Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

KDCA / DCA

Washington, US

Last Updated
Mar 7, 05:52Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 37 min ago
05:52Z

☀️ Day
IFR
Flight Rules
6°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 4°C
7 kt
90°
10 SM
Visibility
700 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1027 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KDCA 070552Z 09007KT 10SM OVC007 06/04 A3034 RMK AO2 SLP273 T00610044 10083 20061 55007 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 15 ft
OVC 700 ft AGL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
700 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
715 ft AMSL
QNH
1027 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1027 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (15 ft)
Pressure Alt
-398 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -1,474 ft
ISA Deviation: -9.0°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KDCA 070520Z 0706/0812 09007KT P6SM OVC010 FM070700 10003KT P6SM OVC008 FM071100 13002KT 2SM BR OVC003 TEMPO 0711/0714 1/4SM FG VV002 FM071500 17005KT P6SM BKN004 FM071900 19008KT P6SM BKN007 FM072200 18008KT P6SM SCT035 FM080100 19009KT 5SM -SHRA SCT050 BKN100 WS020/22040KT FM080400 21010G22KT P6SM BKN160 PROB30 0804/0808 5SM -SHRA OVC019 FM080800 23009KT 4SM -SHRA BKN100 FM081100 22007KT P6SM BKN100
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
06:28Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 90° 7 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 1,000 ft
07:00Z FM070700
+1h
IFR 100° 3 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 800 ft
11:00Z FM071100
+5h
LIFR 130° 2 kt
Visibility: 2SM
Ceiling: 300 ft
Mist
11:00Z TEMPO
+5h
LIFR
Visibility: 1/4SM
Ceiling: 200 ft
Fog

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
DCA
01
19
04
22
15 ✈️
33

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
01/19 7,169 ft 150 ft ASP 356°
0.5 kt 7.0 kt
94° angle
04/22 5,000 ft 150 ft ASP 26°
3.1 kt 6.3 kt
64° angle
✈️ 15/33
Active: 15
5,204 ft 150 ft ASP 142°
3.5 kt 6.1 kt
60° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KDCA

4,794 observations | Sep 2025 - Mar 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
77.7%
MVFR
13.5%
IFR
7.2%
LIFR
1.7%

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 77.7% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 8.9% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 8.2 knots. Temperature extremes range from -12°C to 32°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are January, November, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 8.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 27 kt
Calm Winds: 9.8%
Direction Distribution:
N
17.5%
NE
13.4%
E
5.2%
SE
2.8%
S
21.3%
SW
7.7%
W
7.3%
NW
15%

Temperature Range

Average: 7.7°C
Range: -12°C to 32°C
-12°C 32°C

Visibility

Average: 9.2 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.9%
Fog Frequency: 2.3%

Best Months for VFR

January November October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 01/19
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.3 kt
Runway 04/22
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.3 kt
Runway 15/33
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.5 kt

Statistics computed from 4,794 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Mar 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KDCA
IATA Code: DCA
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 15 ft MSL

Location

City: Washington
Country: US
Latitude: 38.852100°
Longitude: -77.037697°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 01/19
Length: 7,169 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 04/22
Length: 5,000 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 15/33
Length: 5,204 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

Overview

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA) is a critical transportation hub located in Washington, D.C., serving the national capital region. Situated at a low elevation of 15 feet mean sea level, the airport plays a crucial role in providing air transportation for government, business, and civilian passengers in the metropolitan area.

Flying Conditions

The airport's low elevation and proximity to the Potomac River create unique microclimate conditions that can impact flight operations. Pilots should anticipate potential wind variations and localized weather patterns typical of the mid-Atlantic coastal region, with seasonal changes affecting approach and departure conditions across the three available runways.

Notable Features

Ronald Reagan National features three asphalt runways with varying lengths: Runway 01/19 at 7,169 feet, Runway 04/22 at 5,000 feet, and Runway 15/33 at 5,204 feet. The airport's location within the densely populated Washington, D.C. metropolitan area requires precise navigation and adherence to specific airspace protocols.

Approach Considerations

Runway selection at KDCA will depend on current wind conditions, with the longer 01/19 runway offering the most flexibility for larger aircraft operations. Pilots should carefully review current meteorological data and be prepared for potential wind shifts due to the airport's coastal and urban environment.

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.