Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA) Aviation Weather: METAR, TAF & ATIS
As of 10:52 PM ET, Oct 28, KDCA is currently VFR with calm winds, visibility 10+ statute miles, and no ceiling reported. The FAA lists no ground stop or delay program for KDCA right now.
Live aviation weather for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, DC, including METAR, TAF, ATIS, flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling, altimeter and runway crosswinds.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA) is one of the primary air-carrier airports serving Washington, DC at a field elevation of 14 ft. KDCA reports its own METAR and publishes a TAF, and broadcasts digital ATIS (D-ATIS), decoded live on this page as flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling and altimeter. It has 3 physical runways (01/19, 04/22, 15/33), the longest 7,169 ft. The official FAA airport diagram is at the bottom of the page.
Wind calm, visibility 10+ statute miles, a few clouds at 15,000 ft, temperature 14°C (57°F), altimeter 30.34 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
METAR KDCA 290252Z 00000KT 10SM FEW150 14/10 A3034 RMK AO2 SLP275 T01390100 56004
Current runway configuration at KDCA
As stated by the facility — not an estimate. Tap a runway for its intelligence page.
Updated 1 min ago (0348Z / 11:48 PM EDT)
This configuration has been stated since 1858Z (2:58 PM EDT).
What changed at KDCA?
Since the 0152Z (9:52 PM EDT) report, compared automatically against the latest METAR.
- The 25,000 ft ceiling dissipated, no ceiling now.
Current pilot readout for KDCA
KDCA is currently VFR with calm winds, visibility 10+ statute miles, and no ceiling reported. The tower TFDM states arrivals on runway 15 and 19 and departures on runway 15 and 19. Density altitude is approximately -650 ft (field elevation 14 ft). Review the latest TAF below for forecast changes before departure.
KDCA by the numbers
What the long-run records say about flying here, computed for this airport alone.
The FAA issued 105 ground stops and 88 ground delay programs for DCA between October 2025 and October 2026, affecting 116 days. Thunderstorms were the most common reason (68 of 193). A typical ground stop lasted about 1 h 30 min.
KDCA reported VFR in 85% of daylight observations over 20 years, about 297 flyable days a year. July is the most reliable month and December the least, with IFR or worse 10% of the time. When conditions drop it is usually low ceilings rather than fog (ceilings under 1,000 ft 5% of hours, visibility under 3 miles 2%).
Over 20 years of hourly winds, runway 19 had the best headwind 24% of the time, runway 33 22%, and winds were calm 10% of hours. Winds most often blow from the south. Crosswind on the best available runway topped 15 kt in under 1% of hours.
Thunderstorms were reported on about 39 days a year. 68% of storm hours fall in June, July and August, peaking in July when storms were in the air 2% of the time.
DCA departures left within 15 minutes of schedule 74% of the time across 142,187 flights, June 2025 to May 2026. Before 9 AM departures did best (89%) and after 9 PM did worst (62%).
Over the last 30 days of recorded D-ATIS broadcasts, KDCA ran south flow 35% of the time and north flow 31%. Runway 01 was named for arrivals most often (73% of recorded hours), and the configuration changed 73 times.
Sources: FAA ATCSCC advisories, hourly observations 2006 to 2025, the per-runway wind climatology 2006 to 2025, BTS airline on-time data and recorded runway configurations. Historical summaries, not a forecast: check the current METAR, TAF and a briefing before flight.
New to aviation weather? How to read a METAR → · What VFR/MVFR/IFR mean → · Decode any METAR/TAF → · Density altitude calculator →
D-ATIS
Digital Automatic Terminal Information Service, the live broadcast.
DCA ATIS INFO U 0152Z. 00000KT 10SM OVC250 15/10 A3035 (THREE ZERO THREE FIVE) RMK AO2 SLP276 T01500100. ARRIVALS EXPECT RIVER VISUAL RWY 19 RNAV 19 APCH AVBL ON REQUEST. LNDG AND DEPG RWYS 19, 15. MULTIPLE APPROACHES IN EFFECT. SOUTH ADVISORY. NOTICE TO AIRMEN. FREQ 118.95 OTS. NUMEROUS CRANES IN VICINITY OF AIRPORT. BIRD ACTIVITY. READBACK ALTITUDE ASSIGNMENTS. DEPARTURES TURN ON TRANSPONDERS BEFORE TAXI. READBACK ALL RWY ASSIGNMENTS AND HOLD SHORT INSTRUCTIONS. DO NOT ENTER PROHIBITED AIRSPACE N OF ARPT. ALL WESTBOUND DEPARTURES EXPECT FREQ 128.0 INSTEAD OF 118.95.FDC NOTAM 6/3362 IS NOT ACTIVE. ...ADVS YOU HAVE INFO U.
Runway wind check
Estimated head/tailwind and crosswind for each runway end from the current reported wind.
Current wind is calm: calm wind is not a factor for runway selection, and with no wind there is no head/tail or crosswind component to compute. Live numbers return automatically once a report includes a wind direction.
| Runway | Length | Surface | Head / Tail | Crosswind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 7,169 ft | ASP | - | - |
| 04 | 5,000 ft | ASP | - | - |
| 15 | 5,204 ft | ASP | - | - |
| 19 | 7,169 ft | ASP | - | - |
| 22 | 5,000 ft | ASP | - | - |
| 33 | 5,204 ft | ASP | - | - |
Open the crosswind calculator to try your own wind and runway numbers →
KDCA runways
3 physical runways · 6 runway ends. Each card opens the runway's intelligence page: equipment and lighting, LAHSO, frequencies, today's configuration, predicted use, history and approaches.
- No closure reportedRunway 01/197,169 × 150 ft · ASPCurrent use19ARR/DEPWind
- 01
- no steady wind
- 19
- no steady wind
no active equipment NOTAM receivedView Runway Intelligence → - No closure reportedRunway 04/225,000 × 150 ft · ASPCurrent usenot in the stated configurationWind
- 04
- no steady wind
- 22
- no steady wind
no active equipment NOTAM receivedView Runway Intelligence → - No closure reportedRunway 15/335,204 × 150 ft · ASPCurrent use15ARR/DEPWind
- 15
- no steady wind
- 33
- no steady wind
no active equipment NOTAM receivedView Runway Intelligence →
“Current use” is what the tower TFDM configurationstates; wind components are arithmetic on the current METAR against TRUE headings; status reflects NOTAMs received through SWIM, the tower's TFDM record and the D-ATIS — a runway reads “Open” only with a complete NOTAM picture.
24-hour trend
Wind, ceiling and flight category over the last 24 hours.
Over the last 23 h: wind 3→0 kt, ceiling unlimited → unlimited.
KDCA weather radar
Live NEXRAD + lightning, with a 4-hour future-radar forecast. Drag to pan, tap ⚡ to toggle lightning.
Radar: NOAA/NWS via IEM · Forecast: NOAA HRRR · Lightning: NOAA · Map © Stadia Maps © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
NOAA NEXRAD composite and lightning, updated about every five minutes; amber frames are HRRR model guidance, not observed radar. Not for navigation.
Pilot reports (PIREPs) within 100 NM of KDCA
Reported by pilots in flight over the past 6 hours, via aviationweather.gov.
Show raw report
ROA UA /OV GVE045040/TM 2334/FL240/TP C68A/TA M24/IC LGT RIME
ROA UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV GVE045040Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2334Reported at 23:34 UTC.FL240Altitude: 24,000 ft MSL.TP C68AAircraft type reporting.TA M24Outside air temperature, °C.IC LGT RIMEIcing: light rime.⚠️ PIREPs are unverified pilot reports. Not for operational use: conditions change between reports.
Recent aviation weather trends at KDCA
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, KDCA reported mostly VFR across 24 observations, with 0 flight-category changes. The lowest ceiling was 25,000 ft. Wind most often came from the NE.
Most recent change: MVFR → VFR
Share of hours each runway had the most headwind. From wind reports, not ATC assignments.
- 01
- 32%
- 04
- 24%
- 19
- 21%
- 33
- 14%
- 22
- 5%
- 15
- 4%
TAF | Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
Issued 0251Z (10:51 PM EDT)
TAF KDCA 290251Z 2903/3006 11007KT P6SM FEW030 FEW090 BKN250 FM290600 15003KT 6SM BR SCT030 SCT250 FM290900 16003KT 3SM BR SCT009 BKN010 FM291400 20003KT P6SM SCT035 FM291600 20008KT P6SM SCT035 FM300000 19003KT P6SM FEW250
New to TAFs? How to read one →
Get KDCA weather alerts in Telegram
Stop refreshing aviation weather manually. Track KDCA in ATIS Alerts and get notified when the ATIS changes, the airport drops below VFR, or wind and ceiling conditions move closer to your minimums.
Track KDCA free on TelegramLive KDCA Weather
Live crosswind meter
Measured by KDCA's own weather station.
Wind is calm or variable. Either end works.
Asphalt · 7,169 ft. Headings from FAA runway data. Not for navigation.
Field aerial
North up
Runway 01/19, 04/22, 15/33 drawn from FAA threshold coordinates.
Imagery: USGS The National Map (public domain). Something off? ✏️ Suggest an edit
Nearby TFRs
Active FAA TFRs near KDCA
FAA TFR data shows an active temporary flight restriction near KDCA.
View all active US TFRs → · Official FAA TFR ↗
Verify with official FAA TFR sources before flight.
Airport info
From the FAA airport record (cycle 2026-10-01) and OurAirports.
Services
- Fuel
- Jet A
- Attended
- 24 hours
- Repairs
- Airframe & engine, minor
- Transient parking
- Tie-downs · Hangars
- Landing fee
- Yes
- Other services
- Cargo handling
- Control tower
- Yes
- Wind indicator
- Lighted
Airport
- Type
- Large airport
- ICAO
- KDCA
- IATA
- DCA
- FAA LID
- DCA
- City
- Washington
- State
- District of Columbia
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 14 ft
- Coordinates
- 38.8521, -77.0377
- Runways
- 3 physical runways · 6 runway ends
- Longest runway
- 7,169 ft
- Weather reporting
- METAR · D-ATIS
- TAF
- Published
- Time zone
- America/New_York
- Next sunset
- 18h 24m
Is there a ground stop at DCA today? Delay status and history →
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed KDCA's live status on your website, free →
Nearby airports
Compare nearby METAR/TAF stations within 25, 50 and 100 NM before departure or arrival.
Within 25 NM
8 airports+2 more within 25 NM
25–50 NM
8 airports+2 more within 50 NM
50–100 NM
8 airports+2 more within 100 NM
RC flying fields nearby
AMA model-aircraft club fields around this airport: live wind, crosswind & flyability on each page.
- Northern VA Control Line Assn - Old Colchester Rd , Lorton, VA · 15 mi
- Lorton Burnett Field Furnace Rd , Lorton, VA · 16 mi
- Charles County RC - CCRCC Flying Field , Brandywine, MD · 16 mi
Historical Flying Weather at KDCA
2006–2025 · ATIS Alerts Flying Weather Index
Based on historical observations from 2006–2025, KDCA reported VFR conditions during about 85.3% of valid daylight observations, with an estimated 297 VFR flying days a year. July had the most VFR weather; December had the most instrument conditions. Surface winds averaged 7.3 kt, calm 8.6% of the time.
Full historical breakdown
Flight category by month
| Month | VFR % | MVFR % | IFR % | LIFR % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 84.4 | 7.2 | 6.5 | 2.0 |
| Feb | 84.4 | 7.3 | 6.7 | 1.6 |
| Mar | 84.0 | 9.4 | 5.5 | 1.1 |
| Apr | 85.4 | 9.8 | 4.3 | 0.5 |
| May | 82.1 | 11.9 | 5.5 | 0.5 |
| Jun | 88.2 | 8.3 | 3.3 | 0.3 |
| Jul | 92.3 | 6.2 | 1.4 | 0.1 |
| Aug | 89.7 | 8.3 | 1.9 | 0.1 |
| Sep | 84.4 | 11.0 | 4.3 | 0.3 |
| Oct | 83.1 | 11.3 | 5.0 | 0.6 |
| Nov | 87.8 | 7.7 | 3.9 | 0.7 |
| Dec | 81.0 | 9.0 | 7.5 | 2.5 |
Average wind by month
| Month | Mean wind (kt) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 7.9 kt |
| Feb | 8.1 kt |
| Mar | 8.7 kt |
| Apr | 8.2 kt |
| May | 7.2 kt |
| Jun | 7.1 kt |
| Jul | 6.5 kt |
| Aug | 6.3 kt |
| Sep | 6.6 kt |
| Oct | 7.0 kt |
| Nov | 7.0 kt |
| Dec | 7.0 kt |
Historical summary of past observations: not a forecast or safety rating. Always check the current METAR, TAF, and a weather briefing before flight.
KDCA airport diagram
Official FAA taxiway and runway layout. Tap to zoom.
Official FAA airport diagram · d-TPP cycle 2611 · Not for navigation. Download the official FAA PDF ↗
Customize your DCA shirt or mug
DCA's real runway layout on the back, elevation and tower frequency on the front. Add your tail number on the sleeve.
Pilot PIREPs for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA)
Community-submittedCommunity-submitted airport notes from pilots about runway conditions, wildlife, FBOs, fuel, turbulence, ramp access, and local tips.
Read recent community-submitted pilot notes for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, including runway conditions, wildlife activity, FBO/fuel notes, turbulence, ramp access, and local airport tips.
⚠️ Pilot PIREPs on ATIS Alerts are community-submitted airport notes for situational awareness only. They are not official FAA PIREPs, NOTAMs, weather briefings, airport advisories, or flight-planning guidance. Always verify with official FAA/NWS sources, airport management, ATC, and current publications.
No Pilot PIREPs have been submitted for KDCA yet. Recently flew here? Help the next pilot by leaving a quick airport note.
Pilot PIREPs are community pilot notes for situational awareness only, not official FAA PIREPs or advisories. Verify with official sources. Notes are moderated before they appear; helpful marks and reports help us keep them useful.
⚠️ Not for operational use. Always verify with official FAA-approved preflight weather sources before flight.
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