Grand Forks International Airport

KGFK / GFK

Grand Forks, US

Last Updated
May 15, 15:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 15 min ago
15:53Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
23°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: -1°C
24 kt
270° G37 kt
5 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1000 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KGFK 151553Z 27024G37KT 5SM HZ FEW000 FEW026 23/M01 A2954 RMK AO2 PK WND 27037/1551 SLP999 VIS W 1 BLDU FEW000 T02331006

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 845 ft
FEW 0 ft AGL
FEW 0 ft AGL
FEW 2,600 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
0 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
845 ft AMSL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
0 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
845 ft AMSL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
2,600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,445 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Grand Forks International Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with few clouds at 0 feet and 5 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west (270°) at 24 knots with gusts to 37 knots. Runway 27 is favored with a 24-knot headwind and 0-knot crosswind component. These are strong winds that may exceed crosswind limits for light aircraft.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 5 SM. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 0 ft, few at 2,600 ft, few at 0 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 23°C (73°F) with a dewpoint of -1°C, indicating very dry conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 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: Haze, Blowing Dust. Winds are forecast to reach up to 26 knots during the period. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 7 to 26 knots.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further. 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
1000 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
972 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (845 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,243 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 2,406 ft
ISA Deviation: +9.7°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KGFK 151120Z 1512/1612 25012KT 6SM HZ FEW013 WS020/27040KT FM151400 26021G32KT 5SM BLDU SKC FM151600 26026G40KT 2SM BLDU SKC FM160200 28010KT P6SM SCT100 FM161000 29007KT P6SM FEW250
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
16:08Z BASE
+0h
VFR 250° 12 kt
Visibility: 6SM
Haze
02:00Z FM160200
+10h
VFR 280° 10 kt
Visibility: >6SM

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
  • • Hover for exact values and timestamps
  • • Click legend items to toggle data series
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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
GFK
09L
27R ✈️
09R
27L ✈️
17L
35R
17R
35L

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 09L/27R
Active: 27R
4,206 ft 100 ft CONC-G 90°
24.0 kt 0.0 kt
0° angle
✈️ 09R/27L
Active: 27L
3,300 ft 60 ft CON 90°
24.0 kt 0.0 kt
0° angle
17L/35R 3,900 ft 75 ft CON 180°
0.0 kt 24.0 kt
90° angle
17R/35L 7,349 ft 150 ft ASP 180°
0.0 kt 24.0 kt
90° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KGFK

6,986 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
66.6%
MVFR
21.5%
IFR
9%
LIFR
2.9%

Grand Forks International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 66.6% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 11.9% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the N averaging 11 knots, with gusts recorded up to 38 knots. Temperature extremes range from -29°C to 56°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are May, October, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: N (0°)
Average Speed: 11 kt
Maximum Recorded: 38 kt
Calm Winds: 4.3%
Direction Distribution:
E
5.4%
N
24.5%
S
20.8%
W
9.6%
NE
3.4%
NW
18.7%
SE
8.6%
SW
4.8%

Temperature Range

Average: -1.4°C
Range: -29°C to 56°C
-29°C 56°C

Visibility

Average: 8.7 SM
Below 3 SM: 4.7%
Fog Frequency: 3.2%

Best Months for VFR

May October September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 09L/27R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 8.7 kt
Runway 09R/27L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 8.7 kt
Runway 17L/35R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.4 kt
Runway 17R/35L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.4 kt

Statistics computed from 6,986 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Grand Forks International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KGFK
IATA Code: GFK
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 845 ft MSL

Location

City: Grand Forks
Country: US
Latitude: 47.949299°
Longitude: -97.176102°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 09L/27R
Length: 4,206 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: CONC-G
ILS: No
Runway 09R/27L
Length: 3,300 ft
Width: 60 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 17L/35R
Length: 3,900 ft
Width: 75 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 17R/35L
Length: 7,349 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Grand Forks International Airport

Overview

Grand Forks International Airport serves the metropolitan area of Grand Forks, North Dakota, as a medium-sized airport situated at 845 feet above mean sea level. Located at coordinates 47.949299, -97.176102, the airport supports regional and commercial aviation operations with four distinct runways. Its international classification indicates capability for handling diverse aircraft and potential cross-border traffic.

Flying Conditions

Meteorological data reveals highly variable flying conditions typical of the Northern Plains region. Visual flight rules (VFR) predominate 66% of the time, with marginal VFR conditions occurring 24.4% of observations. Temperature extremes range from -29°C to 56°C, creating challenging seasonal transitions that demand comprehensive preflight weather assessment. Prevailing winds from the south average 10.8 knots, with occasional gusts up to 38 knots.

Notable Features

The airport features four runways with varying lengths and surfaces: two concrete and two asphalt runways ranging from 3,300 to 7,349 feet. The longest runway (17R/35L at 7,349 feet) provides substantial landing and takeoff capabilities for larger aircraft. Calm wind conditions occur in 4.8% of observations, while crosswinds average between 4.3 and 8.5 knots depending on runway orientation.

Approach Considerations

Pilots should anticipate favorable wind conditions across all runways, with 100% wind compatibility reported. September through November represent the most consistently favorable VFR months. Visibility averages 8.7 statute miles, though 4.8% of observations show reduced visibility below 3 miles, and fog occurs in 2.1% of reports. Careful attention to current METAR information is recommended during approach and landing.

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.