Keflavik International Airport

BIKF / KEF

Reykjavík, IS

Last Updated
Apr 22, 11:01Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 34 min ago
11:01Z

☀️ Day
IFR
Flight Rules
6°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 5°C
10 kt
320°
10+ km
Visibility
700 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR BIKF 221101Z 32010KT 9999 -DZ OVC007 06/05 Q1035

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 171 ft
OVC 700 ft AGL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
700 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
871 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

IFR

Keflavik International Airport is currently reporting instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions with overcast skies at 700 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the northwest (320°) at 10 knots. Runway 28 is favored with a 8-knot headwind and 6-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 700 feet AGL (overcast). Only precision approaches may be usable depending on minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 6°C (43°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 24 hours. Conditions are expected to remain MVFR throughout the forecast period.

Pilot Recommendations

An instrument rating and IFR flight plan are required. Verify that destination and alternate approach minimums are above current and forecast conditions. 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.

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF BIKF 220742Z 2209/2309 31007KT 9999 OVC012 TX07/2215Z TN05/2303Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
11:34Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 310° 7 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 1,200 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
IKF
01
19
10
28 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
01/19 10,020 ft 197 ft ASP 14°
5.9 kt 8.1 kt
54° angle
✈️ 10/28
Active: 28
10,056 ft 197 ft ASP 104°
7.7 kt 6.4 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 - BIKF

9,961 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
70.9%
MVFR
21.2%
IFR
4.8%
LIFR
3.1%

Keflavik International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 70.9% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 7.9% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NE averaging 13.6 knots, with gusts recorded up to 49 knots. Temperatures typically range between -9°C and 15°C with an average of 3°C. The best months for VFR flying are January, February, November.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NE (45°)
Average Speed: 13.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 49 kt
Calm Winds: 0.3%
Direction Distribution:
N
16.4%
NE
22.4%
E
22.1%
SE
12.8%
S
10.5%
SW
6.9%
W
6%
NW
2.6%

Temperature Range

Average: 3°C
Range: -9°C to 15°C
-9°C 15°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 1.8%

Best Months for VFR

January February November

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 01/19
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 8.4 kt
Runway 10/28
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 9 kt

Statistics computed from 9,961 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Keflavik International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: BIKF
IATA Code: KEF
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 171 ft MSL

Location

City: Reykjavík
Country: IS
Latitude: 63.985001°
Longitude: -22.605600°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+2

Runway Information

Runway 01/19
Length: 10,020 ft
Width: 197 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 10/28
Length: 10,056 ft
Width: 197 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

Nearby Airports

VFR MVFR IFR LIFR No Data

About Keflavik International Airport

Overview

Keflavik International Airport serves as Iceland's primary international gateway, located approximately 50 kilometers southwest of Reykjavík. Situated at 171 feet above mean sea level, the airport is strategically positioned to handle significant international and transatlantic air traffic, with two substantial asphalt runways capable of accommodating large aircraft.

Flying Conditions

Iceland's maritime climate presents challenging and dynamic weather conditions for pilots operating at Keflavik. The airport's geographical position exposes it to rapid and unpredictable weather changes, with potential significant wind shifts and low visibility scenarios. Both runways (01/19 and 10/28) exceed 10,000 feet in length, providing substantial operational flexibility during variable meteorological conditions.

Notable Features

The airport's elevated position at 171 feet MSL and proximity to the North Atlantic creates unique aeronautical environment considerations. Its coordinate location at 63.985001, -22.605600 places the airport in a region characterized by maritime terrain, with potential for significant wind interactions and turbulence. The extensive runway lengths suggest the airport is designed to handle diverse aircraft types and challenging approach scenarios.

Approach Considerations

Pilots should anticipate potential crosswind conditions given the airport's two perpendicular runway configurations (01/19 and 10/28). The substantial runway lengths of 10,020 and 10,056 feet respectively provide significant margin for complex approach and landing scenarios. Wind direction and speed will be critical factors in determining optimal runway selection during arrival.

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.