George Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport

KIAH / IAH

Houston, US

Last Updated
Apr 22, 21:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 21 min ago
21:53Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
25°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 21°C
12 kt
150°
10 SM
Visibility
10,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1015 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KIAH 222153Z 15012KT 10SM FEW018 SCT044 BKN100 BKN250 25/21 A2996 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT N-E RAB06E52 SLP146 SHRA DSNT NW-NE CB DSNT N-E STNRY P0001 T02500206

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 97 ft
FEW 1,800 ft AGL
SCT 4,400 ft AGL
BKN 10,000 ft AGL
BKN 25,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
1,800 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,897 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
4,400 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,497 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
10,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
10,097 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
25,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
25,097 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

George Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 10,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south-southeast (150°) at 12 knots. Runway 15L/33R is favored with a 12-knot headwind and 0-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 10000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 25°C (77°F) with a dewpoint of 21°C. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread suggests high humidity and potential for visibility restrictions, especially during cooling periods.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 27 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain, Thunderstorm Rain, Mist. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Thunderstorm Rain between 21:00Z and 23:00Z. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Mist between 09:00Z and 13:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. 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
1015 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1012 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (97 ft)
Pressure Alt
45 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,268 ft
ISA Deviation: +10.2°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KIAH 222109Z 2221/2324 14007KT P6SM -SHRA VCTS SCT025CB BKN035 TEMPO 2221/2223 VRB15G25KT 4SM TSRA BKN020CB FM222300 15008KT P6SM VCSH FEW020 BKN040 FM230500 14005KT 4SM BR SCT007 BKN015 TEMPO 2309/2313 1SM BR OVC005 FM231600 16009KT P6SM SCT020 BKN040 FM232000 15014G22KT P6SM SCT040 BKN060
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
22:14Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 140° 7 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 3,500 ft
Light Showers Rain
23:00Z FM222300
+1h
VFR 150° 8 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 4,000 ft
05:00Z FM230500
+7h
MVFR 140° 5 kt
Visibility: 4SM
Ceiling: 1,500 ft
Mist
09:00Z TEMPO
+11h
IFR
Visibility: 1SM
Ceiling: 500 ft
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
IAH
08L
26R
08R
26L
09
27
15L ✈️
33R
15R ✈️
33L

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
08L/26R 9,000 ft 150 ft CON 89°
5.8 kt 10.5 kt
61° angle
08R/26L 9,402 ft 150 ft CON 89°
5.8 kt 10.5 kt
61° angle
09/27 10,000 ft 150 ft ASP 90°
6.0 kt 10.4 kt
60° angle
✈️ 15L/33R
Active: 15L
12,001 ft 150 ft CON 152°
12.0 kt 0.0 kt
0° angle
✈️ 15R/33L
Active: 15R
9,999 ft 150 ft CON 152°
12.0 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 - KIAH

5,754 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
74.2%
MVFR
16.8%
IFR
5.9%
LIFR
3.1%

George Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 74.2% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 9% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 7.7 knots. Calm conditions occur 13.2% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -5°C to 34°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are September, October, November.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 7.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 26 kt
Calm Winds: 13.2%
Direction Distribution:
N
15.1%
NE
7.9%
E
9.1%
SE
15.7%
S
26.5%
SW
5.3%
W
2.5%
NW
4.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 19.2°C
Range: -5°C to 34°C
-5°C 34°C

Visibility

Average: 9.1 SM
Below 3 SM: 2.2%
Fog Frequency: 2.6%

Best Months for VFR

September October November

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 08L/26R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.2 kt
Runway 08R/26L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.2 kt
Runway 09/27
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.1 kt
Runway 15L/33R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.7 kt
Runway 15R/33L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.7 kt

Statistics computed from 5,754 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

George Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KIAH
IATA Code: IAH
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 97 ft MSL

Location

City: Houston
Country: US
Latitude: 29.984400°
Longitude: -95.341400°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 08L/26R
Length: 9,000 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 08R/26L
Length: 9,402 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 09/27
Length: 10,000 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 15L/33R
Length: 12,001 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 15R/33L
Length: 9,999 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About George Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport

Overview

George Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport serves as a major international aviation hub located in Houston, Texas. Situated at 97 feet above mean sea level with coordinates 29.984400, -95.341400, the airport is a critical transportation infrastructure for the Gulf Coast region. As a large airport with multiple runways, it supports extensive commercial and cargo operations.

Flying Conditions

Houston's coastal location introduces variable weather conditions that pilots must carefully monitor. The airport's multiple runway configurations (five runways ranging from 9000 to 12001 feet) provide significant operational flexibility across different wind and precipitation scenarios. Seasonal wind patterns and potential thunderstorm activity are critical considerations for flight planning in this region.

Notable Features

The airport features five substantial runways with concrete (CON) and asphalt (ASP) surfaces, offering diverse runway options for different aircraft types. The longest runway (15L/33R) extends 12,001 feet, accommodating wide-body and heavy aircraft operations. Its strategic location near Houston's metropolitan area means complex airspace interactions and potential air traffic density.

Approach Considerations

Runway selection will depend primarily on prevailing wind conditions, with 08L/26R, 08R/26L, and 09/27 providing east-west orientation, while 15L/33R and 15R/33L offer north-south alignment. Pilots should anticipate potential crosswind scenarios given the multiple runway configurations and the airport's coastal geographical position. Thorough pre-flight wind and weather briefings are essential for safe operations at this airport.

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.