Dubuque Regional Airport

KDBQ / DBQ

Dubuque, US

Last Updated
Jul 4, 13:06Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 8 min ago
13:06Z

☀️ Day
LIFR
Flight Rules
21°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 21°C
16 kt
50°
1.246 km
Visibility
11,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1014 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

SPECI KDBQ 041306Z 05016KT 8SM -RA FEW095 BKN110 21/21 A2993 RMK AO2 WSHFT 1246 P0001 T02060206 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,077 ft
FEW 9,500 ft AGL
BKN 11,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
9,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
10,577 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
11,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
12,077 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

LIFR

Dubuque Regional Airport is currently reporting low IFR (LIFR) conditions with broken clouds at 11,000 feet and 1.246 km visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the northeast (50°) at 16 knots. Runway 36 is favored with a 10-knot headwind and 12-knot crosswind component. Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is severely reduced to 1.246 km, likely due to fog, mist, or precipitation. Special VFR or an IFR clearance may be required. The ceiling is 11000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 21°C (70°F) with a dewpoint of 21°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. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Mist, Light Thunderstorm Rain, Mist, Thunderstorm Rain, Mist. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Light Thunderstorm Rain, Mist between 12:00Z and 13:00Z. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Thunderstorm Rain, Mist between 20:00Z and 00:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Current conditions require an instrument rating, IFR-equipped aircraft, and an IFR clearance. Check approach minimums carefully as conditions may be below CAT I ILS minimums. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

QNH
1014 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
978 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,077 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,055 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 2,033 ft
ISA Deviation: +8.2°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KDBQ 041120Z 0412/0512 VRB05KT 6SM BR FEW040 PROB30 0412/0413 VRB15G25KT 5SM -TSRA BR BKN020CB FM041400 07006KT P6SM OVC070 FM042000 06005KT P6SM BKN050 PROB30 0420/0424 3SM TSRA BR BKN020CB FM050200 05005KT P6SM BKN250
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
13:13Z BASE
+0h
VFR VRB 5 kt
Visibility: 6SM
Mist
14:00Z FM041400
+1h
VFR 70° 6 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 7,000 ft
20:00Z FM042000
+7h
VFR 60° 5 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 5,000 ft
20:00Z PROB30
+7h
MVFR
Visibility: 3SM
Ceiling: 2,000 ft
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist

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
DBQ
13 ✈️
31
18
36 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 13/31
Active: 13
6,502 ft 100 ft CON 135°
2.8 kt 15.8 kt
80° angle
✈️ 18/36
Active: 36
6,327 ft 150 ft CON 180°
10.3 kt 12.3 kt
50° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KDBQ

11,339 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
68.4%
MVFR
18.8%
IFR
7.2%
LIFR
5.6%

Dubuque Regional Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 68.4% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 12.8% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 10.2 knots, with gusts recorded up to 43 knots. Temperature extremes range from -28°C to 32°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are July, October, May.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 10.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 43 kt
Calm Winds: 5.9%
Direction Distribution:
E
8.6%
N
11.4%
S
19.3%
W
13.1%
NE
9.1%
NW
13.7%
SE
8.1%
SW
10.8%

Temperature Range

Average: 6.6°C
Range: -28°C to 32°C
-28°C 32°C

Visibility

Average: 9 SM
Below 3 SM: 3.4%
Fog Frequency: 4.4%

Best Months for VFR

July October May

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 13/31
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.1 kt
Runway 18/36
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.1 kt

Statistics computed from 11,339 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Dubuque Regional Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KDBQ
IATA Code: DBQ
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,077 ft MSL

Location

City: Dubuque
Country: US
Latitude: 42.402000°
Longitude: -90.709503°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 13/31
Length: 6,502 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 18/36
Length: 6,327 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About Dubuque Regional Airport

Overview

Dubuque Regional Airport serves as a medium-sized airport located in eastern Iowa, positioned at 42.402000, -90.709503 with an elevation of 1077 ft MSL. The airport offers two substantial concrete runways capable of handling various aircraft types, with runway 13/31 measuring 6502 feet and runway 18/36 extending 6327 feet. Its strategic location provides critical aviation infrastructure for the Dubuque metropolitan region.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Dubuque Regional demonstrate significant variability, with flight rules predominantly VFR (63.3% of observations) and moderate visibility averaging 8.6 statute miles. Temperature ranges extensively from -28°C to 31°C, with an average of 2.9°C, presenting diverse operational challenges throughout the year. Pilots can expect southerly winds at an average of 10 knots, with occasional gusts up to 30 knots and calm conditions occurring 6.7% of the time.

Notable Features

The airport's two runways are oriented to accommodate prevailing wind conditions, with both runways demonstrating 100% favorable wind alignment. Crosswind components are relatively modest, averaging 5.6 knots for runway 13/31 and 6.4 knots for runway 18/36. Seasonal variations are most pronounced, with October, September, and November presenting the most consistent VFR conditions.

Approach Considerations

Approach planning should consider the airport's meteorological profile, which includes periodic reduced visibility conditions, with 8.5% of observations reporting fog and 5.6% showing visibility below 3 statute miles. Both runways offer substantial length and are well-aligned with prevailing wind patterns, providing flexible approach options. Pilots should anticipate potential IFR conditions (8.2% of observations) and be prepared for winter weather challenges given the significant temperature range.

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.