Keflavik International Airport

BIKF / KEF

Reykjavík, IS

Last Updated
May 14, 23:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 24 min ago
23:00Z

🌙 Night
MVFR
Flight Rules
7°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 6°C
12 kt
150°
10+ km
Visibility
1,400 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR BIKF 142300Z 15012KT 9999 -DZ SCT007 BKN014 OVC060 07/06 Q1012

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 171 ft
SCT 700 ft AGL
BKN 1,400 ft AGL
OVC 6,000 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
700 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
871 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
1,400 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,571 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
6,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
6,171 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Keflavik International Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with overcast skies at 6,000 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south-southeast (150°) at 12 knots. Runway 19 is favored with a 9-knot headwind and 8-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 1400 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 7°C (45°F) with a dewpoint of 6°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 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: Light DZRA, DZRA, Mist, RADZ, Mist. Winds are forecast to reach up to 20 knots during the period. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with DZRA, Mist between 21:00Z and 18:00Z. Temporary LIFR conditions are forecast with RADZ, Mist between 18:00Z and 21:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further. 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.

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF BIKF 141948Z 1421/1521 16010KT 9999 -DZRA SCT008 BKN014 TX08/1421Z TN06/1506Z TEMPO 1421/1518 3000 DZRA BR OVC006 BECMG 1503/1505 14020KT BECMG 1507/1509 14020G30KT TEMPO 1518/1521 2000 RADZ BR OVC004
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
23:24Z BASE
+0h
IFR 160° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 1,400 ft
Light DZRA
03:00Z BECMG
+4h
VFR 140° 20 kt
07:00Z BECMG
+8h
VFR 140° 20 kt

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
IKF
01
19 ✈️
10
28

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 01/19
Active: 19
10,020 ft 197 ft ASP 14°
9.2 kt 7.7 kt
40° angle
10/28 10,056 ft 197 ft ASP 104°
8.3 kt 8.6 kt
46° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - BIKF

11,040 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
69.8%
MVFR
21.5%
IFR
5.1%
LIFR
3.6%

Keflavik International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 69.8% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 8.7% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NE averaging 13.6 knots, with gusts recorded up to 49 knots. Temperatures typically range between -9°C and 15°C with an average of 3.2°C. The best months for VFR flying are January, February, May.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NE (45°)
Average Speed: 13.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 49 kt
Calm Winds: 0.3%
Direction Distribution:
N
16.9%
NE
21%
E
20%
SE
12.6%
S
10.6%
SW
7.8%
W
6.9%
NW
3.8%

Temperature Range

Average: 3.2°C
Range: -9°C to 15°C
-9°C 15°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 1.9%

Best Months for VFR

January February May

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 01/19
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 8.3 kt
Runway 10/28
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 9.1 kt

Statistics computed from 11,040 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Keflavik International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: BIKF
IATA Code: KEF
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 171 ft MSL

Location

City: Reykjavík
Country: IS
Latitude: 63.985001°
Longitude: -22.605600°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+2

Runway Information

Runway 01/19
Length: 10,020 ft
Width: 197 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 10/28
Length: 10,056 ft
Width: 197 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

Nearby Airports

VFR MVFR IFR LIFR No Data

About Keflavik International Airport

Overview

Keflavik International Airport serves as Iceland's primary international gateway, located approximately 50 kilometers southwest of Reykjavík. Situated at 171 feet above mean sea level, the airport is strategically positioned to handle significant international and transatlantic air traffic, with two substantial asphalt runways capable of accommodating large aircraft.

Flying Conditions

Iceland's maritime climate presents challenging and dynamic weather conditions for pilots operating at Keflavik. The airport's geographical position exposes it to rapid and unpredictable weather changes, with potential significant wind shifts and low visibility scenarios. Both runways (01/19 and 10/28) exceed 10,000 feet in length, providing substantial operational flexibility during variable meteorological conditions.

Notable Features

The airport's elevated position at 171 feet MSL and proximity to the North Atlantic creates unique aeronautical environment considerations. Its coordinate location at 63.985001, -22.605600 places the airport in a region characterized by maritime terrain, with potential for significant wind interactions and turbulence. The extensive runway lengths suggest the airport is designed to handle diverse aircraft types and challenging approach scenarios.

Approach Considerations

Pilots should anticipate potential crosswind conditions given the airport's two perpendicular runway configurations (01/19 and 10/28). The substantial runway lengths of 10,020 and 10,056 feet respectively provide significant margin for complex approach and landing scenarios. Wind direction and speed will be critical factors in determining optimal runway selection during arrival.

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.