San Francisco International Airport

KSFO / SFO

San Francisco, US

Last Updated
Apr 21, 23:56Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 37 min ago
23:56Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
16°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 9°C
17 kt
280° G23 kt
10 SM
Visibility
6,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1015 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KSFO 212356Z 28017G23KT 10SM FEW009 SCT037 BKN060 16/09 A2996 RMK AO2 SLP145 60000 T01560089 10172 20150 53004 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 13 ft
FEW 900 ft AGL
SCT 3,700 ft AGL
BKN 6,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
900 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
913 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
3,700 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,713 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
6,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
6,013 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

San Francisco International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 6,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west (280°) at 17 knots with gusts to 23 knots. Runway 28 is favored with a 17-knot headwind and 0-knot crosswind component. Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 6000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 16°C (61°F) with a dewpoint of 9°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 30 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

QNH
1015 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1015 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (13 ft)
Pressure Alt
-40 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 83 ft
ISA Deviation: +1.0°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KSFO 212326Z 2200/2306 24012G21KT P6SM SCT060 FM220500 22012KT P6SM SCT060 FM221100 20007KT P6SM VCSH BKN050 FM221400 VRB05KT P6SM -SHRA SCT030 BKN050 FM221800 23007KT P6SM SCT035 FM222300 29012KT P6SM SKC FM230500 33005KT P6SM SKC
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
00:33Z BASE
+0h
VFR 240° 12 kt
Visibility: >6SM
05:00Z FM220500
+5h
VFR 220° 12 kt
Visibility: >6SM
11:00Z FM221100
+11h
VFR 200° 7 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 5,000 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
Chart Features
  • • Hover for exact values and timestamps
  • • Click legend items to toggle data series
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  • • 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
SFO
01L
19R
01R
19L
10L
28R ✈️
10R
28L ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
01L/19R 7,500 ft 200 ft ASP 28°
5.3 kt 16.2 kt
108° angle
01R/19L 8,648 ft 200 ft ASP 28°
5.3 kt 16.2 kt
108° angle
✈️ 10L/28R
Active: 28R
11,870 ft 200 ft ASP 118°
17.0 kt 0.0 kt
0° angle
✈️ 10R/28L
Active: 28L
10,602 ft 200 ft ASP 118°
17.0 kt 0.0 kt
0° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KSFO

5,871 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
74%
MVFR
18.6%
IFR
6.3%
LIFR
1.1%

San Francisco International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 74% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 7.4% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 8.4 knots, with gusts recorded up to 41 knots. Calm conditions occur 13.8% of the time. Temperatures typically range between 5°C and 32°C with an average of 14.2°C. The best months for VFR flying are March, January, February.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 8.4 kt
Maximum Recorded: 41 kt
Calm Winds: 13.8%
Direction Distribution:
N
7.8%
NE
8%
E
7.4%
SE
8.4%
S
11.7%
SW
6.7%
W
24.7%
NW
11.6%

Temperature Range

Average: 14.2°C
Range: 5°C to 32°C
5°C 32°C

Visibility

Average: 9.6 SM
Below 3 SM: 0.7%
Fog Frequency: 0.6%

Best Months for VFR

March January February

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 01L/19R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.2 kt
Runway 01R/19L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.2 kt
Runway 10L/28R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.1 kt
Runway 10R/28L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.1 kt

Statistics computed from 5,871 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

San Francisco International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KSFO
IATA Code: SFO
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 13 ft MSL

Location

City: San Francisco
Country: US
Latitude: 37.619806°
Longitude: -122.374821°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+8

Runway Information

Runway 01L/19R
Length: 7,500 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 01R/19L
Length: 8,648 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 10L/28R
Length: 11,870 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 10R/28L
Length: 10,602 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About San Francisco International Airport

Overview

San Francisco International Airport (KSFO) is a major international airport serving the San Francisco Bay Area, located at coordinates 37.619806, -122.374821. Situated at a low elevation of 13 ft MSL, the airport plays a critical role in supporting commercial, cargo, and general aviation operations for the region. With four substantial runways ranging from 7,500 to 11,870 feet in length, KSFO is well-equipped to handle a diverse range of aircraft.

Flying Conditions

The airport's coastal location near the Pacific Ocean creates complex and dynamic weather conditions that pilots must carefully anticipate. Marine layer fog is a frequent occurrence, particularly during summer months, which can significantly impact visibility and instrument flight conditions. The proximity to the Pacific and surrounding terrain creates microclimatic variations that can produce rapid and localized weather changes.

Notable Features

San Francisco International is situated in a challenging geographical environment, surrounded by water and mountainous terrain that can generate unique aeronautical challenges. The airport's four runways are all constructed of asphalt (ASP) and oriented to accommodate prevailing wind patterns and regional geographic constraints. Pilots should be particularly attentive to potential wind shear and turbulence conditions due to the complex local topography.

Approach Considerations

Runway selection at KSFO is primarily determined by prevailing wind direction, with the 10/28 and 01/19 runway pairs offering flexibility for different wind conditions. The substantial runway lengths (ranging from 7,500 to 11,870 feet) provide significant operational margins for most aircraft types. Pilots should maintain heightened situational awareness due to the potential for rapidly changing coastal weather conditions and complex approach environments.

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.