Great Falls International Airport

KGTF / GTF

Great Falls, US

Last Updated
Apr 23, 04:16Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 17 min ago
04:16Z

🌙 Night
MVFR
Flight Rules
5°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 4°C
19 kt
320° G29 kt
10 SM
Visibility
1,300 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1004 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

SPECI KGTF 230416Z 32019G29KT 10SM -RA OVC013 05/04 A2964 RMK AO2 PK WND 32030/0357 P0000 T00500039 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 3,680 ft
OVC 1,300 ft AGL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
1,300 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,980 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Great Falls International Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with overcast skies at 1,300 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the northwest (320°) at 19 knots with gusts to 29 knots. Runway 35 is favored with a 16-knot headwind and 10-knot crosswind component (gusting to 15 knots crosswind). Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 1300 feet AGL (overcast), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 5°C (41°F) with a dewpoint of 4°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 20 hours. Conditions are expected to remain MVFR throughout the forecast period. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain, Mist, Light Rain, Light Snow, Mist, Light Snow. Winds are forecast to reach up to 25 knots during the period. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Light Snow, Mist between 09:00Z and 12:00Z. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Light Snow, Mist between 15:00Z and 21:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further. 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.

QNH
1004 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
881 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (3,680 ft)
Pressure Alt
3,958 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 3,641 ft
ISA Deviation: -2.6°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KGTF 230346Z 2304/2324 31025G35KT 6SM -SHRA BR BKN015 FM230600 31020G30KT 5SM -RA OVC015 FM230900 32020G30KT P6SM OVC015 PROB30 2309/2312 6SM -SN BR OVC025 FM231200 32015G25KT 6SM -SN OVC015 FM231500 32017G27KT P6SM OVC015 PROB30 2315/2321 6SM -SN BR OVC015
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
04:33Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 310° 25 kt
Visibility: 6SM
Ceiling: 1,500 ft
Light Showers Rain, Mist
06:00Z FM230600
+2h
MVFR 310° 20 kt
Visibility: 5SM
Ceiling: 1,500 ft
Light Rain
09:00Z FM230900
+5h
MVFR 320° 20 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 1,500 ft
09:00Z PROB30
+5h
MVFR
Visibility: 6SM
Ceiling: 2,500 ft
Light Snow, Mist

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
GTF
03
21
07
25
17
35 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
03/21 10,502 ft 150 ft ASP 45°
1.7 kt 18.9 kt
85° angle
07/25 4,294 ft 75 ft ASP 90°
12.2 kt 14.6 kt
130° angle
✈️ 17/35
Active: 35
6,357 ft 150 ft ASP 180°
16.5 kt 9.5 kt
30° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KGTF

5,895 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
83.2%
MVFR
9.6%
IFR
4.8%
LIFR
2.4%

Great Falls International Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 83.2% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the SW averaging 11.7 knots, with gusts recorded up to 44 knots. Temperature extremes range from -27°C to 31°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are September, January, February.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SW (225°)
Average Speed: 11.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 44 kt
Calm Winds: 4.4%
Direction Distribution:
N
7.1%
NE
5.6%
E
7%
SE
1.9%
S
10.9%
SW
43.9%
W
11.8%
NW
7.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 3.7°C
Range: -27°C to 31°C
-27°C 31°C

Visibility

Average: 9.5 SM
Below 3 SM: 2.8%
Fog Frequency: 1.8%

Best Months for VFR

September January February

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 03/21
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.8 kt
Runway 07/25
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.7 kt
Runway 17/35
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 8.6 kt

Statistics computed from 5,895 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Great Falls International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KGTF
IATA Code: GTF
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 3,680 ft MSL

Location

City: Great Falls
Country: US
Latitude: 47.481998°
Longitude: -111.371002°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+7

Runway Information

Runway 03/21
Length: 10,502 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 07/25
Length: 4,294 ft
Width: 75 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 17/35
Length: 6,357 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Great Falls International Airport

Overview

Great Falls International Airport serves central Montana as a medium-sized airport located at 3680 feet mean sea level near the city of Great Falls. The airport supports regional and commercial aviation with three asphalt runways, offering substantial landing options for various aircraft types. Its geographic position in north-central Montana provides critical transportation infrastructure for the region.

Flying Conditions

Weather observations indicate predominantly favorable flying conditions, with 85.5% of recorded periods under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). Southwest winds averaging 11.6 knots are typical, with temperatures ranging from -24°C to 31°C. Pilots can expect the most consistent VFR conditions during September, January, and October, with minimal instrument meteorological conditions reported.

Notable Features

The airport's elevation of 3680 feet MSL and substantial runway lengths (primary runway 03/21 at 10,502 feet) accommodate a wide range of aircraft operations. Wind patterns demonstrate consistent favorable runway alignment, with all three runways showing 100% wind compatibility. Crosswind components remain relatively moderate, ranging from 4.6 to 8.5 knots across different runway headings.

Approach Considerations

Runway 03/21 offers the longest and most versatile landing surface, with the most stable wind conditions. Pilots should anticipate southwest prevailing winds and be prepared for potential temperature-related performance considerations given the airport's elevation. The multiple runway configurations provide flexibility for approaches under various wind conditions, with minimal directional restrictions.

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.