Helsinki Vantaa Airport

EFHK / HEL

Helsinki (Vantaa), FI

Last Updated
Jul 5, 03:50Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 8 min ago
03:50Z

🌅 Dawn
IFR
Flight Rules
15°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 14°C
7 kt
350°
10+ km
Visibility
600 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1001 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR EFHK 050350Z 35007KT 9999 VCSH FEW006 SCT009 FEW025CB BKN040 15/14 Q1001 TEMPO SHRA BKN006 FEW025CB

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 179 ft
FEW 600 ft AGL
BKN 600 ft AGL
SCT 900 ft AGL
FEW 2,500 ft AGL (CB)
FEW 2,500 ft AGL (CB)
BKN 4,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
779 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
779 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
900 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,079 ft AMSL
🌤️
FEW (CB)
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
2,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,679 ft AMSL
🌤️
FEW (CB)
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
2,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,679 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
4,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,179 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

IFR

Helsinki Vantaa Airport is currently reporting instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions with broken clouds at 4,000 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the north (350°) at 7 knots. Runway 33 is favored with a 7-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 600 feet AGL (broken). Only precision approaches may be usable depending on minimums. Caution: cumulonimbus (thunderstorm) clouds reported at 2,500 ft AGL, indicating convective activity in the area.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 15°C (59°F) with a dewpoint of 14°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: Thunderstorm Rain, Showers Rain. Temporary LIFR conditions are forecast between 03:00Z and 06:00Z. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Thunderstorm Rain between 08:00Z and 21:00Z. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Showers Rain between 21:00Z and 03:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

An instrument rating and IFR flight plan are required. Verify that destination and alternate approach minimums are above current and forecast conditions. 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
1001 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
995 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (179 ft)
Pressure Alt
547 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 590 ft
ISA Deviation: +0.4°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF EFHK 050230Z 0503/0603 01004KT 9999 FEW005 SCT030 TEMPO 0503/0506 BKN009 FEW025CB BECMG 0506/0508 SCT025CB TEMPO 0508/0521 5000 TSRA TEMPO 0521/0603 5000 SHRA BKN008
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
03:57Z BASE
+0h
VFR 10° 4 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
06:00Z BECMG
+3h
MVFR
08:00Z TEMPO
+5h
MVFR
Visibility: 5 km
Thunderstorm Rain

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
FHK
04L
22R
04R
22L
15
33 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
04L/22R 10,039 ft 197 ft ASP 48°
3.7 kt 5.9 kt
58° angle
04R/22L 11,286 ft 197 ft ASP 48°
3.7 kt 5.9 kt
58° angle
✈️ 15/33
Active: 33
9,518 ft 197 ft ASP 154°
6.6 kt 2.4 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 - EFHK

13,381 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
56.8%
MVFR
13.8%
IFR
15.6%
LIFR
13.9%

Helsinki Vantaa Airport is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 56.8% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 29.5% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 8.3 knots. Temperature extremes range from -25°C to 27°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are July, May, June.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 8.3 kt
Maximum Recorded: 26 kt
Calm Winds: 0.7%
Direction Distribution:
E
8.7%
N
12.4%
S
18.6%
W
12.8%
NE
10.1%
NW
12.5%
SE
8.4%
SW
15.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 4.1°C
Range: -25°C to 27°C
-25°C 27°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 4.9%

Best Months for VFR

July May June

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 15/33
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.1 kt
Runway 04L/22R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5 kt
Runway 04R/22L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5 kt

Statistics computed from 13,381 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Helsinki Vantaa Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: EFHK
IATA Code: HEL
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 179 ft MSL

Location

City: Helsinki (Vantaa)
Country: FI
Latitude: 60.318363°
Longitude: 24.963341°
Time Zone: Europe/Athens

Runway Information

Runway 04L/22R
Length: 10,039 ft
Width: 197 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 04R/22L
Length: 11,286 ft
Width: 197 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 15/33
Length: 9,518 ft
Width: 197 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Helsinki Vantaa Airport

Overview

Helsinki Vantaa Airport (EFHK) serves as Finland's primary international airport, located in the Vantaa municipality near Helsinki. As a major aviation hub, the airport handles significant passenger and cargo traffic, strategically positioned at 60.318363°N, 24.963341°E with an elevation of 179 feet above mean sea level.

Flying Conditions

The airport features three paved runways with substantial lengths: 04L/22R at 10,039 feet, 04R/22L at 11,286 feet, and 15/33 at 9,518 feet. Given its northern latitude, pilots should anticipate variable weather conditions with potential winter challenges including snow, reduced visibility, and temperature fluctuations that can impact aircraft performance.

Notable Features

Helsinki Vantaa Airport's runway configuration allows for multiple approach and departure options, with three distinct runways enabling flexible operations under changing wind conditions. The airport's elevation of 179 feet MSL provides relatively moderate terrain considerations compared to many mountainous European airports.

Approach Considerations

Runway selection will typically depend on prevailing wind directions, with the parallel runways 04L/22R and 04R/22L offering extended lengths suitable for large commercial aircraft. The crosswind runway 15/33 provides additional operational flexibility during wind shifts, allowing safe approaches from different angular vectors.

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.