George Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport

KIAH / IAH

Houston, US

Last Updated
Jul 4, 00:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 13 min ago
00:53Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
31°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 23°C
8 kt
130°
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1015 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KIAH 040053Z 13008KT 10SM FEW040 SCT250 31/23 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP151 T03110233

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 97 ft
FEW 4,000 ft AGL
SCT 25,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
4,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,097 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
25,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
25,097 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

George Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with scattered clouds at 25,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the southeast (130°) at 8 knots. Runway 15L/33R is favored with a 8-knot headwind and 3-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 4,000 ft, scattered at 25,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 31°C (88°F) with a dewpoint of 23°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions. High temperatures at this elevation may result in significant density altitude effects. Pilots should calculate density altitude and adjust performance expectations accordingly.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 30 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period. Expected weather includes: Mist. Temporary VFR conditions are forecast with Mist between 10:00Z and 13:00Z.

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
1015 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1012 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (97 ft)
Pressure Alt
45 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,988 ft
ISA Deviation: +16.2°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KIAH 032320Z 0400/0506 18006KT P6SM FEW060 FM040400 20004KT P6SM FEW040 TEMPO 0410/0413 24004KT 6SM BR FM041300 24006KT P6SM FEW025 FM041900 18007KT P6SM FEW040
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
01:05Z BASE
+0h
VFR 180° 6 kt
Visibility: >6SM
04:00Z FM040400
+3h
VFR 200° 4 kt
Visibility: >6SM
10:00Z TEMPO
+9h
VFR 240° 4 kt
Visibility: 6SM
Mist
13:00Z FM041300
+12h
VFR 240° 6 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
  • • Zoom and pan for detailed analysis
  • • Units automatically converted to preferences
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
IAH
08L
26R
08R
26L
09
27
15L ✈️
33R
15R ✈️
33L

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
08L/26R 9,000 ft 150 ft CON 89°
6.0 kt 5.2 kt
41° angle
08R/26L 9,402 ft 150 ft CON 89°
6.0 kt 5.2 kt
41° angle
09/27 10,000 ft 150 ft ASP 90°
6.1 kt 5.1 kt
40° angle
✈️ 15L/33R
Active: 15L
12,001 ft 150 ft CON 152°
7.5 kt 2.7 kt
20° angle
✈️ 15R/33L
Active: 15R
9,999 ft 150 ft CON 152°
7.5 kt 2.7 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 - KIAH

7,840 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
73.4%
MVFR
18.2%
IFR
5.6%
LIFR
2.8%

George Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 73.4% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 8.4% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 7.8 knots. Calm conditions occur 11.7% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -5°C to 35°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are July, September, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 7.8 kt
Maximum Recorded: 29 kt
Calm Winds: 11.7%
Direction Distribution:
E
9.3%
N
13.4%
S
29.8%
W
2.4%
NE
8%
NW
3.9%
SE
16.5%
SW
5.1%

Temperature Range

Average: 20.9°C
Range: -5°C to 35°C
-5°C 35°C

Visibility

Average: 9 SM
Below 3 SM: 2%
Fog Frequency: 2.1%

Best Months for VFR

July September October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 09/27
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.1 kt
Runway 08L/26R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.3 kt
Runway 08R/26L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.3 kt
Runway 15L/33R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.6 kt
Runway 15R/33L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.6 kt

Statistics computed from 7,840 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

George Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KIAH
IATA Code: IAH
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 97 ft MSL

Location

City: Houston
Country: US
Latitude: 29.984400°
Longitude: -95.341400°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 08L/26R
Length: 9,000 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 08R/26L
Length: 9,402 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 09/27
Length: 10,000 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 15L/33R
Length: 12,001 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 15R/33L
Length: 9,999 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About George Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport

Overview

George Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport serves as a major international aviation hub located in Houston, Texas. Situated at 97 feet above mean sea level with coordinates 29.984400, -95.341400, the airport is a critical transportation infrastructure for the Gulf Coast region. As a large airport with multiple runways, it supports extensive commercial and cargo operations.

Flying Conditions

Houston's coastal location introduces variable weather conditions that pilots must carefully monitor. The airport's multiple runway configurations (five runways ranging from 9000 to 12001 feet) provide significant operational flexibility across different wind and precipitation scenarios. Seasonal wind patterns and potential thunderstorm activity are critical considerations for flight planning in this region.

Notable Features

The airport features five substantial runways with concrete (CON) and asphalt (ASP) surfaces, offering diverse runway options for different aircraft types. The longest runway (15L/33R) extends 12,001 feet, accommodating wide-body and heavy aircraft operations. Its strategic location near Houston's metropolitan area means complex airspace interactions and potential air traffic density.

Approach Considerations

Runway selection will depend primarily on prevailing wind conditions, with 08L/26R, 08R/26L, and 09/27 providing east-west orientation, while 15L/33R and 15R/33L offer north-south alignment. Pilots should anticipate potential crosswind scenarios given the multiple runway configurations and the airport's coastal geographical position. Thorough pre-flight wind and weather briefings are essential for safe operations at this airport.

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.