Dyess Air Force Base

KDYS / DYS

Abilene, US

Last Updated
Jun 9, 20:55Z

Military Airport

Restricted

This is a U.S. military installation. Civil aircraft operations are generally prohibited without prior authorization.

Access Notes:

Most military airfields closed to civil traffic; some joint-use exceptions exist

Consult official AIP (FAA AIP GEN 3.3) for current access procedures and restrictions.

Current Weather

Display Units
Aging 1 hour ago
20:55Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
32°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 19°C
19 kt
180° G24 kt
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1014 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KDYS 092055Z AUTO 18019G24KT 10SM FEW060 FEW110 32/19 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP114 T03210193 57020

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,789 ft
FEW 6,000 ft AGL
FEW 11,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
6,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
7,789 ft AMSL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
11,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
12,789 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Dyess Air Force Base is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with few clouds at 6,000 feet and 10 SM visibility. Note: This observation is 1.3 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (180°) at 19 knots with gusts to 24 knots. Runway 16/34 is favored with a 18-knot headwind and 6-knot crosswind component (gusting to 8 knots crosswind). Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 6,000 ft, few at 11,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 32°C (90°F) with a dewpoint of 19°C, indicating relatively dry conditions. High temperatures at this elevation may result in significant density altitude effects. Pilots should calculate density altitude and adjust performance expectations accordingly.

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 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
1014 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
954 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,789 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,767 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 4,236 ft (High - Reduced Performance)
ISA Deviation: +20.6°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF AMD KDYS 091600Z 0916/1022 17012G18KT 9999 SCT050 QNH2988INS BECMG 1009/1010 18015G25KT 9999 BKN015 QNH2988INS BECMG 1014/1015 19015G25KT 9999 BKN020 QNH2990INS BECMG 1015/1016 19015G25KT 9999 FEW050 QNH2999INS TX33/0922Z TN23/1012Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
22:09Z BASE
+0h
VFR 170° 12 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
09:00Z BECMG
+11h
MVFR 180° 15 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 1,500 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
DYS
16
34
161
341
162
342 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
16/34 13,500 ft 300 ft PEM 168°
18.6 kt 4.0 kt
12° angle
161/341 3,500 ft 60 ft GRE 161°
18.0 kt 6.2 kt
19° angle
✈️ 162/342
Active: 342
3,500 ft 60 ft ASPH
19.0 kt 0.0 kt
-2880° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KDYS

7,179 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
82.9%
MVFR
9%
IFR
3.7%
LIFR
4.5%

Dyess Air Force Base enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 82.9% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 10.1 knots, with gusts recorded up to 38 knots. Temperature extremes range from -13°C to 39°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are October, September, February.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 10.1 kt
Maximum Recorded: 38 kt
Calm Winds: 8.1%
Direction Distribution:
E
3.8%
N
14.1%
S
37.9%
W
5.7%
NE
6.9%
NW
4.5%
SE
5.9%
SW
13.1%

Temperature Range

Average: 16.9°C
Range: -13°C to 39°C
-13°C 39°C

Visibility

Average: 9.7 SM
Below 3 SM: 0.4%
Fog Frequency: 0.1%

Best Months for VFR

October September February

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 16/34
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.2 kt
Runway 161/341
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.2 kt
Runway 162/342
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.2 kt

Statistics computed from 7,179 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Dyess Air Force Base - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KDYS
IATA Code: DYS
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,789 ft MSL

Location

City: Abilene
Country: US
Latitude: 32.420799°
Longitude: -99.854599°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+7

Runway Information

Runway 16/34
Length: 13,500 ft
Width: 300 ft
Surface: PEM
ILS: No
Runway 161/341
Length: 3,500 ft
Width: 60 ft
Surface: GRE
ILS: No
Runway 162/342
Length: 3,500 ft
Width: 60 ft
Surface: ASPH
ILS: No

About Dyess Air Force Base

Dyess Air Force Base is a military facility. Civilian access may be restricted or require Prior Permission (PPR). Pilots should consult the US AIP for current access procedures and restrictions.

Overview

Dyess Air Force Base is located in Abilene, Texas, serving as a strategic military airfield primarily supporting Air Force transport and combat operations. The base sits at an elevation of 1,789 feet MSL and features three runways capable of handling large military aircraft, with the primary runway 16/34 offering a substantial 13,500-foot pavement length.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect predominantly favorable VFR conditions 88.3% of the time, with only 4.4% of observations presenting challenging IFR or LIFR conditions. The region experiences significant temperature variation, ranging from -8°C to 39°C, with an average of 16.6°C. Prevailing winds from the south at an average of 9 knots, with occasional gusts up to 38 knots, characterize the local wind environment.

Notable Features

The airport's geographic location in west-central Texas presents a relatively flat terrain typical of the region. All three runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with consistent average crosswind conditions of 5.1 knots. Visibility is generally excellent, with an average of 9.8 statute miles and minimal occurrences of reduced visibility (fog present in only 0.2% of observations).

Approach Considerations

September through November offer the most consistent flying conditions, with optimal weather parameters for both VFR and instrument operations. The extensive primary runway (16/34 at 13,500 feet) provides ample landing and takeoff options for various aircraft types. Pilots should anticipate south-oriented winds and plan approaches accordingly, with calm conditions present in 11.2% of observations.

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.