Laurence G Hanscom Field

KBED / BED

Bedford, US

Last Updated
May 14, 19:51Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 52 min ago
19:51Z

🌙 Night
IFR
Flight Rules
13°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 12°C
6 kt
80°
2 SM
Visibility
800 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1005 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KBED 141951Z 08006KT 2SM -RA BR BKN008 BKN013 OVC037 13/12 A2968 RMK AO2 SLP064 P0003 T01330122

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 133 ft
BKN 800 ft AGL
BKN 1,300 ft AGL
OVC 3,700 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
800 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
933 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
1,300 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,433 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
3,700 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,833 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

IFR

Laurence G Hanscom Field is currently reporting instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions with overcast skies at 3,700 feet and 2 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east (80°) at 6 knots. Runway 05/23 is favored with a 5-knot headwind and 3-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 800 feet AGL (broken). Only precision approaches may be usable depending on minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 13°C (55°F) with a dewpoint of 12°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 24 hours. IFR conditions are expected to persist or develop. An instrument rating and IFR flight plan are recommended. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain, Heavy Showers Rain, Mist, Light Thunderstorm Rain, Light Showers Rain, Mist, Mist. Temporary LIFR conditions are forecast with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 21:00Z and 23:00Z.

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
1005 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1001 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (133 ft)
Pressure Alt
381 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 173 ft
ISA Deviation: -1.7°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KBED 141730Z 1418/1518 11008KT P6SM -SHRA BKN020 FM142000 09008KT 2SM +SHRA BR OVC008 TEMPO 1421/1423 -TSRA OVC005CB FM150000 05003KT 4SM -SHRA BR OVC008 FM150500 00000KT 4SM BR OVC004 FM151200 03006KT 3SM BR OVC003
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
20:42Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 110° 8 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 2,000 ft
Light Showers Rain
21:00Z TEMPO
+1h
LIFR
Ceiling: 500 ft
Light Thunderstorm Rain
00:00Z FM150000
+4h
IFR 50° 3 kt
Visibility: 4SM
Ceiling: 800 ft
Light Showers Rain, Mist
05:00Z FM150500
+9h
LIFR
Visibility: 4SM
Ceiling: 400 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
BED
05
23
11 ✈️
29

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
05/23 5,106 ft 150 ft ASP 37°
4.4 kt 4.1 kt
43° angle
✈️ 11/29
Active: 11
7,001 ft 150 ft ASP 97°
5.2 kt 3.0 kt
30° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KBED

6,753 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
73%
MVFR
13.1%
IFR
10.2%
LIFR
3.7%

Laurence G Hanscom Field typically experiences VFR conditions 73% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 13.9% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 7.9 knots, with gusts recorded up to 32 knots. Calm conditions occur 21.9% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -23°C to 29°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are November, May, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 7.9 kt
Maximum Recorded: 32 kt
Calm Winds: 21.9%
Direction Distribution:
N
9.4%
NE
5.6%
E
5.9%
SE
3.6%
S
10.5%
SW
13.8%
W
18%
NW
11.4%

Temperature Range

Average: 4.2°C
Range: -23°C to 29°C
-23°C 29°C

Visibility

Average: 9.1 SM
Below 3 SM: 3.7%
Fog Frequency: 2.5%

Best Months for VFR

November May September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 05/23
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5 kt
Runway 11/29
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.8 kt

Statistics computed from 6,753 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Laurence G Hanscom Field - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KBED
IATA Code: BED
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 133 ft MSL

Location

City: Bedford
Country: US
Latitude: 42.470001°
Longitude: -71.289001°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 05/23
Length: 5,106 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 11/29
Length: 7,001 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Laurence G Hanscom Field

Overview

Laurence G Hanscom Field serves the greater Boston metropolitan area, located in Bedford, Massachusetts. As a medium-sized airport positioned at 133 feet above mean sea level, it provides critical aviation infrastructure for general aviation, corporate, and military operations in the northeastern United States.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Hanscom Field demonstrate significant variability, with visual flight rules (VFR) predominating at 74.9% of observed periods. Pilots can expect westerly winds averaging 7.8 knots, with temperature ranges spanning from -17°C to 29°C, creating diverse flying environments throughout the year. November, September, and December offer the most consistently favorable VFR conditions.

Notable Features

The airport features two asphalt runways: Runway 05/23 at 5,106 feet and Runway 11/29 at 7,001 feet, providing flexible operational capabilities. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with modest average crosswind components of 4.8 and 4.5 knots respectively, enhancing landing and takeoff predictability.

Approach Considerations

With an average visibility of 9.1 statute miles and only 3.4% of observations showing visibility below 3 miles, Hanscom Field generally offers good visual approach conditions. Pilots should be prepared for occasional reduced visibility, with fog present in approximately 2% of observations, and be aware of the potential for instrument meteorological conditions during less favorable 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.