Bellingham International Airport

KBLI / BLI

Bellingham, US

Last Updated
Apr 22, 12:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 53 min ago
12:53Z

☀️ Day
LIFR
Flight Rules
10°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 9°C
6 kt
190°
7 SM
Visibility
300 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1010 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KBLI 221253Z AUTO 19006KT 7SM BKN003 OVC008 10/09 A2982 RMK AO2 SLP103 T01000094

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 170 ft
BKN 300 ft AGL
OVC 800 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
300 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
470 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
800 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
970 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

LIFR

Bellingham International Airport is currently reporting low IFR (LIFR) conditions with overcast skies at 800 feet and 7 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (190°) at 6 knots. Runway 16/34 is favored with a 5-knot headwind and 3-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 7 SM. The ceiling is very low at 300 feet AGL (broken), well below circling minimums at most airports.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 10°C (50°F) with a dewpoint of 9°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 24 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions.

Pilot Recommendations

Current conditions require an instrument rating, IFR-equipped aircraft, and an IFR clearance. Check approach minimums carefully as conditions may be below CAT I ILS minimums. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours.

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

QNH
1010 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1004 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (170 ft)
Pressure Alt
268 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -291 ft
ISA Deviation: -4.7°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KBLI 221127Z 2212/2312 VRB03KT P6SM FEW006 BKN015 OVC025 FM221700 20008KT P6SM SCT025 BKN045 FM222100 18008KT P6SM OVC050 FM230600 17011G19KT P6SM OVC050
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
13:45Z BASE
+0h
MVFR VRB 3 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 1,500 ft
17:00Z FM221700
+4h
VFR 200° 8 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 4,500 ft
21:00Z FM222100
+8h
VFR 180° 8 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 5,000 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
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
BLI
16 ✈️
34

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 16/34
Active: 16
6,701 ft 150 ft ASP 180°
5.2 kt 3.0 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 - KBLI

6,995 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
64%
MVFR
26.8%
IFR
6.1%
LIFR
3.1%

Bellingham International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 64% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 9.2% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 7.2 knots. Calm conditions occur 30.5% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -6°C to 29°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are April, October, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 7.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 27 kt
Calm Winds: 30.5%
Direction Distribution:
N
10.4%
NE
10.3%
E
1%
SE
4%
S
36%
SW
2.6%
W
2.2%
NW
3%

Temperature Range

Average: 7.7°C
Range: -6°C to 29°C
-6°C 29°C

Visibility

Average: 8.6 SM
Below 3 SM: 4.5%
Fog Frequency: 4.4%

Best Months for VFR

April October September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 16/34
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3 kt

Statistics computed from 6,995 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Bellingham International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KBLI
IATA Code: BLI
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 170 ft MSL

Location

City: Bellingham
Country: US
Latitude: 48.792801°
Longitude: -122.538002°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+8

Runway Information

Runway 16/34
Length: 6,701 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Bellingham International Airport

Overview

Bellingham International Airport serves northwest Washington state, located near the Canadian border at an elevation of 170 feet MSL. The airport is a medium-sized facility positioned between Seattle and Vancouver, offering strategic regional aviation access. Its single runway (16/34) provides 6,701 feet of paved surface for various aircraft operations.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Bellingham demonstrate significant variability, with Visual Flight Rules (VFR) predominating at 61.6% of observations. Marginal VFR occurs 27.1% of the time, while Instrument Flight Rules conditions manifest 7.3% of instances. Temperature ranges from -3°C to 29°C, with an average of 8.3°C, indicating potential seasonal temperature fluctuations affecting aircraft performance.

Notable Features

The airport experiences predominantly southern winds at an average speed of 7.1 knots, with calm conditions reported 32.8% of the time. Maximum recorded wind speeds reach 27 knots, which could impact smaller aircraft operations. The surrounding terrain likely contributes to wind patterns and potential localized turbulence.

Approach Considerations

Runway 16/34 demonstrates favorable wind alignment 100% of the time, with an average crosswind component of only 3 knots. September, October, and November represent the most consistent VFR months for arrivals and departures. Pilots should anticipate potential reduced visibility, with 6% of observations reporting fog and 6.2% showing visibility below 3 statute miles.

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.