Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

KDCA / DCA

Washington, US

Last Updated
Jul 28, 02:52Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 25 min ago
02:52Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
26°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 22°C
10 kt
180°
10 SM
Visibility
25,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1008 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KDCA 280252Z 18010KT 10SM FEW110 BKN250 26/22 A2977 RMK AO2 SLP081 T02610217 58005

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 15 ft
FEW 11,000 ft AGL
BKN 25,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
11,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
11,015 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
25,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
25,015 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 25,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (180°) at 10 knots. Runway 19 is favored with a 10-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 25000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 26°C (79°F) with a dewpoint of 22°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 27 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Light Thunderstorm Rain. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 15:00Z and 18:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. 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
1008 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1008 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (15 ft)
Pressure Alt
173 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,497 ft
ISA Deviation: +11.0°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KDCA 280259Z 2803/2906 18008KT P6SM FEW100 BKN250 FM281300 17008G16KT P6SM BKN090 PROB30 2815/2818 6SM -TSRA BKN030CB
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
03:16Z BASE
+0h
VFR 180° 8 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 25,000 ft
13:00Z FM281300
+10h
VFR 170° 8 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 9,000 ft
15:00Z PROB30
+12h
MVFR
Visibility: 6SM
Ceiling: 3,000 ft
Light Thunderstorm Rain

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
Active: 19
7,169 ft 150 ft ASP 356°
9.8 kt 1.7 kt
10° angle
04/22 5,000 ft 150 ft ASP 26°
9.0 kt 4.4 kt
154° angle
15/33 5,204 ft 150 ft ASP 142°
7.9 kt 6.2 kt
38° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KDCA

8,817 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
78.1%
MVFR
12.8%
IFR
7.2%
LIFR
1.9%

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 78.1% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 9.1% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 8.4 knots, with gusts recorded up to 37 knots. Temperature extremes range from -12°C to 39°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are January, June, November.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 8.4 kt
Maximum Recorded: 37 kt
Calm Winds: 8.1%
Direction Distribution:
E
5.7%
N
15.5%
S
27%
W
6.9%
NE
12.2%
NW
12.9%
SE
3.8%
SW
7.9%

Temperature Range

Average: 13.4°C
Range: -12°C to 39°C
-12°C 39°C

Visibility

Average: 9.3 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.7%
Fog Frequency: 1.9%

Best Months for VFR

January June November

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 01/19
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.2 kt
Runway 04/22
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.2 kt
Runway 15/33
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.7 kt

Statistics computed from 8,817 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 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.