Decatur Airport (KDEC) Aviation Weather: METAR, TAF & ATIS
As of 12:54 AM CDT, Oct 28, KDEC is currently VFR with calm winds, visibility 10+ statute miles, and a 9,500 ft ceiling. The FAA lists no ground stop or delay program for KDEC right now.
Live aviation weather for Decatur Airport in Decatur, IL, including METAR, TAF, ATIS, flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling, altimeter and runway crosswinds.
Decatur Airport (KDEC) is a regional airport serving Decatur, IL at a field elevation of 682 ft. KDEC reports its own METAR and publishes a TAF, decoded live on this page as flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling and altimeter. It has 3 physical runways (06/24, 12/30, 18/36), the longest 8,496 ft. The official FAA airport diagram is at the bottom of the page.
Wind calm, visibility 10+ statute miles, overcast at 9,500 ft, temperature 12°C (53°F), altimeter 30.22 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR), ceiling 9,500 ft.
METAR KDEC 280554Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM OVC095 12/09 A3022 RMK AO2 SLP230 T01170094 10172 20106 402220061 52002
What changed at KDEC?
Since the 0454Z (11:54 PM CDT) report, compared automatically against the latest METAR.
No significant changes since the 0454Z (11:54 PM CDT) report, conditions are holding steady.
Current pilot readout for KDEC
KDEC is currently VFR with calm winds, visibility 10+ statute miles, and a 9,500 ft ceiling. Density altitude is approximately 100 ft (field elevation 682 ft). Review the latest TAF below for forecast changes before departure.
KDEC by the numbers
What the long-run records say about flying here, computed for this airport alone.
The FAA issued no ground stop or ground delay program for DEC in the 12 months to October 2026. Delays here come from the airlines or from programs at other airports rather than from DEC's own airspace.
KDEC reported VFR in 80% of daylight observations over 20 years, about 260 flyable days a year. July is the most reliable month and December the least, with IFR or worse 16% of the time. When conditions drop it is usually low ceilings rather than fog (ceilings under 1,000 ft 6% of hours, visibility under 3 miles 3%).
Over 20 years of hourly winds, runway 18 had the best headwind 24% of the time, runway 24 20%, 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.
Snow fell on about 28 days a year and freezing rain or drizzle on 5. From December to February KDEC was IFR or worse 16% of the time, against 3% from June to August.
Thunderstorms were reported on about 44 days a year. 52% of storm hours fall in May, June and July, peaking in June when storms were in the air 2% of the time.
Field elevation is 682 ft, but on a median summer afternoon the air performs like 2,354 ft, 1,672 ft higher. Plan for a longer takeoff roll and a weaker climb from June to August.
Sources: FAA ATCSCC advisories, hourly observations 2006 to 2025 and the per-runway wind climatology 2006 to 2025. 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 →
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06 | 8,496 ft | PEM | - | - |
| 12 | 6,799 ft | PEM | - | - |
| 18 | 5,298 ft | ASP | - | - |
| 24 | 8,496 ft | PEM | - | - |
| 30 | 6,799 ft | PEM | - | - |
| 36 | 5,298 ft | ASP | - | - |
Open the crosswind calculator to try your own wind and runway numbers →
KDEC 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.
- Status not monitoredRunway 06/248,496 × 150 ft · PEMCurrent useno stated-runway source at KDECWind
- 06
- no steady wind
- 24
- no steady wind
no active equipment NOTAM receivedView Runway Intelligence → - Status not monitoredRunway 12/306,799 × 150 ft · PEMCurrent useno stated-runway source at KDECWind
- 12
- no steady wind
- 30
- no steady wind
no active equipment NOTAM receivedView Runway Intelligence → - Status not monitoredRunway 18/365,298 × 150 ft · ASPCurrent useno stated-runway source at KDECWind
- 18
- no steady wind
- 36
- no steady wind
no active equipment NOTAM receivedView Runway Intelligence →
“Current use” is what the facilitystates; 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 0→0 kt, ceiling unlimited → 9,500 ft.
KDEC 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 KDEC
Reported by pilots in flight over the past 6 hours, via aviationweather.gov.
Show raw report
BMI UA /OV BMI070020/TM 0212/FL280/TP B737/TB CONT LGT CHOP/RM /ZKC FDC/AF
BMI UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV BMI070020Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0212Reported at 02:12 UTC.FL280Altitude: 28,000 ft MSL.TP B737Aircraft type reporting.TB CONT LGT CHOPTurbulence: cont light chop.RM /ZKC FDC/AFRemarks.Show raw report
PNT UA /OV PNT/TM 0026/FL360/TP A21N/TB NEG
PNT UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV PNTLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0026Reported at 00:26 UTC.FL360Altitude: 36,000 ft MSL.TP A21NAircraft type reporting.TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.Show raw report
TIP UA /OV RBS090010/TM 0025/FL250/TP E75S/TB NEG
TIP UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV RBS090010Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0025Reported at 00:25 UTC.FL250Altitude: 25,000 ft MSL.TP E75SAircraft type reporting.TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.⚠️ PIREPs are unverified pilot reports. Not for operational use: conditions change between reports.
Recent aviation weather trends at KDEC
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, KDEC reported mostly VFR across 24 observations, with 0 flight-category changes. The lowest ceiling was 9,500 ft. Wind most often came from the S.
Share of hours each runway had the most headwind. From wind reports, not ATC assignments.
- 18
- 26%
- 24
- 21%
- 36
- 15%
- 06
- 15%
- 12
- 12%
- 30
- 11%
TAF | Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
Issued 0520Z (12:20 AM CDT)
TAF KDEC 280520Z 2806/2906 18004KT P6SM OVC100 FM281600 19010KT P6SM SCT080
New to TAFs? How to read one →
Get KDEC weather alerts in Telegram
Stop refreshing aviation weather manually. Track KDEC in ATIS Alerts and get notified when a new METAR changes the picture: a category drop, or wind and ceiling moving toward your minimums.
Track KDEC free on TelegramLive KDEC Weather
Live crosswind meter
Measured by KDEC's own weather station.
Wind is calm or variable. Either end works.
Concrete · 8,496 ft. Headings from FAA runway data. Not for navigation.
Field aerial
North up
Runway 06/24, 12/30, 18/36 drawn from FAA threshold coordinates.
Imagery: USGS The National Map (public domain). Something off? ✏️ Suggest an edit
Airport info
From the FAA airport record (cycle 2026-10-01) and OurAirports.
Services
- Fuel
- 100LL · Jet A
- Attended
- Mon-Fri all day; Sat Sun 0700-2130 local
- Transient parking
- Tie-downs · Hangars
- Landing fee
- No
- Other services
- Air freight · Charter · Flight instruction · Aircraft rental · Aircraft sales
- Control tower
- Yes
- Wind indicator
- Lighted
Airport
- Type
- Regional airport
- ICAO
- KDEC
- IATA
- DEC
- FAA LID
- DEC
- City
- Decatur
- State
- Illinois
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 682 ft
- Coordinates
- 39.8346, -88.8657
- Runways
- 3 physical runways · 6 runway ends
- Longest runway
- 8,496 ft
- Weather reporting
- Reports METAR
- TAF
- Published
- ATIS
- 126.35 MHz
- CTAF
- 118.9 MHz
- Time zone
- America/Chicago
- Next sunset
- 16h 36m
Is there a ground stop at DEC today? Delay status and history →
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed KDEC'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.
- Richland Community College , Decatur, IL · 4 mi
- Decatur Aerocommanders RC Inc 1 , Decatur, IL · 5 mi
- Decatur Aerocommanders R.C. Inc - Cundiff Rd , Decatur, IL · 6 mi
Historical Flying Weather at KDEC
2006–2025 · ATIS Alerts Flying Weather Index
Based on historical observations from 2006–2025, KDEC reported VFR conditions during about 79.8% of valid daylight observations, with an estimated 260 VFR flying days a year. July had the most VFR weather; December had the most instrument conditions. Surface winds averaged 8.3 kt, calm 8.6% of the time.
Full historical breakdown
Flight category by month
| Month | VFR % | MVFR % | IFR % | LIFR % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60.2 | 21.7 | 10.6 | 7.5 |
| Feb | 68.4 | 18.1 | 8.4 | 5.2 |
| Mar | 75.7 | 15.6 | 6.3 | 2.5 |
| Apr | 83.1 | 11.3 | 4.0 | 1.6 |
| May | 85.9 | 9.3 | 3.8 | 1.1 |
| Jun | 90.5 | 6.3 | 2.2 | 0.9 |
| Jul | 91.2 | 5.6 | 2.0 | 1.2 |
| Aug | 90.1 | 6.6 | 2.2 | 1.2 |
| Sep | 88.2 | 7.1 | 3.0 | 1.7 |
| Oct | 83.5 | 9.6 | 5.1 | 1.9 |
| Nov | 76.2 | 15.2 | 5.9 | 2.7 |
| Dec | 59.0 | 24.7 | 10.2 | 6.2 |
Average wind by month
| Month | Mean wind (kt) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 9.8 kt |
| Feb | 9.8 kt |
| Mar | 10.1 kt |
| Apr | 9.9 kt |
| May | 8.2 kt |
| Jun | 7.2 kt |
| Jul | 5.9 kt |
| Aug | 5.7 kt |
| Sep | 6.1 kt |
| Oct | 8.1 kt |
| Nov | 9.0 kt |
| Dec | 9.2 kt |
Historical summary of past observations: not a forecast or safety rating. Always check the current METAR, TAF, and a weather briefing before flight.
KDEC 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 DEC shirt or mug
DEC's real runway layout on the back, elevation and tower frequency on the front. Add your tail number on the sleeve.
Pilot PIREPs for Decatur Airport (KDEC)
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 Decatur 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 KDEC 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.
No D-ATIS at this airport, showing METAR.
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