King Shaka International Airport

FALE / DUR

Durban, ZA

Last Updated
May 14, 15:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 48 min ago
15:00Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
19°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 17°C
3 kt
20°
10+ km
Visibility
4,900 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1023 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR FALE 141500Z 02003KT 9999 SCT013 BKN049 19/17 Q1023 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 295 ft
SCT 1,300 ft AGL
BKN 4,900 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
1,300 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,595 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
4,900 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,195 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

King Shaka International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 4,900 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the north-northeast (20°) at 3 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 4900 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 19°C (66°F) with a dewpoint of 17°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 30 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions.

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
1023 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1013 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (295 ft)
Pressure Alt
3 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 554 ft
ISA Deviation: +4.6°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF FALE 141000Z 1412/1518 07008KT 9999 BKN025 TX21/1412Z TN16/1504Z BECMG 1412/1414 04010KT BECMG 1417/1419 34004KT BKN030 FM150600 20012KT 9999 SCT025
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
15:47Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 70° 8 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 2,500 ft
17:00Z BECMG
+2h
VFR 340° 4 kt
Ceiling: 3,000 ft

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
ALE
06 ✈️
24

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 06/24
Active: 06
12,139 ft 197 ft Asphalt 61°
2.3 kt 1.9 kt
40° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - FALE

6,729 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
74.7%
MVFR
18.9%
IFR
5.4%
LIFR
1.1%

King Shaka International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 74.7% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 6.5% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 7.9 knots. Temperatures typically range between 9°C and 37°C with an average of 22.2°C. The best months for VFR flying are May, April, February.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 7.9 kt
Maximum Recorded: 23 kt
Calm Winds: 0.6%
Direction Distribution:
N
17.1%
NE
21.3%
E
6.7%
SE
5.9%
S
35.3%
SW
9%
W
2%
NW
2.2%

Temperature Range

Average: 22.2°C
Range: 9°C to 37°C
9°C 37°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.1%

Best Months for VFR

May April February

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 06/24
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.1 kt

Statistics computed from 6,729 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

King Shaka International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: FALE
IATA Code: DUR
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 295 ft MSL

Location

City: Durban
Country: ZA
Latitude: -29.614444°
Longitude: 31.119722°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-2

Runway Information

Runway 06/24
Length: 12,139 ft
Width: 197 ft
Surface: Asphalt
ILS: No

About King Shaka International Airport

Overview

King Shaka International Airport serves the Durban metropolitan area in South Africa, located at coordinates -29.614444, 31.119722. As a large airport situated at 295 feet above mean sea level, it provides critical aviation infrastructure for the KwaZulu-Natal region, supporting both commercial and potentially military aviation operations.

Flying Conditions

The airport's coastal location at 295 ft MSL suggests potential for variable maritime weather conditions with potential wind shifts. Pilots should anticipate possible sea breeze influences and potential humidity impacts given the proximity to the Indian Ocean coastline.

Notable Features

The single runway 06/24 offers a substantial 12,139 ft asphalt surface, providing extensive operational flexibility for various aircraft types. The airport's elevation of 295 ft MSL indicates a relatively low-altitude environment without significant terrain challenges in the immediate approach area.

Approach Considerations

Runway 06/24's extended length allows for versatile approach and departure options across different wind conditions. The 12,139 ft runway length provides significant margin for most commercial and large aircraft operations, with ample space for safe landings and takeoffs under varied meteorological circumstances.

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.