324Z 2300/2324 18005KT P6SM OVC030 FM230300 19003KT 4SM BR OVC010 FM230700 00000KT 2SM BR OVC010 FM231100 24003KT P6SM SCT150 FM231500 31008KT P6SM FEW040
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
02:31Z BASE
+0h
VFR 180° 5 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 3,000 ft
03:00Z FM230300
+1h
IFR 190° 3 kt
Visibility: 4SM
Ceiling: 1,000 ft
Mist
07:00Z FM230700
+5h
IFR
Visibility: 2SM
Ceiling: 1,000 ft
Mist
11:00Z FM231100
+9h
VFR 240° 3 kt
Visibility: >6SM

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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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
BED
05
23 ✈️
11
29

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 05/23
Active: 23
5,106 ft 150 ft ASP 37°
4.5 kt 5.4 kt
50° angle
11/29 7,001 ft 150 ft ASP 97°
0.9 kt 6.9 kt
83° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KBED

6,185 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
72.7%
MVFR
12.9%
IFR
10.5%
LIFR
3.9%

Laurence G Hanscom Field typically experiences VFR conditions 72.7% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 14.4% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 7.9 knots, with gusts recorded up to 32 knots. Calm conditions occur 21.7% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -23°C to 29°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are November, September, February.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 7.9 kt
Maximum Recorded: 32 kt
Calm Winds: 21.7%
Direction Distribution:
N
9.4%
NE
5.6%
E
5.6%
SE
3.4%
S
10.3%
SW
14.1%
W
18.8%
NW
11.2%

Temperature Range

Average: 3.6°C
Range: -23°C to 29°C
-23°C 29°C

Visibility

Average: 9.1 SM
Below 3 SM: 4.1%
Fog Frequency: 2.7%

Best Months for VFR

November September February

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 05/23
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.9 kt
Runway 11/29
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.8 kt

Statistics computed from 6,185 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Laurence G Hanscom Field - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KBED
IATA Code: BED
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 133 ft MSL

Location

City: Bedford
Country: US
Latitude: 42.470001°
Longitude: -71.289001°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 05/23
Length: 5,106 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 11/29
Length: 7,001 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Laurence G Hanscom Field

Overview

Laurence G Hanscom Field serves the greater Boston metropolitan area, located in Bedford, Massachusetts. As a medium-sized airport positioned at 133 feet above mean sea level, it provides critical aviation infrastructure for general aviation, corporate, and military operations in the northeastern United States.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Hanscom Field demonstrate significant variability, with visual flight rules (VFR) predominating at 74.9% of observed periods. Pilots can expect westerly winds averaging 7.8 knots, with temperature ranges spanning from -17°C to 29°C, creating diverse flying environments throughout the year. November, September, and December offer the most consistently favorable VFR conditions.

Notable Features

The airport features two asphalt runways: Runway 05/23 at 5,106 feet and Runway 11/29 at 7,001 feet, providing flexible operational capabilities. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with modest average crosswind components of 4.8 and 4.5 knots respectively, enhancing landing and takeoff predictability.

Approach Considerations

With an average visibility of 9.1 statute miles and only 3.4% of observations showing visibility below 3 miles, Hanscom Field generally offers good visual approach conditions. Pilots should be prepared for occasional reduced visibility, with fog present in approximately 2% of observations, and be aware of the potential for instrument meteorological conditions during less favorable 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.