İstanbul Airport

LTFM / IST

Arnavutköy, Istanbul, TR

Last Updated
Jul 4, 08:50Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 13 min ago
08:50Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
23°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 19°C
19 kt
360°
10+ km
Visibility
2,500 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1013 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR LTFM 040850Z 36019KT 9999 -SHRA SCT013 FEW018CB BKN025 23/19 Q1013 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 325 ft
SCT 1,300 ft AGL
FEW 1,800 ft AGL (CB)
BKN 2,500 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
1,300 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,625 ft AMSL
🌤️
FEW (CB)
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
1,800 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,125 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
2,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,825 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

İstanbul Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with broken clouds at 2,500 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the north (360°) at 19 knots. Runway 36 is favored with a 19-knot headwind and 0-knot crosswind component. Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 2500 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category. Caution: cumulonimbus (thunderstorm) clouds reported at 1,800 ft AGL, indicating convective activity in the area.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 23°C (73°F) with a dewpoint of 19°C. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread suggests high humidity and potential for visibility restrictions, especially during cooling periods.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 30 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 Showers Rain, Light Thunderstorm Rain. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 08:00Z and 12:00Z. There is a 30% probability of IFR conditions with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 12:00Z and 15:00Z.

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 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
1002 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (325 ft)
Pressure Alt
333 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,371 ft
ISA Deviation: +8.7°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF LTFM 040440Z 0406/0512 34015KT 9999 -SHRA SCT022 BKN080 BECMG 0406/0408 35018G28KT SCT011 FEW018TCU BKN025 TEMPO 0408/0412 4000 -TSRA SCT008 FEW017CB BKN022 PROB30 TEMPO 0412/0415 4000 -TSRA SCT009 FEW017CB BKN022 BECMG 0416/0419 03013KT SCT032 BECMG 0500/0503 CAVOK
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
09:02Z BASE
+0h
VFR 340° 15 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 8,000 ft
Light Showers Rain
12:00Z PROB30 TEMPO
+3h
IFR
Visibility: 4 km
Ceiling: 2,200 ft
Light Thunderstorm Rain
16:00Z BECMG
+7h
VFR 30° 13 kt

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
TFM
16L
34R ✈️
16R
34L ✈️
17L
35R ✈️
17R
35L ✈️
18
36 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 16L/34R
Active: 34R
12,303 ft 147 ft ASP 174°
17.9 kt 6.5 kt
20° angle
✈️ 16R/34L
Active: 34L
12,303 ft 196 ft ASP 174°
17.9 kt 6.5 kt
20° angle
✈️ 17L/35R
Active: 35R
13,451 ft 196 ft ASP 174°
18.7 kt 3.3 kt
10° angle
✈️ 17R/35L
Active: 35L
13,451 ft 147 ft ASP 174°
18.7 kt 3.3 kt
10° angle
✈️ 18/36
Active: 36
10,039 ft 148 ft CON 179°
19.0 kt 0.0 kt
0° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - LTFM

25,135 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
67.4%
MVFR
21.6%
IFR
5.6%
LIFR
5.4%

İstanbul Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 67.4% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 11% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NE averaging 11.4 knots, with gusts recorded up to 37 knots. Temperature extremes range from -4°C to 31°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are July, June, November.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NE (45°)
Average Speed: 11.4 kt
Maximum Recorded: 37 kt
Calm Winds: 0.1%
Direction Distribution:
E
10.6%
N
21%
S
15.1%
W
3.4%
NE
27.6%
NW
6.2%
SE
2%
SW
14%

Temperature Range

Average: 13.4°C
Range: -4°C to 31°C
-4°C 31°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 4%

Best Months for VFR

July June November

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 18/36
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.1 kt
Runway 16L/34R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 7.9 kt
Runway 16R/34L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 7.9 kt
Runway 17L/35R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 7 kt
Runway 17R/35L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 7 kt

Statistics computed from 25,135 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

İstanbul Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: LTFM
IATA Code: IST
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 325 ft MSL

Location

City: Arnavutköy, Istanbul
Country: TR
Latitude: 41.261297°
Longitude: 28.741951°
Time Zone: Europe/Athens

Runway Information

Runway 16L/34R
Length: 12,303 ft
Width: 147 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 16R/34L
Length: 12,303 ft
Width: 196 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 17L/35R
Length: 13,451 ft
Width: 196 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 17R/35L
Length: 13,451 ft
Width: 147 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 18/36
Length: 10,039 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About İstanbul Airport

Overview

İstanbul Airport is a major international aviation hub located in the Arnavutköy district northwest of Istanbul, Turkey. Serving as a critical global connection point, the airport sits at an elevation of 325 feet mean sea level and features five substantial runways capable of handling large commercial aircraft. Its strategic location and extensive runway infrastructure make it a significant regional gateway for international and domestic air traffic.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at İstanbul Airport are predominantly favorable for flying, with VFR conditions present 69.8% of the time and MVFR conditions occurring 25.4% of the year. The prevailing winds are from the northeast at an average of 12 knots, with temperatures ranging from -4°C to 27°C and an average of 13.3°C. Pilots can expect optimal visual flying conditions during September, October, and November, with minimal fog occurrence (0.7%) and consistently good visibility averaging 10 statute miles.

Notable Features

The airport boasts five runways with impressive lengths between 10,039 and 13,451 feet, all constructed with asphalt surfaces. All runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with moderate crosswind components ranging from 6.4 to 8.2 knots. The airport's multiple parallel runway configuration provides significant operational flexibility for different wind conditions and traffic management.

Approach Considerations

Wind conditions strongly favor approaches along the 16/34 and 17/35 runway axes, with consistent wind patterns from the northeast. Crosswind components remain relatively modest across all runways, typically between 6.4 and 8.2 knots, which should provide comfortable landing conditions for most aircraft. Pilots should anticipate stable approach conditions, particularly during the statistically most favorable months of September through November.

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.