Rochester International Airport

KRST / RST

Rochester, US

Last Updated
May 15, 01:25Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 32 min ago
01:25Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
17°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 8°C
5 kt
170°
9 SM
Visibility
10,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1011 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

SPECI KRST 150125Z 17005KT 9SM VCTS OVC100 17/08 A2986 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT SW-NW T01670078

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,317 ft
OVC 10,000 ft AGL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
10,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
11,317 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Rochester International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with overcast skies at 10,000 feet and 9 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (170°) at 5 knots. Runway 20 is favored with a 4-knot headwind and 3-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 9 SM. The ceiling is 10000 feet AGL (overcast), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 17°C (63°F) with a dewpoint of 8°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 23 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain, Light Thunderstorm Rain. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 01:00Z and 02:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. 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
1011 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
967 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,317 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,385 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,941 ft
ISA Deviation: +4.6°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KRST 150058Z 1501/1524 17015G25KT 6SM -SHRA OVC070 TEMPO 1501/1502 -TSRA SCT050CB FM150300 16013G22KT P6SM OVC080 FM150800 21014G22KT P6SM FEW100 FM151000 22015KT P6SM SKC
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
01:56Z BASE
+0h
VFR 170° 15 kt
Visibility: 6SM
Ceiling: 7,000 ft
Light Showers Rain
03:00Z FM150300
+2h
VFR 160° 13 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 8,000 ft
08:00Z FM150800
+7h
VFR 210° 14 kt
Visibility: >6SM
10:00Z FM151000
+9h
VFR 220° 15 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
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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
RST
02
20 ✈️
13
31

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 02/20
Active: 20
7,300 ft 150 ft CON 26°
4.3 kt 2.5 kt
30° angle
13/31 9,033 ft 150 ft CON 132°
3.9 kt 3.1 kt
38° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KRST

7,684 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
63.8%
MVFR
20.8%
IFR
10.2%
LIFR
5.1%

Rochester International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 63.8% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 15.3% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NW averaging 11.6 knots, with gusts recorded up to 37 knots. Temperature extremes range from -30°C to 31°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. Low visibility conditions (below 3 SM) occur in 5.5% of weather observations. The best months for VFR flying are May, October, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NW (315°)
Average Speed: 11.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 37 kt
Calm Winds: 2.2%
Direction Distribution:
N
10.2%
NE
3.9%
E
5.3%
SE
10.2%
S
22.5%
SW
7%
W
13.7%
NW
25.1%

Temperature Range

Average: 1.8°C
Range: -30°C to 31°C
-30°C 31°C

Visibility

Average: 8.4 SM
Below 3 SM: 5.5%
Fog Frequency: 6%

Best Months for VFR

May October September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 02/20
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 8 kt
Runway 13/31
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.6 kt

Statistics computed from 7,684 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Rochester International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KRST
IATA Code: RST
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,317 ft MSL

Location

City: Rochester
Country: US
Latitude: 43.908298°
Longitude: -92.500000°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 02/20
Length: 7,300 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 13/31
Length: 9,033 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About Rochester International Airport

Overview

Rochester International Airport serves southeastern Minnesota as a medium-sized airport situated at 1317 feet mean sea level. Located near Rochester, the airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for regional transportation and serves diverse aviation needs. Its strategic position and substantial runway infrastructure support multiple aircraft types and operational requirements.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Rochester demonstrate significant variability, with Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions predominating at 58.8% of observations. Pilots should anticipate northwest winds averaging 11.1 knots, with temperature ranges extending from -30°C to 31°C. Reduced visibility occurs in approximately 7.7% of observations, with fog present in 8.6% of reports, suggesting potential instrument meteorological conditions.

Notable Features

The airport features two substantial concrete runways: Runway 02/20 measuring 7,300 feet and Runway 13/31 extending 9,033 feet. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with Runway 02/20 experiencing an average crosswind of 8 knots and Runway 13/31 experiencing a lower average crosswind of 4.9 knots. These characteristics provide pilots with flexible operational capabilities across different wind conditions.

Approach Considerations

Optimal visual flight conditions are most prevalent during autumn months, specifically October, September, and November. Wind patterns consistently favor northwest directions at 315 degrees, with calm conditions occurring in only 2.1% of observations. Pilots should prepare for potential instrument approaches, given that non-VFR conditions (MVFR, IFR, LIFR) collectively represent 41.2% of meteorological observations.

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.