Modibo Keita International Airport

GABS / BKO

Bamako, ML

Last Updated
Jul 3, 23:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 41 min ago
23:00Z

🌙 Night
MVFR
Flight Rules
24°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 22°C
8 kt
130° G19 kt
8 km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1018 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR GABS 032300Z COR 13008G19KT 090V180 8000 -RA FEW020 24/22 Q1018 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,247 ft
FEW 2,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
2,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,247 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Modibo Keita International Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with few clouds at 2,000 feet and 8 km visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the southeast (130°) at 8 knots with gusts to 19 knots. Runway 06/24 is favored with a 3-knot headwind and 8-knot crosswind component (gusting to 18 knots crosswind).

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 8 km, below VFR minimums in some airspace classifications. Check local requirements before departing VFR. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 2,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 24°C (75°F) with a dewpoint of 22°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 30 hours. IFR conditions are expected to persist or develop. An instrument rating and IFR flight plan are recommended. Expected weather includes: Thunderstorm Rain, Showers Rain, Thunderstorm Rain, Squalls. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 4 to 18 knots. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Thunderstorm Rain between 18:00Z and 20:00Z. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Showers Rain between 20:00Z and 23:00Z. There is a 40% probability of IFR conditions with Thunderstorm Rain, Squalls between 23:00Z and 03:00Z.

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. 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
1018 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
976 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,247 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,105 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 2,484 ft
ISA Deviation: +11.5°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF GABS 031700Z 0318/0424 24004KT 6000 SCT020 TEMPO 0318/0320 4000 TSRA BKN020 FEW030CB TEMPO 0320/0323 4000 SHRA BKN020 FEW030CB PROB40 TEMPO 0323/0403 10018G35KT 4000 TSRA SQ BKN020 FEW030CB
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
23:40Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 240° 4 kt
Visibility: 6 km

24-Hour Weather Evolution

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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
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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
ABS
06 ✈️
24

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 06/24
Active: 06
10,498 ft 148 ft ASP 57°
2.7 kt 7.5 kt
70° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - GABS

13,208 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
62.4%
MVFR
35.1%
IFR
2.4%
LIFR
0.2%

Modibo Keita International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 62.4% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 2.6% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NE averaging 6.3 knots, with gusts recorded up to 35 knots. Temperatures typically range between 14°C and 44°C with an average of 28.9°C. The best months for VFR flying are July, June, May.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NE (45°)
Average Speed: 6.3 kt
Maximum Recorded: 35 kt
Calm Winds: 4.3%
Direction Distribution:
E
13.9%
N
14.5%
S
9.3%
W
5.1%
NE
30.3%
NW
2.5%
SE
4.1%
SW
15.9%

Temperature Range

Average: 28.9°C
Range: 14°C to 44°C
14°C 44°C

Visibility

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

Best Months for VFR

July June May

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 06/24
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2.6 kt

Statistics computed from 13,208 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Modibo Keita International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: GABS
IATA Code: BKO
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,247 ft MSL

Location

City: Bamako
Country: ML
Latitude: 12.533500°
Longitude: -7.949940°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+1

Runway Information

Runway 06/24
Length: 10,498 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Modibo Keita International Airport

Overview

Modibo Keita International Airport serves as the primary international gateway for Bamako, Mali's capital city. Located at 12.533500, -7.949940, this large airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for the region, situated at an elevation of 1247 ft mean sea level (MSL).

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect standard tropical Sahelian climate conditions characteristic of Mali's geographic region. The airport's significant runway length of 10,498 feet (ASP surface) provides substantial operational flexibility for various aircraft types and meteorological scenarios.

Notable Features

The airport's single runway (06/24) offers substantial operational capacity with its extended asphalt surface. Its geographical position at 1247 ft MSL suggests moderate terrain interaction, which pilots should consider during approach and departure planning.

Approach Considerations

Runway 06/24's extended length accommodates diverse aircraft requirements and provides operational resilience across different wind conditions. Pilots should carefully review current wind data and perform standard terrain and approach calculations specific to the airport's 1247 ft elevation.

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.