San Francisco International Airport

KSFO / SFO

San Francisco, US

Last Updated
Jul 4, 15:56Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 10 min ago
15:56Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
14°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 12°C
8 kt
330°
10 SM
Visibility
1,300 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1017 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KSFO 041556Z 33008KT 10SM FEW006 BKN013 14/12 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP167 T01440117 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 13 ft
FEW 600 ft AGL
BKN 1,300 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
613 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
1,300 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,313 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

San Francisco International Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with broken clouds at 1,300 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the north-northwest (330°) at 8 knots. Runway 01L/19R is favored with a 6-knot headwind and 5-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 1300 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 14°C (57°F) with a dewpoint of 12°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 27 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 5 to 17 knots.

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
1017 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1017 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (13 ft)
Pressure Alt
-100 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -217 ft
ISA Deviation: -1.0°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KSFO 041435Z 0415/0518 30008KT P6SM FEW004 BKN010 FM041700 29005KT P6SM FEW010 FM042100 28017KT P6SM SKC FM050400 29009KT P6SM FEW012 FM050800 29008KT P6SM BKN012 FM051100 28007KT P6SM OVC008
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
16:06Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 300° 8 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 1,000 ft
17:00Z FM041700
+1h
VFR 290° 5 kt
Visibility: >6SM
21:00Z FM042100
+5h
VFR 280° 17 kt
Visibility: >6SM
04:00Z FM050400
+12h
VFR 290° 9 kt
Visibility: >6SM

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
SFO
01L
19R
01R
19L
10L
28R ✈️
10R
28L ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
01L/19R 7,500 ft 200 ft ASP 28°
4.2 kt 6.8 kt
58° angle
01R/19L 8,648 ft 200 ft ASP 28°
4.2 kt 6.8 kt
58° angle
✈️ 10L/28R
Active: 28R
11,870 ft 200 ft ASP 118°
5.1 kt 6.1 kt
50° angle
✈️ 10R/28L
Active: 28L
10,602 ft 200 ft ASP 118°
5.1 kt 6.1 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 - KSFO

7,804 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
73%
MVFR
19.5%
IFR
6.7%
LIFR
0.9%

San Francisco International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 73% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 7.6% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 9.3 knots, with gusts recorded up to 41 knots. Calm conditions occur 11% of the time. Temperatures typically range between 5°C and 32°C with an average of 14.5°C. The best months for VFR flying are July, March, January.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 9.3 kt
Maximum Recorded: 41 kt
Calm Winds: 11%
Direction Distribution:
E
6.2%
N
6.5%
S
9.9%
W
32.7%
NE
6.6%
NW
13.2%
SE
6.6%
SW
7.4%

Temperature Range

Average: 14.5°C
Range: 5°C to 32°C
5°C 32°C

Visibility

Average: 9.7 SM
Below 3 SM: 0.5%
Fog Frequency: 0.4%

Best Months for VFR

July March January

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 01L/19R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 7.3 kt
Runway 01R/19L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 7.3 kt
Runway 10L/28R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.9 kt
Runway 10R/28L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.9 kt

Statistics computed from 7,804 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

San Francisco International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KSFO
IATA Code: SFO
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 13 ft MSL

Location

City: San Francisco
Country: US
Latitude: 37.619806°
Longitude: -122.374821°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+8

Runway Information

Runway 01L/19R
Length: 7,500 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 01R/19L
Length: 8,648 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 10L/28R
Length: 11,870 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 10R/28L
Length: 10,602 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About San Francisco International Airport

Overview

San Francisco International Airport (KSFO) is a major international airport serving the San Francisco Bay Area, located at coordinates 37.619806, -122.374821. Situated at a low elevation of 13 ft MSL, the airport plays a critical role in supporting commercial, cargo, and general aviation operations for the region. With four substantial runways ranging from 7,500 to 11,870 feet in length, KSFO is well-equipped to handle a diverse range of aircraft.

Flying Conditions

The airport's coastal location near the Pacific Ocean creates complex and dynamic weather conditions that pilots must carefully anticipate. Marine layer fog is a frequent occurrence, particularly during summer months, which can significantly impact visibility and instrument flight conditions. The proximity to the Pacific and surrounding terrain creates microclimatic variations that can produce rapid and localized weather changes.

Notable Features

San Francisco International is situated in a challenging geographical environment, surrounded by water and mountainous terrain that can generate unique aeronautical challenges. The airport's four runways are all constructed of asphalt (ASP) and oriented to accommodate prevailing wind patterns and regional geographic constraints. Pilots should be particularly attentive to potential wind shear and turbulence conditions due to the complex local topography.

Approach Considerations

Runway selection at KSFO is primarily determined by prevailing wind direction, with the 10/28 and 01/19 runway pairs offering flexibility for different wind conditions. The substantial runway lengths (ranging from 7,500 to 11,870 feet) provide significant operational margins for most aircraft types. Pilots should maintain heightened situational awareness due to the potential for rapidly changing coastal weather conditions and complex approach environments.

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.