King Shaka International Airport

FALE / DUR

Durban, ZA

Last Updated
Apr 23, 03:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 58 min ago
03:00Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
16°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 13°C
7 kt
220°
10+ km
Visibility
3,300 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1029 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR FALE 230300Z 22007KT 9999 SCT026 BKN033 OVC042 16/13 Q1029 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 295 ft
SCT 2,600 ft AGL
BKN 3,300 ft AGL
OVC 4,200 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
2,600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,895 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
3,300 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,595 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
4,200 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,495 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

King Shaka International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with overcast skies at 4,200 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the southwest (220°) at 7 knots. Runway 24 is favored with a 7-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 3300 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 16°C (61°F) with a dewpoint of 13°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 30 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 Rain. There is a 30% probability of IFR conditions with Light Rain between 00:00Z and 06:00Z.

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
1029 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1019 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (295 ft)
Pressure Alt
-178 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 13 ft
ISA Deviation: +1.6°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF FALE 222200Z 2300/2406 19010KT 9999 OVC040 TX20/2313Z TN16/2303Z PROB30 TEMPO 2300/2306 4000 -RA BKN008 OVC015 BECMG 2306/2308 20007KT 9999 BKN040 BECMG 2314/2315 VRB03KT
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
03:57Z BASE
+0h
VFR 190° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 4,000 ft
06:00Z BECMG
+3h
VFR 200° 7 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 4,000 ft
14:00Z BECMG
+11h
VFR VRB 3 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
ALE
06
24 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 06/24
Active: 24
12,139 ft 197 ft Asphalt 61°
6.6 kt 2.4 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 - FALE

6,097 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
73.2%
MVFR
19.9%
IFR
5.8%
LIFR
1.1%

King Shaka International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 73.2% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 6.9% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 8 knots. Temperatures typically range between 11°C and 34°C with an average of 22.4°C. The best months for VFR flying are April, February, November.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 8 kt
Maximum Recorded: 23 kt
Calm Winds: 0.6%
Direction Distribution:
N
17.1%
NE
22.2%
E
6.5%
SE
5.9%
S
35.6%
SW
8.7%
W
1.5%
NW
1.8%

Temperature Range

Average: 22.4°C
Range: 11°C to 34°C
11°C 34°C

Visibility

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

Best Months for VFR

April February November

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 06/24
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.2 kt

Statistics computed from 6,097 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

King Shaka International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: FALE
IATA Code: DUR
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 295 ft MSL

Location

City: Durban
Country: ZA
Latitude: -29.614444°
Longitude: 31.119722°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-2

Runway Information

Runway 06/24
Length: 12,139 ft
Width: 197 ft
Surface: Asphalt
ILS: No

About King Shaka International Airport

Overview

King Shaka International Airport serves the Durban metropolitan area in South Africa, located at coordinates -29.614444, 31.119722. As a large airport situated at 295 feet above mean sea level, it provides critical aviation infrastructure for the KwaZulu-Natal region, supporting both commercial and potentially military aviation operations.

Flying Conditions

The airport's coastal location at 295 ft MSL suggests potential for variable maritime weather conditions with potential wind shifts. Pilots should anticipate possible sea breeze influences and potential humidity impacts given the proximity to the Indian Ocean coastline.

Notable Features

The single runway 06/24 offers a substantial 12,139 ft asphalt surface, providing extensive operational flexibility for various aircraft types. The airport's elevation of 295 ft MSL indicates a relatively low-altitude environment without significant terrain challenges in the immediate approach area.

Approach Considerations

Runway 06/24's extended length allows for versatile approach and departure options across different wind conditions. The 12,139 ft runway length provides significant margin for most commercial and large aircraft operations, with ample space for safe landings and takeoffs under varied meteorological circumstances.

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.