Eastern Sierra Regional Airport

KBIH / BIH

Bishop, US

Last Updated
Apr 21, 20:56Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 25 min ago
20:56Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
22°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: -2°C
25 kt
190° G39 kt
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1006 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KBIH 212056Z AUTO 19025G39KT 10SM FEW110 22/M02 A2972 RMK AO2 PK WND 16041/2033 SLP021 T02171017 58001

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 4,124 ft
FEW 11,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
11,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
15,124 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Eastern Sierra Regional Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with few clouds at 11,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (190°) at 25 knots with gusts to 39 knots. Runway 16/34 is favored with a 22-knot headwind and 13-knot crosswind component (gusting to 20 knots crosswind). These are strong winds that may exceed crosswind limits for light aircraft.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 11,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 22°C (72°F) with a dewpoint of -2°C, indicating very dry conditions. 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 24 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period. Winds are forecast to reach up to 25 knots during the period. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 10 to 25 knots.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. Gusty conditions may exceed demonstrated crosswind components for many general aviation aircraft. Check your aircraft's limitations.

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

QNH
1006 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
869 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (4,124 ft)
Pressure Alt
4,342 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 6,172 ft (High - Reduced Performance)
ISA Deviation: +15.2°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KBIH 211720Z 2118/2218 17025G35KT P6SM SCT120 FM212300 22018G28KT P6SM FEW120 FM220300 17012G21KT P6SM VCSH SCT100 FM220800 01010KT P6SM FEW200
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
21:21Z BASE
+0h
VFR 170° 25 kt
Visibility: >6SM
23:00Z FM212300
+2h
VFR 220° 18 kt
Visibility: >6SM
03:00Z FM220300
+6h
VFR 170° 12 kt
Visibility: >6SM
08:00Z FM220800
+11h
VFR 10° 10 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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  • • 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
BIH
07
25
12
30
16 ✈️
34

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
07/25 5,566 ft 100 ft ASP 90°
4.3 kt 24.6 kt
100° angle
12/30 7,498 ft 100 ft ASP 135°
14.3 kt 20.5 kt
55° angle
✈️ 16/34
Active: 16
5,600 ft 100 ft ASP 181°
21.7 kt 12.5 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 - KBIH

5,231 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
94.6%
MVFR
3.7%
IFR
1.3%
LIFR
0.4%

Eastern Sierra Regional Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 94.6% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the NW averaging 7.7 knots. Calm conditions occur 13.8% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -12°C to 34°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are March, October, April.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NW (315°)
Average Speed: 7.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 29 kt
Calm Winds: 13.8%
Direction Distribution:
N
17.4%
NE
2.1%
E
1.6%
SE
12.9%
S
11.7%
SW
2.3%
W
12.6%
NW
25.6%

Temperature Range

Average: 10.3°C
Range: -12°C to 34°C
-12°C 34°C

Visibility

Average: 9.8 SM
Below 3 SM: 0.4%
Fog Frequency: 0.2%

Best Months for VFR

March October April

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 07/25
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.6 kt
Runway 12/30
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.9 kt
Runway 16/34
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2.8 kt

Statistics computed from 5,231 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Eastern Sierra Regional Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KBIH
IATA Code: BIH
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 4,124 ft MSL

Location

City: Bishop
Country: US
Latitude: 37.373100°
Longitude: -118.363998°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+8

Runway Information

Runway 07/25
Length: 5,566 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 12/30
Length: 7,498 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 16/34
Length: 5,600 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Eastern Sierra Regional Airport

Overview

Eastern Sierra Regional Airport serves Bishop, California, located in the eastern Sierra Nevada mountain region. As a medium-sized airport with three paved runways, it provides critical aviation infrastructure for this mountainous area. The airport sits at a moderate elevation of 4,124 feet MSL, which pilots should consider for performance calculations.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at KBIH are predominantly excellent for flying, with 93.4% of observations reporting VFR conditions. The airport experiences northwest prevailing winds averaging 7.5 knots, with occasional gusts up to 29 knots. Temperature variations are significant, ranging from -8°C to 34°C, which can impact aircraft performance and density altitude considerations.

Notable Features

The airport's three runways offer flexible operational capabilities, with lengths ranging from 5,566 to 7,498 feet. Its location in the Sierra Nevada presents complex terrain considerations, with mountainous surroundings that can create localized wind and turbulence effects. Pilots should be prepared for potential mountain weather dynamics despite generally good visibility averaging 9.7 statute miles.

Approach Considerations

All three runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind coverage, with minimal average crosswind components. Runway 07/25 offers the most wind variability with an average 6.5-knot crosswind, while runway 16/34 provides the most consistent wind alignment. September, October, and December statistically offer the most reliable VFR flying conditions for arrivals and departures.

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.