Decatur Airport

KDEC / DEC

Decatur, US

Last Updated
Apr 21, 21:54Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 13 min ago
21:54Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
25°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 11°C
18 kt
220° G33 kt
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1013 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KDEC 212154Z 22018G33KT 10SM CLR 25/11 A2992 RMK AO2 PK WND 23036/2133 SLP128 T02500106

Weather Briefing

VFR

Decatur Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with clear skies and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the southwest (220°) at 18 knots with gusts to 33 knots. Runway 24 is favored with a 17-knot headwind and 6-knot crosswind component (gusting to 11 knots crosswind). Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. Skies are clear with unlimited ceiling.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 25°C (77°F) with a dewpoint of 11°C, indicating relatively dry conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Thunderstorm Rain, Mist. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Thunderstorm Rain, Mist between 23:00Z and 02:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. Gusty conditions may exceed demonstrated crosswind components for many general aviation aircraft. Check your aircraft's limitations. 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
1013 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
990 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (682 ft)
Pressure Alt
690 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 2,054 ft
ISA Deviation: +11.4°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KDEC 211740Z 2118/2218 22019G29KT P6SM BKN250 FM212200 23014G24KT P6SM SCT060 BKN250 PROB30 2123/2202 5SM TSRA BR BKN060CB FM220200 24012KT P6SM SCT025 BKN050
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
22:06Z BASE
+0h
VFR 220° 19 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 25,000 ft
23:00Z PROB30
+1h
MVFR
Visibility: 5SM
Ceiling: 6,000 ft
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
02:00Z FM220200
+4h
VFR 240° 12 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 5,000 ft

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
DEC
06
24 ✈️
12
30
18
36

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 06/24
Active: 24
8,496 ft 150 ft PEM 59°
16.9 kt 6.2 kt
20° angle
12/30 6,799 ft 150 ft PEM 119°
3.4 kt 17.7 kt
101° angle
18/36 5,299 ft 150 ft ASP 179°
13.6 kt 11.8 kt
41° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KDEC

6,306 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
68.8%
MVFR
17.9%
IFR
8.5%
LIFR
4.9%

Decatur Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 68.8% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 13.4% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 10.2 knots, with gusts recorded up to 33 knots. Temperature extremes range from -24°C to 37°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are September, October, February.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 10.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 33 kt
Calm Winds: 7.9%
Direction Distribution:
N
8%
NE
7.4%
E
9.2%
SE
7.2%
S
18.6%
SW
12.6%
W
15.8%
NW
13.2%

Temperature Range

Average: 6.7°C
Range: -24°C to 37°C
-24°C 37°C

Visibility

Average: 9 SM
Below 3 SM: 3.4%
Fog Frequency: 2.9%

Best Months for VFR

September October February

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 06/24
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.7 kt
Runway 12/30
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.4 kt
Runway 18/36
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.2 kt

Statistics computed from 6,306 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Decatur Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KDEC
IATA Code: DEC
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 682 ft MSL

Location

City: Decatur
Country: US
Latitude: 39.834599°
Longitude: -88.865700°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 06/24
Length: 8,496 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: PEM
ILS: No
Runway 12/30
Length: 6,799 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: PEM
ILS: No
Runway 18/36
Length: 5,299 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Decatur Airport

Overview

Decatur Airport serves central Illinois as a medium-sized airport located near the city of Decatur. Situated at 682 feet above mean sea level with coordinates 39.834599, -88.865700, the airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for the region. Its three runways offer diverse operational capabilities for various aircraft types.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Decatur Airport demonstrate significant variability, with visual flight rules (VFR) predominating at 68.6% of observations. Pilots can expect prevailing westerly winds averaging 9.4 knots, with temperature ranges from -24°C to 37°C. September, October, and January offer the most consistently favorable VFR conditions, while visibility typically remains excellent at an average of 9 statute miles.

Notable Features

The airport features three runways with different surface compositions: two PEM (Pavement with Exceptional Maintenance) and one ASP (Asphalt) runway. Runway lengths vary from 5,299 feet to 8,496 feet, providing flexibility for different aircraft categories. Wind data indicates consistent runway usability, with all three runways showing 100% favorable wind alignment and modest average crosswind conditions between 5.6 and 6.3 knots.

Approach Considerations

Pilots should anticipate predominantly westerly winds when planning arrivals and departures. The longest runway (06/24 at 8,496 feet) offers the most substantial landing and takeoff options. Marginal conditions occur in approximately 31.4% of observations, with instrument (IFR/LIFR) conditions present 13.5% of the time, suggesting potential need for alternate planning during certain periods.

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.