Duluth International Airport

KDLH / DLH

Duluth, US

Last Updated
Jun 11, 01:55Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 28 min ago
01:55Z

🌙 Night
LIFR
Flight Rules
16°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 15°C
4 kt
310°
0.114 km
Visibility
7,500 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
999 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KDLH 110155Z 31004KT 6SM TS BR SCT002 BKN075CB BKN120 16/15 A2949 RMK AO2 WSHFT 0114 RAB06E44 SLP989 OCNL LTGICCCC N-E-SE TS N-E-SE MOV NE P0047 T01560150 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,428 ft
SCT 200 ft AGL
BKN 7,500 ft AGL (CB)
BKN 12,000 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
200 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,628 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN (CB)
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
7,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
8,928 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
12,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
13,428 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

LIFR

Duluth International Airport is currently reporting low IFR (LIFR) conditions with broken clouds at 7,500 feet and 0.114 km visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the northwest (310°) at 4 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is severely reduced to 0.114 km, likely due to fog, mist, or precipitation. Special VFR or an IFR clearance may be required. The ceiling is 7500 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums. Caution: cumulonimbus (thunderstorm) clouds reported at 7,500 ft AGL, indicating convective activity in the area.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 16°C (61°F) with a dewpoint of 15°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 23 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: Fog, Thunderstorm Rain, Mist. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Thunderstorm Rain between 01:00Z and 02:00Z.

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
999 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
951 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,428 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,856 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 2,319 ft
ISA Deviation: +3.9°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KDLH 110036Z 1101/1124 12010KT 1/4SM FG VCTS OVC002CB TEMPO 1101/1102 VRB15G25KT 2SM TSRA BKN020CB FM110300 27008KT 2SM BR BKN004 FM110700 26007KT P6SM FEW004 FM111400 24009KT P6SM SCT160 FM111900 22013G22KT P6SM BKN070
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
02:23Z BASE
+0h
LIFR 120° 10 kt
Visibility: 1/4SM
Ceiling: 200 ft
Fog
03:00Z FM110300
+1h
LIFR 270° 8 kt
Visibility: 2SM
Ceiling: 400 ft
Mist
07:00Z FM110700
+5h
VFR 260° 7 kt
Visibility: >6SM
14:00Z FM111400
+12h
VFR 240° 9 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
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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
DLH
03
21
09
27 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
03/21 5,699 ft 150 ft ASP 31°
0.6 kt 4.0 kt
81° angle
✈️ 09/27
Active: 27
10,152 ft 150 ft CON 92°
3.1 kt 2.6 kt
40° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KDLH

8,445 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
64%
MVFR
18%
IFR
11.3%
LIFR
6.6%

Duluth International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 64% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 17.9% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NW averaging 9.7 knots, with gusts recorded up to 38 knots. Temperature extremes range from -34°C to 29°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. Low visibility conditions (below 3 SM) occur in 7.6% of weather observations. The best months for VFR flying are May, June, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NW (315°)
Average Speed: 9.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 38 kt
Calm Winds: 5.5%
Direction Distribution:
N
10.7%
NE
2.5%
E
18.5%
SE
10.2%
S
6.9%
SW
8.5%
W
13.6%
NW
23.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 0.3°C
Range: -34°C to 29°C
-34°C 29°C

Visibility

Average: 8.6 SM
Below 3 SM: 7.6%
Fog Frequency: 9%

Best Months for VFR

May June October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 03/21
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 7.6 kt
Runway 09/27
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.3 kt

Statistics computed from 8,445 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Duluth International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KDLH
IATA Code: DLH
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,428 ft MSL

Location

City: Duluth
Country: US
Latitude: 46.842098°
Longitude: -92.193604°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 03/21
Length: 5,699 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 09/27
Length: 10,152 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About Duluth International Airport

Overview

Duluth International Airport serves the northeastern Minnesota region, strategically located near Lake Superior. As a medium-sized airport at 1428 feet MSL, it provides critical aviation infrastructure for commercial, cargo, and general aviation operations in a climatically challenging environment.

Flying Conditions

Weather at Duluth is characterized by significant variability, with flight rules predominantly VFR (60.1%) but substantial periods of instrument conditions. Temperature ranges dramatically from -34°C to 29°C, creating complex meteorological challenges, with an average temperature near freezing at -0.4°C. Visibility averages 8.3 statute miles, though pilots should anticipate reduced visibility during 9% of observations and fog presence in 10.4% of reports.

Notable Features

The airport features two substantial runways: a 5,699-foot asphalt runway (03/21) and a longer 10,152-foot concrete runway (09/27). Prevailing winds from the northwest (315°) average 9.4 knots, with maximum gusts reaching 26 knots and calm conditions occurring 6.5% of the time. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, providing flexible operational capabilities.

Approach Considerations

Seasonal considerations are critical, with October, November, and September offering the most consistent VFR conditions. Crosswind components are moderate, averaging 7.4 knots on runway 03/21 and 5.5 knots on runway 09/27. Pilots should prepare for potential rapid weather changes typical of a Great Lakes region airport proximate to significant water geography.

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.