Bujumbura Melchior Ndadaye International Airport

HBBA / BJM

Bujumbura, BI

Last Updated
Apr 22, 21:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Aging 1 hour ago
21:00Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
23°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 22°C
0 kt
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1012 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR HBBA 222100Z 00000KT 9999 FEW030 23/22 Q1012 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 2,582 ft
FEW 3,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
3,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,582 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Bujumbura Melchior Ndadaye International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with few clouds at 3,000 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility. Note: This observation is 1.8 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are calm, presenting no crosswind concerns for any runway.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 3,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 23°C (73°F) with a dewpoint of 22°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 30 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Thunderstorm Rain. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Thunderstorm Rain between 12:00Z and 18:00Z.

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.

QNH
1012 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
926 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (2,582 ft)
Pressure Alt
2,620 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 4,200 ft
ISA Deviation: +13.2°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF HBBA 221700Z 2218/2324 36005KT 9999 FEW030 SCT030 BECMG 2302/2304 VRB02KT FEW022 BKN090 BECMG 2309/2311 18010KT FEW03 PROB30 TEMPO 2312/2318 TSRA FEW025CB BKN080 BECMG 2319/2321 VRB02KT FEW030
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
22:45Z BASE
+0h
VFR 360° 5 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
02:00Z BECMG
+4h
VFR VRB 2 kt
Ceiling: 9,000 ft
09:00Z BECMG
+11h
VFR 180° 10 kt

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
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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
BBA
02
20
17
35

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
02/20 0 ft 0 ft UNK
0.0 kt 0.0 kt
0° angle
17/35 11,811 ft 148 ft ASP 172°
0.0 kt 0.0 kt
172° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - HBBA

1,850 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
76.5%
MVFR
23.2%
IFR
0.3%
LIFR
0.1%

Bujumbura Melchior Ndadaye International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 76.5% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 0.4% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 8 knots, with gusts recorded up to 904 knots. Calm conditions occur 26.7% of the time. Temperature extremes range from 17°C to 66°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are April, November, March.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 8 kt
Maximum Recorded: 904 kt
Calm Winds: 26.7%
Direction Distribution:
N
11.7%
NE
2.2%
E
9.7%
SE
1%
S
42.1%
SW
0.4%
W
5.7%
NW
0.4%

Temperature Range

Average: 25.9°C
Range: 17°C to 66°C
17°C 66°C

Visibility

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

Best Months for VFR

April November March

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 02/20
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.1 kt
Runway 17/35
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2.5 kt

Statistics computed from 1,850 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Bujumbura Melchior Ndadaye International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: HBBA
IATA Code: BJM
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 2,582 ft MSL

Location

City: Bujumbura
Country: BI
Latitude: -3.324020°
Longitude: 29.318501°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-2

Runway Information

Runway 02/20
Length: 0 ft
Width: 0 ft
Surface: UNK
ILS: No
Runway 17/35
Length: 11,811 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Bujumbura Melchior Ndadaye International Airport

Overview

Bujumbura Melchior Ndadaye International Airport serves Bujumbura, the largest city in Burundi, located in the central-eastern African region. As a medium-sized international airport situated at an elevation of 2,582 feet mean sea level, it provides critical aviation infrastructure for the country's transportation needs. The airport is positioned at coordinates -3.324020, 29.318501, serving both commercial and potentially regional aviation operations.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly VFR conditions, with 69.7% of observed weather periods offering clear flying conditions and 30.3% of times presenting marginal VFR scenarios. Wind patterns are consistently from the south (180°), averaging 7.6 knots with occasional gusts up to 35 knots. Temperature ranges between 18°C and 34°C, with an average of 26.2°C, providing generally stable thermal conditions for aircraft operations.

Notable Features

The airport features a primary runway (17/35) measuring 11,811 feet in length with an asphalted surface. Both runways (02/20 and 17/35) demonstrate highly favorable wind alignments, with 100% wind compatibility. Calm wind conditions are observed in 26.9% of meteorological reports, indicating relatively steady atmospheric conditions at the airport's elevation.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect optimal VFR flying conditions during November, December, and January, with consistent visibility averaging 10 statute miles. The runways offer minimal crosswind challenges, with average crosswind components of 3.1 knots for runway 02/20 and 2.1 knots for runway 17/35. The consistent southern wind pattern provides predictable approach and departure conditions for most aircraft operations.

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.