Purdue University Airport

KLAF / LAF

West Lafayette, US

Last Updated
Jul 4, 22:17Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 6 min ago
22:17Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
23°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 22°C
0 kt
--
Visibility
10,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1014 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

SPECI KLAF 042217Z 00000KT 2 1/2SM VCTS RA BR FEW049 SCT065 OVC100 23/22 A2993 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT N AND SE AND S RAB00 TSB00E15 P0004 T02280217

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 606 ft
FEW 4,900 ft AGL
SCT 6,500 ft AGL
OVC 10,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
4,900 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,506 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
6,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
7,106 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
10,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
10,606 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Purdue University Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with overcast skies at 10,000 feet.

Wind Analysis

Winds are calm, presenting no crosswind concerns for any runway.

Visibility & Ceiling

The ceiling is 10000 feet AGL (overcast), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 23°C (73°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 22 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: Light Thunderstorm Rain, Mist. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 21:00Z and 01:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. 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
1014 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
994 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (606 ft)
Pressure Alt
584 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,689 ft
ISA Deviation: +9.2°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KLAF 042025Z 0420/0518 21006KT P6SM SCT035 BKN250 TEMPO 0421/0501 2SM -TSRA OVC035CB FM050100 VRB04KT P6SM SCT050 BKN100 FM050700 VRB03KT 4SM BR SCT010 OVC035 FM051300 34006KT P6SM SCT020 BKN035
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
22:22Z BASE
+0h
VFR 210° 6 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 25,000 ft
01:00Z FM050100
+3h
VFR VRB 4 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 10,000 ft
07:00Z FM050700
+9h
MVFR VRB 3 kt
Visibility: 4SM
Ceiling: 3,500 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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  • • 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
LAF
05
23
10
28

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
05/23 4,226 ft 100 ft ASP 47°
0.0 kt 0.0 kt
47° angle
10/28 6,600 ft 150 ft ASP 100°
0.0 kt 0.0 kt
100° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KLAF

8,785 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
68.2%
MVFR
21.5%
IFR
7.9%
LIFR
2.5%

Purdue University Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 68.2% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 10.4% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 8 knots, with gusts recorded up to 32 knots. Calm conditions occur 19% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -23°C to 33°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are July, October, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 8 kt
Maximum Recorded: 32 kt
Calm Winds: 19%
Direction Distribution:
E
11.1%
N
8%
S
9.6%
W
19.8%
NE
6.5%
NW
7.6%
SE
4.2%
SW
14.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 9.2°C
Range: -23°C to 33°C
-23°C 33°C

Visibility

Average: 9 SM
Below 3 SM: 3.3%
Fog Frequency: 2.6%

Best Months for VFR

July October September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 05/23
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.7 kt
Runway 10/28
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.4 kt

Statistics computed from 8,785 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Purdue University Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KLAF
IATA Code: LAF
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 606 ft MSL

Location

City: West Lafayette
Country: US
Latitude: 40.412875°
Longitude: -86.939363°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 05/23
Length: 4,226 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 10/28
Length: 6,600 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Purdue University Airport

Overview

Purdue University Airport serves the Lafayette, Indiana region as a medium-sized airport associated with Purdue University. Located at 40.412875, -86.939363 with an elevation of 606 feet MSL, the airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for academic, training, and general aviation purposes. The airport features two asphalt runways capable of supporting a variety of aircraft operations.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at KLAF demonstrate significant variability, with Visual Flight Rules (VFR) predominating at 64.4% of observations. Pilots can expect westerly winds averaging 7.9 knots, with occasional stronger gusts up to 28 knots. Temperature ranges from -22°C to 31°C, indicating potential challenging winter and summer conditions that require appropriate preflight planning and aircraft preparation.

Notable Features

Both runways offer favorable wind alignment, with 100% wind compatibility and minimal average crosswind components. Runway 05/23 measures 4,226 feet, while Runway 10/28 provides a longer 6,600-foot surface, offering flexibility for different aircraft types and operational requirements. Visibility typically remains excellent, averaging 8.9 statute miles with only 3% of observations showing reduced visibility.

Approach Considerations

Seasonal considerations suggest September, October, and January offer the most consistent VFR conditions for pilots. With calm wind conditions present 21% of the time, pilots should be prepared for potential wind variability. The airport's two runway configuration allows for optimal wind-aligned approaches, with Runway 10/28 providing the longest surface for more demanding aircraft operations.

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.