Mercer County Airport

KBLF / BLF

Bluefield, US

Last Updated
Jul 5, 05:40Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 6 min ago
05:40Z

☀️ Day
IFR
Flight Rules
18°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 17°C
12 kt
270°
2 SM
Visibility
3,500 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1021 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

SPECI KBLF 050540Z AUTO 27012KT 2SM VCTS +RA BR FEW015 BKN035 OVC055 18/17 A3015 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT W-N RAB21 P0028 T01780172

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 2,857 ft
FEW 1,500 ft AGL
BKN 3,500 ft AGL
OVC 5,500 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
1,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,357 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
3,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
6,357 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
5,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
8,357 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

IFR

Mercer County Airport is currently reporting instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions with overcast skies at 5,500 feet and 2 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west (270°) at 12 knots. Runway 23 is favored with a 9-knot headwind and 8-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is reduced to 2 SM. IFR conditions prevail and an instrument clearance is required for operations in controlled airspace. The ceiling is 3500 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 18°C (64°F) with a dewpoint of 17°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 19 hours. IFR conditions are expected to persist or develop. An instrument rating and IFR flight plan are recommended. Expected weather includes: Mist.

Pilot Recommendations

An instrument rating and IFR flight plan are required. Verify that destination and alternate approach minimums are above current and forecast conditions. 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
1021 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
926 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (2,857 ft)
Pressure Alt
2,625 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 3,671 ft
ISA Deviation: +8.7°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KBLF 050521Z 0505/0524 24007KT 2SM BR VCTS SCT002CB BKN016 OVC110 FM051900 29005KT P6SM VCTS SCT040CB BKN100
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
05:45Z BASE
+0h
LIFR 240° 7 kt
Visibility: 2SM
Ceiling: 1,600 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
BLF
05
23 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 05/23
Active: 23
4,742 ft 100 ft ASP 41°
9.2 kt 7.7 kt
40° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KBLF

9,684 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
60.7%
MVFR
24.4%
IFR
9.6%
LIFR
5.3%

Mercer County Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 60.7% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 14.9% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 7.7 knots. Calm conditions occur 17.1% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -18°C to 31°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. Low visibility conditions (below 3 SM) occur in 5.6% of weather observations. The best months for VFR flying are April, July, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 7.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 24 kt
Calm Winds: 17.1%
Direction Distribution:
E
3.1%
N
2.5%
S
3.3%
W
43.8%
NE
1.4%
NW
14.7%
SE
3.7%
SW
10.5%

Temperature Range

Average: 8.1°C
Range: -18°C to 31°C
-18°C 31°C

Visibility

Average: 8.9 SM
Below 3 SM: 5.6%
Fog Frequency: 2.5%

Best Months for VFR

April July September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 05/23
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5 kt

Statistics computed from 9,684 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Mercer County Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KBLF
IATA Code: BLF
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 2,857 ft MSL

Location

City: Bluefield
Country: US
Latitude: 37.295799°
Longitude: -81.207703°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 05/23
Length: 4,742 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Mercer County Airport

Overview

Mercer County Airport serves the Bluefield region in the US, situated at an elevation of 2,857 feet MSL. The medium-sized airport offers a single asphalt runway (05/23) measuring 4,742 feet in length, supporting general aviation and regional transportation needs in southwestern West Virginia.

Flying Conditions

Weather observations indicate predominantly VFR conditions (58.1%), with MVFR conditions occurring in 27.6% of reports. The airport experiences significant seasonal temperature variation, ranging from -18°C to 27°C, with an average temperature of 6.8°C. Wind patterns predominantly come from the west at an average of 7.9 knots, with calm conditions present 20.3% of the time.

Notable Features

The airport's elevation of 2,857 feet MSL positions it in a terrain-influenced region, which can impact aircraft performance and approach characteristics. Visibility averages 8.9 statute miles, with occasional reduced visibility events (4.9% below 3SM and 2.9% fog occurrences). September through November represent the most consistent VFR flying months.

Approach Considerations

Runway 05/23 demonstrates favorable wind alignment, with 100% wind compatibility and an average crosswind of 5.4 knots. Pilots should anticipate western wind patterns and prepare for potential seasonal temperature and visibility variations when planning approaches to Mercer County 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.