Great Falls International Airport

KGTF / GTF

Great Falls, US

Last Updated
Apr 23, 02:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 8 min ago
02:53Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
7°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 5°C
23 kt
330° G33 kt
10 SM
Visibility
4,500 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1002 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KGTF 230253Z 33023G33KT 10SM -RA OVC045 07/05 A2959 RMK AO2 PK WND 33037/0229 RAE0156B20 SLP009 P0000 60000 T00670050 53038 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 3,680 ft
OVC 4,500 ft AGL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
4,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
8,180 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Great Falls International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with overcast skies at 4,500 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the north-northwest (330°) at 23 knots with gusts to 33 knots. Runway 35 is favored with a 22-knot headwind and 8-knot crosswind component (gusting to 11 knots crosswind). Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 4500 feet AGL (overcast), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 7°C (45°F) with a dewpoint of 5°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 22 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain, Mist, Light Showers Rain, Light Rain, Mist, Light Snow, Mist, Light Snow. Winds are forecast to reach up to 25 knots during the period. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Light Showers Rain between 02:00Z and 03:00Z. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Light Snow, Mist between 09:00Z and 12:00Z. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Light Snow, Mist between 15:00Z and 21:00Z.

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. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours. 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
1002 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
879 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (3,680 ft)
Pressure Alt
4,018 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 3,941 ft
ISA Deviation: -0.6°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KGTF 230202Z 2302/2324 31025G35KT 6SM -SHRA BR BKN050 TEMPO 2302/2303 VRB25G40KT 3SM -SHRA FM230300 30020G30KT 3SM -RA OVC015 FM230600 31020G30KT 5SM BR OVC015 FM230900 32020G30KT P6SM OVC015 PROB30 2309/2312 6SM -SN BR OVC025 FM231200 32015G25KT 6SM -SN OVC015 FM231500 32017G27KT P6SM OVC015 PROB30 2315/2321 6SM -SN BR OVC015
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
03:00Z BASE
+0h
VFR 310° 25 kt
Visibility: 6SM
Ceiling: 5,000 ft
Light Showers Rain, Mist
06:00Z FM230600
+3h
MVFR 310° 20 kt
Visibility: 5SM
Ceiling: 1,500 ft
Mist
09:00Z FM230900
+6h
MVFR 320° 20 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 1,500 ft
09:00Z PROB30
+6h
MVFR
Visibility: 6SM
Ceiling: 2,500 ft
Light Snow, Mist

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
  • • Hover for exact values and timestamps
  • • Click legend items to toggle data series
  • • Zoom and pan for detailed analysis
  • • 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
GTF
03
21
07
25
17
35 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
03/21 10,502 ft 150 ft ASP 45°
6.0 kt 22.2 kt
75° angle
07/25 4,294 ft 75 ft ASP 90°
11.5 kt 19.9 kt
120° angle
✈️ 17/35
Active: 35
6,357 ft 150 ft ASP 180°
21.6 kt 7.9 kt
20° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KGTF

5,895 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
83.2%
MVFR
9.6%
IFR
4.8%
LIFR
2.4%

Great Falls International Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 83.2% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the SW averaging 11.7 knots, with gusts recorded up to 44 knots. Temperature extremes range from -27°C to 31°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are September, January, February.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SW (225°)
Average Speed: 11.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 44 kt
Calm Winds: 4.4%
Direction Distribution:
N
7.1%
NE
5.6%
E
7%
SE
1.9%
S
10.9%
SW
43.9%
W
11.8%
NW
7.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 3.7°C
Range: -27°C to 31°C
-27°C 31°C

Visibility

Average: 9.5 SM
Below 3 SM: 2.8%
Fog Frequency: 1.8%

Best Months for VFR

September January February

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 03/21
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.8 kt
Runway 07/25
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.7 kt
Runway 17/35
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 8.6 kt

Statistics computed from 5,895 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Great Falls International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KGTF
IATA Code: GTF
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 3,680 ft MSL

Location

City: Great Falls
Country: US
Latitude: 47.481998°
Longitude: -111.371002°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+7

Runway Information

Runway 03/21
Length: 10,502 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 07/25
Length: 4,294 ft
Width: 75 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 17/35
Length: 6,357 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Great Falls International Airport

Overview

Great Falls International Airport serves central Montana as a medium-sized airport located at 3680 feet mean sea level near the city of Great Falls. The airport supports regional and commercial aviation with three asphalt runways, offering substantial landing options for various aircraft types. Its geographic position in north-central Montana provides critical transportation infrastructure for the region.

Flying Conditions

Weather observations indicate predominantly favorable flying conditions, with 85.5% of recorded periods under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). Southwest winds averaging 11.6 knots are typical, with temperatures ranging from -24°C to 31°C. Pilots can expect the most consistent VFR conditions during September, January, and October, with minimal instrument meteorological conditions reported.

Notable Features

The airport's elevation of 3680 feet MSL and substantial runway lengths (primary runway 03/21 at 10,502 feet) accommodate a wide range of aircraft operations. Wind patterns demonstrate consistent favorable runway alignment, with all three runways showing 100% wind compatibility. Crosswind components remain relatively moderate, ranging from 4.6 to 8.5 knots across different runway headings.

Approach Considerations

Runway 03/21 offers the longest and most versatile landing surface, with the most stable wind conditions. Pilots should anticipate southwest prevailing winds and be prepared for potential temperature-related performance considerations given the airport's elevation. The multiple runway configurations provide flexibility for approaches under various wind conditions, with minimal directional restrictions.

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.