Rochester International Airport

KRST / RST

Rochester, US

Last Updated
Apr 23, 04:54Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 56 min ago
04:54Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
18°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 13°C
16 kt
180° G24 kt
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1008 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KRST 230454Z AUTO 18016G24KT 10SM CLR 18/13 A2976 RMK AO2 PK WND 18026/0405 SLP073 T01780133

Weather Briefing

VFR

Rochester International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with clear skies and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (180°) at 16 knots with gusts to 24 knots. Runway 20 is favored with a 15-knot headwind and 5-knot crosswind component (gusting to 8 knots crosswind). Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. Skies are clear with unlimited ceiling.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 18°C (64°F) with a dewpoint of 13°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

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. Expected weather includes: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Winds are forecast to reach up to 20 knots during the period. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 21:00Z and 00:00Z.

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
964 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,317 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,475 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 2,151 ft
ISA Deviation: +5.6°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KRST 222325Z 2300/2324 17014G22KT P6SM FEW250 FM231200 18018G28KT P6SM BKN015 FM232100 19020G30KT P6SM BKN015 PROB30 2321/2324 4SM -TSRA OVC015CB
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
05:49Z BASE
+0h
VFR 170° 14 kt
Visibility: >6SM
12:00Z FM231200
+7h
MVFR 180° 18 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 1,500 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
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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
RST
02
20 ✈️
13
31

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 02/20
Active: 20
7,300 ft 150 ft CON 26°
15.0 kt 5.5 kt
20° angle
13/31 9,033 ft 150 ft CON 132°
10.7 kt 11.9 kt
48° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KRST

7,102 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
62%
MVFR
21.9%
IFR
10.7%
LIFR
5.4%

Rochester International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 62% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 16.1% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NW averaging 11.5 knots, with gusts recorded up to 37 knots. Temperature extremes range from -30°C to 31°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. Low visibility conditions (below 3 SM) occur in 6% of weather observations. The best months for VFR flying are October, September, February.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NW (315°)
Average Speed: 11.5 kt
Maximum Recorded: 37 kt
Calm Winds: 2.2%
Direction Distribution:
N
10%
NE
4%
E
5.5%
SE
10.4%
S
22.9%
SW
7.1%
W
13.5%
NW
24.4%

Temperature Range

Average: 1°C
Range: -30°C to 31°C
-30°C 31°C

Visibility

Average: 8.3 SM
Below 3 SM: 6%
Fog Frequency: 6.6%

Best Months for VFR

October September February

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 02/20
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 7.9 kt
Runway 13/31
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.6 kt

Statistics computed from 7,102 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Rochester International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KRST
IATA Code: RST
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,317 ft MSL

Location

City: Rochester
Country: US
Latitude: 43.908298°
Longitude: -92.500000°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 02/20
Length: 7,300 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 13/31
Length: 9,033 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About Rochester International Airport

Overview

Rochester International Airport serves southeastern Minnesota as a medium-sized airport situated at 1317 feet mean sea level. Located near Rochester, the airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for regional transportation and serves diverse aviation needs. Its strategic position and substantial runway infrastructure support multiple aircraft types and operational requirements.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Rochester demonstrate significant variability, with Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions predominating at 58.8% of observations. Pilots should anticipate northwest winds averaging 11.1 knots, with temperature ranges extending from -30°C to 31°C. Reduced visibility occurs in approximately 7.7% of observations, with fog present in 8.6% of reports, suggesting potential instrument meteorological conditions.

Notable Features

The airport features two substantial concrete runways: Runway 02/20 measuring 7,300 feet and Runway 13/31 extending 9,033 feet. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with Runway 02/20 experiencing an average crosswind of 8 knots and Runway 13/31 experiencing a lower average crosswind of 4.9 knots. These characteristics provide pilots with flexible operational capabilities across different wind conditions.

Approach Considerations

Optimal visual flight conditions are most prevalent during autumn months, specifically October, September, and November. Wind patterns consistently favor northwest directions at 315 degrees, with calm conditions occurring in only 2.1% of observations. Pilots should prepare for potential instrument approaches, given that non-VFR conditions (MVFR, IFR, LIFR) collectively represent 41.2% of meteorological observations.

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.