Hosea Kutako International Airport

FYWH / WDH

Windhoek, NA

Last Updated
Apr 23, 05:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 34 min ago
05:00Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
15°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 13°C
5 kt
360°
10+ km
Visibility
3,500 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR FYWH 230500Z 36005KT 9999 BKN035 15/13 Q1022

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 5,640 ft
BKN 3,500 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
3,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
9,140 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Hosea Kutako International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 3,500 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the north (360°) at 5 knots. Runway 34 is favored with a 5-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 3500 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 15°C (59°F) with a dewpoint of 13°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 fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 15:00Z and 17:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. 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.

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF FYWH 222200Z 2300/2400 20005KT CAVOK BECMG 2303/2305 06008KT 9999 SCT035 BECMG 2309/2311 03010KT SCT040TCU TEMPO 2315/2317 32008KT 8000 -TSRA SCT035CB FM232000 26007KT CAVOK
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
05:33Z BASE
+0h
VFR 200° 5 kt
Visibility: >10km
09:00Z BECMG
+4h
MVFR 30° 10 kt
15:00Z TEMPO
+10h
MVFR 320° 8 kt
Visibility: 8 km
Light Thunderstorm Rain

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
YWH
08
26
16
34 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
08/26 15,010 ft 148 ft ASP 64°
2.2 kt 4.5 kt
64° angle
✈️ 16/34
Active: 34
5,000 ft 98 ft ASP 141°
4.7 kt 1.7 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 - FYWH

3,410 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
97.2%
MVFR
2.4%
IFR
0.2%
LIFR
0.2%

Hosea Kutako International Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 97.2% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 6.7 knots. Calm conditions occur 12.7% of the time. Temperature extremes range from 2°C to 39°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are September, January, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 6.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 23 kt
Calm Winds: 12.7%
Direction Distribution:
N
5.2%
NE
9.5%
E
11.8%
SE
11.6%
S
8.6%
SW
10.9%
W
17.1%
NW
12.6%

Temperature Range

Average: 22.3°C
Range: 2°C to 39°C
2°C 39°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.4%

Best Months for VFR

September January October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 08/26
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4 kt
Runway 16/34
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.5 kt

Statistics computed from 3,410 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Hosea Kutako International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: FYWH
IATA Code: WDH
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 5,640 ft MSL

Location

City: Windhoek
Country: NA
Latitude: -22.479900°
Longitude: 17.470900°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-1

Runway Information

Runway 08/26
Length: 15,010 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 16/34
Length: 5,000 ft
Width: 98 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

Nearby Airports

VFR MVFR IFR LIFR No Data

About Hosea Kutako International Airport

Overview

Hosea Kutako International Airport serves as the primary international gateway for Namibia, located approximately 45 kilometers east of Windhoek. The airport supports large aircraft operations with its substantial runway infrastructure, including a 15,010-foot primary runway capable of handling wide-body international traffic. Its significant elevation at 5,640 feet mean sea level impacts aircraft performance characteristics.

Flying Conditions

Windhoek's high-altitude location produces a semi-arid climate with significant diurnal temperature variations that can affect aircraft performance. Pilots should anticipate potential density altitude challenges, particularly during warmer daylight hours when the airport's 5,640-foot elevation compounds atmospheric density effects. Summer months typically present more challenging meteorological conditions for aircraft operations.

Notable Features

The airport features two asphalt runways oriented in different directions, providing operational flexibility for varying wind conditions. Runway 08/26 offers a substantial 15,010-foot length suitable for heavy international aircraft, while the secondary 16/34 runway provides a 5,000-foot alternative. The airport's geographical positioning at coordinates -22.479900, 17.470900 places it in a region with complex topographical surrounding terrain.

Approach Considerations

Runway selection will primarily depend on prevailing wind conditions, with the longer 08/26 runway preferred for most commercial and international operations. Pilots should carefully calculate performance parameters considering the high-elevation environment, which can significantly impact takeoff and landing distances. Standard instrument approach procedures will need to account for the surrounding terrain and the airport's elevated geographical position.

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.