Buffalo Niagara International Airport

KBUF / BUF

Buffalo, US

Last Updated
May 14, 20:19Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 16 min ago
20:19Z

🌙 Night
MVFR
Flight Rules
8°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 6°C
8 kt
310°
10 SM
Visibility
1,400 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1012 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

SPECI KBUF 142019Z 31008KT 10SM -DZ SCT009 BKN014 OVC020 08/06 A2988 RMK AO2 P0000 T00780056

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 728 ft
SCT 900 ft AGL
BKN 1,400 ft AGL
OVC 2,000 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
900 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,628 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
1,400 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,128 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
2,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,728 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Buffalo Niagara International Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with overcast skies at 2,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the northwest (310°) at 8 knots. Runway 32 is favored with a 8-knot headwind and 1-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 1400 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 8°C (46°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 Drizzle, Light Showers Rain, Mist. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Light Showers Rain, Mist between 18:00Z and 22:00Z.

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.

QNH
1012 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
988 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (728 ft)
Pressure Alt
766 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 101 ft
ISA Deviation: -5.5°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KBUF 141721Z 1418/1518 32008KT 6SM -DZ SCT007 OVC015 TEMPO 1418/1422 2SM -SHRA BR OVC007 FM150200 32004KT P6SM BKN012 FM150900 VRB03KT P6SM BKN020 FM151000 VRB03KT P6SM SCT035 FM151700 26006KT P6SM FEW130
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
20:34Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 320° 8 kt
Visibility: 6SM
Ceiling: 1,500 ft
Light Drizzle
02:00Z FM150200
+6h
MVFR 320° 4 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 1,200 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
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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
BUF
05
23
14
32 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
05/23 8,102 ft 150 ft ASP 43°
0.4 kt 8.0 kt
93° angle
✈️ 14/32
Active: 32
7,161 ft 150 ft ASP 126°
7.9 kt 1.4 kt
10° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KBUF

8,368 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
58.2%
MVFR
26.4%
IFR
10.9%
LIFR
4.5%

Buffalo Niagara International Airport is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 58.2% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 15.4% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SW averaging 10.4 knots, with gusts recorded up to 41 knots. Temperature extremes range from -22°C to 28°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 September, October, May.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SW (225°)
Average Speed: 10.4 kt
Maximum Recorded: 41 kt
Calm Winds: 4.3%
Direction Distribution:
N
5.8%
NE
7.6%
E
6.6%
SE
4.6%
S
14.3%
SW
25.5%
W
24.4%
NW
7%

Temperature Range

Average: 2.4°C
Range: -22°C to 28°C
-22°C 28°C

Visibility

Average: 8.5 SM
Below 3 SM: 5.5%
Fog Frequency: 2.9%

Best Months for VFR

September October May

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 05/23
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.8 kt
Runway 14/32
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 8.2 kt

Statistics computed from 8,368 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Buffalo Niagara International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KBUF
IATA Code: BUF
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 728 ft MSL

Location

City: Buffalo
Country: US
Latitude: 42.940498°
Longitude: -78.732201°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 05/23
Length: 8,102 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 14/32
Length: 7,161 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Buffalo Niagara International Airport

Overview

Buffalo Niagara International Airport serves the metropolitan Buffalo region in western New York, situated at an elevation of 728 feet mean sea level. As a large airport positioned near the US-Canada border, it handles significant commercial and regional aviation traffic connecting Western New York with major metropolitan areas.

Flying Conditions

Located at 42.940498, -78.732201, the airport experiences typical Great Lakes regional weather patterns with significant seasonal variations. Winter conditions can produce challenging low visibility and potential snow/ice interactions, while summer months generally offer more stable atmospheric conditions for aviation operations.

Notable Features

The airport features two substantial asphalt runways: Runway 05/23 measuring 8,102 feet and Runway 14/32 measuring 7,161 feet. These parallel and intersecting runways provide multiple approach and departure options, allowing operational flexibility during various wind and weather configurations.

Approach Considerations

With two runways of considerable length, pilots have multiple options for approach and landing based on prevailing wind conditions. The runway lengths of 8,102 and 7,161 feet accommodate a wide range of aircraft types, providing substantial landing and takeoff performance capabilities for commercial and general aviation 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.