Purdue University Airport

KLAF / LAF

West Lafayette, US

Last Updated
Jul 5, 03:54Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 5 min ago
03:54Z

🌙 Night
MVFR
Flight Rules
22°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 21°C
0 kt
5 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1013 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KLAF 050354Z AUTO 00000KT 5SM BR FEW007 22/21 A2992 RMK AO2 SLP127 T02170211

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 606 ft
FEW 700 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
700 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,306 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Purdue University Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with few clouds at 700 feet and 5 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are calm, presenting no crosswind concerns for any runway.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 5 SM. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 700 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 22°C (72°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 22 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: Mist, Light Thunderstorm Rain. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Light Thunderstorm Rain 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
1013 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
993 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (606 ft)
Pressure Alt
614 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,599 ft
ISA Deviation: +8.2°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KLAF 050156Z 0502/0524 VRB05KT P6SM VCSH BKN006 FM050300 VRB04KT 5SM BR SCT250 FM050600 VRB03KT 4SM BR OVC007 FM051300 34006KT P6SM SCT020 BKN035 PROB30 0518/0522 5SM -TSRA BKN050CB
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
03:58Z BASE
+0h
IFR VRB 5 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 600 ft
06:00Z FM050600
+3h
IFR VRB 3 kt
Visibility: 4SM
Ceiling: 700 ft
Mist
13:00Z FM051300
+10h
VFR 340° 6 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 3,500 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
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  • • Click legend items to toggle data series
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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
LAF
05
23
10
28

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
05/23 4,226 ft 100 ft ASP 47°
0.0 kt 0.0 kt
47° angle
10/28 6,600 ft 150 ft ASP 100°
0.0 kt 0.0 kt
100° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KLAF

8,785 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
68.2%
MVFR
21.5%
IFR
7.9%
LIFR
2.5%

Purdue University Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 68.2% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 10.4% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 8 knots, with gusts recorded up to 32 knots. Calm conditions occur 19% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -23°C to 33°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are July, October, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 8 kt
Maximum Recorded: 32 kt
Calm Winds: 19%
Direction Distribution:
E
11.1%
N
8%
S
9.6%
W
19.8%
NE
6.5%
NW
7.6%
SE
4.2%
SW
14.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 9.2°C
Range: -23°C to 33°C
-23°C 33°C

Visibility

Average: 9 SM
Below 3 SM: 3.3%
Fog Frequency: 2.6%

Best Months for VFR

July October September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 05/23
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.7 kt
Runway 10/28
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.4 kt

Statistics computed from 8,785 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Purdue University Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KLAF
IATA Code: LAF
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 606 ft MSL

Location

City: West Lafayette
Country: US
Latitude: 40.412875°
Longitude: -86.939363°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 05/23
Length: 4,226 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 10/28
Length: 6,600 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Purdue University Airport

Overview

Purdue University Airport serves the Lafayette, Indiana region as a medium-sized airport associated with Purdue University. Located at 40.412875, -86.939363 with an elevation of 606 feet MSL, the airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for academic, training, and general aviation purposes. The airport features two asphalt runways capable of supporting a variety of aircraft operations.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at KLAF demonstrate significant variability, with Visual Flight Rules (VFR) predominating at 64.4% of observations. Pilots can expect westerly winds averaging 7.9 knots, with occasional stronger gusts up to 28 knots. Temperature ranges from -22°C to 31°C, indicating potential challenging winter and summer conditions that require appropriate preflight planning and aircraft preparation.

Notable Features

Both runways offer favorable wind alignment, with 100% wind compatibility and minimal average crosswind components. Runway 05/23 measures 4,226 feet, while Runway 10/28 provides a longer 6,600-foot surface, offering flexibility for different aircraft types and operational requirements. Visibility typically remains excellent, averaging 8.9 statute miles with only 3% of observations showing reduced visibility.

Approach Considerations

Seasonal considerations suggest September, October, and January offer the most consistent VFR conditions for pilots. With calm wind conditions present 21% of the time, pilots should be prepared for potential wind variability. The airport's two runway configuration allows for optimal wind-aligned approaches, with Runway 10/28 providing the longest surface for more demanding aircraft 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.