Covers %%COUNT%% US airports with METAR reporting - the big fields plus the busy GA and business airports.
Every airport, live
Current flight category at each airport, from the NOAA Aviation Weather Center METAR feed (refreshed about every 15 minutes). Categories update without reloading the page.
| Airport | Flight category |
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Common questions
What does this site answer?
One question per airport: is it VFR right now? The answer is yes when the latest METAR reports VFR conditions - ceiling above 3,000 feet and visibility over 5 statute miles. Anything else (MVFR, IFR, LIFR) is a no, with the actual category shown.
What does VFR mean?
Visual Flight Rules - flying by looking outside rather than relying on instruments. Weather decides whether that is legal and safe. On aviation weather maps, airports are colored by flight category: VFR (good), MVFR (marginal), IFR, and LIFR (worst). This site answers the first question pilots ask about an airport: is it VFR right now?
What are the VFR weather minimums?
In most controlled US airspace (classes B, C, D, and E below 10,000 ft), basic VFR requires at least 3 statute miles of flight visibility and cloud clearance of 500 feet below, 1,000 feet above, and 2,000 feet horizontally. METAR flight categories use different thresholds: VFR means visibility above 5 miles and ceiling above 3,000 feet; MVFR is 3-5 miles or a 1,000-3,000 foot ceiling; IFR is 1-3 miles or 500-999 feet; LIFR is below that.
Where does the data come from?
All weather data comes from the free NOAA Aviation Weather Center Data API at aviationweather.gov, using its bulk METAR cache file. Airport names and locations come from OurAirports (public domain). This site is not affiliated with NOAA, the FAA, or any government agency.
How current is the data?
METARs are usually issued once an hour. This site refreshes the feed about every 15 minutes with an automated job, so the answer can lag. Each airport page shows the exact observation time and age - trust that, and confirm with official sources.
Can I use this to decide whether to fly?
No. This site is not a weather briefing and shows one observation at one airport. It ignores forecasts, TFRs, airspace, and everything else a real briefing covers. It is not for flight planning - always get an official briefing first.