Washington Dulles International Airport

KIAD / IAD

Dulles, US

Last Updated
May 15, 08:52Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 16 min ago
08:52Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
12°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 5°C
5 kt
320°
10 SM
Visibility
4,100 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1013 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KIAD 150852Z 32005KT 10SM OVC041 12/05 A2991 RMK AO2 SLP127 T01170050 56001

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 312 ft
OVC 4,100 ft AGL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
4,100 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,412 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Washington Dulles International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with overcast skies at 4,100 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the northwest (320°) at 5 knots. Runway 30 is favored with a 5-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 4100 feet AGL (overcast), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 12°C (54°F) with a dewpoint of 5°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 27 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight.

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
1003 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (312 ft)
Pressure Alt
320 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 35 ft
ISA Deviation: -2.4°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KIAD 150858Z 1509/1612 32005KT P6SM OVC040 FM151400 32012G21KT P6SM SCT050 BKN120 FM152000 32008G16KT P6SM SCT060 BKN200 FM160300 26003KT P6SM SCT200 FM160900 00000KT P6SM FEW250
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
09:08Z BASE
+0h
VFR 320° 5 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 4,000 ft
14:00Z FM151400
+5h
VFR 320° 12 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 12,000 ft
20:00Z FM152000
+11h
VFR 320° 8 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 20,000 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
IAD
01L
19R
01C
19C
01R
19L
12
30 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
01C/19C 11,501 ft 150 ft CONC-G
3.8 kt 3.3 kt
41° angle
01L/19R 9,400 ft 150 ft CON
3.8 kt 3.3 kt
41° angle
01R/19L 11,500 ft 150 ft CON
3.8 kt 3.2 kt
40° angle
✈️ 12/30
Active: 30
10,501 ft 150 ft CON 110°
4.7 kt 1.7 kt
20° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KIAD

6,289 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
81.3%
MVFR
11.1%
IFR
5%
LIFR
2.6%

Washington Dulles International Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 81.3% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 8.1 knots, with gusts recorded up to 41 knots. Calm conditions occur 16.4% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -16°C to 33°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are May, January, November.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 8.1 kt
Maximum Recorded: 41 kt
Calm Winds: 16.4%
Direction Distribution:
N
13.4%
NE
4.7%
E
5.8%
SE
6.4%
S
21.5%
SW
6%
W
7%
NW
18.8%

Temperature Range

Average: 8.9°C
Range: -16°C to 33°C
-16°C 33°C

Visibility

Average: 9.4 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.4%
Fog Frequency: 0.9%

Best Months for VFR

May January November

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 01C/19C
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.5 kt
Runway 01L/19R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.5 kt
Runway 01R/19L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.5 kt
Runway 12/30
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.7 kt

Statistics computed from 6,289 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Washington Dulles International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KIAD
IATA Code: IAD
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 312 ft MSL

Location

City: Dulles
Country: US
Latitude: 38.944500°
Longitude: -77.455803°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 01C/19C
Length: 11,501 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CONC-G
ILS: No
Runway 01L/19R
Length: 9,400 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 01R/19L
Length: 11,500 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 12/30
Length: 10,501 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About Washington Dulles International Airport

Overview

Washington Dulles International Airport serves as a critical international gateway for the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Located in Dulles, Virginia, the airport handles significant commercial and international air traffic, situated at an elevation of 312 feet mean sea level. Its strategic location provides essential air transportation infrastructure for the national capital region.

Flying Conditions

The airport's multi-runway configuration offers significant operational flexibility across different wind conditions. With four runways ranging from 9,400 to 11,501 feet in length, pilots can expect adaptable approach and departure options. The airport's elevation and geographic position suggest potential for variable wind patterns and seasonal meteorological transitions.

Notable Features

Dulles features three concrete runways (01L/19R, 01C/19C, 01R/19L) and one concrete/grooved runway (12/30), providing robust operational capabilities. The airport's coordinate location at 38.944500, -77.455803 places it in a region with complex terrain and potential airspace interactions characteristic of the mid-Atlantic coastal zone. Runway lengths exceeding 9,400 feet accommodate a wide range of aircraft types and operational requirements.

Approach Considerations

Pilots should anticipate multiple runway options based on prevailing wind conditions, with primary runways 01C/19C and 01R/19L offering the longest operational surfaces at 11,500 feet. The diverse runway configuration allows for flexible approach and departure strategies, particularly during challenging meteorological conditions. Standard instrument approach procedures will vary based on specific runway and wind vector interactions.

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.