WxDecoder

KBFL/BFL METAR & TAF Meadows Field

Bakersfield, CaliforniaElevation 510 ftMedium airport
CURRENT STATUS
VFR2 min old
No ceiling, visibility 10 SM.
FLIGHT CATEGORY
VFR
ceiling & visibility
WIND
VRB@5
steady
VISIBILITY
10 SM
16.1 km
CEILING
None
no BKN/OVC layer
DENSITY ALT
1,847 ft
+1,337 ft vs field
CURRENT METAR

Decoded observation

Observed 2354Z (4:54 PM local) · 2 min old

KBFL is currently VFR. Winds are variable in direction at 5 knots. Visibility is 10 statute miles. There is no ceiling.

WIND
Variable at 5 kt
Steady.
VISIBILITY
10 statute miles
16.1 km, good.
CEILING & SKY
CLR
FEW and SCT layers are not ceilings.
TEMP / DEWPOINT
26°C / 8°C
79°F / 46°F. 18°C spread.
ALTIMETER
30.01 inHg
1016.3 hPa, near standard.
WEATHER & HAZARDS
No significant hazards
No precipitation or obscuration reported.

Codes in this report: CLR RMK AO2

Hover or tap any group for a plain-English explanation.

REMARKS: DECODED
AO2
automated station with a precipitation discriminator (can tell rain from snow)
SLP158
sea-level pressure 1015.8 hPa
T02610078
precise temperature 26.1°C, dew point 7.8°C
10267
6-hour maximum temperature 26.7°C
20206
6-hour minimum temperature 20.6°C
56007
3-hour pressure tendency: falling then steady (0.7 hPa change)
$
station needs maintenance
TERMINAL AERODROME FORECAST

TAF timeline

Issued 2320Z (4:20 PM local) · valid to 0000Z (5:00 PM local)

KBFL forecast starts VFR at 00Z. Conditions are roughly steady over the period.

VFR
VFR
0000Z5:00 PM0448Z9:48 PM0936Z2:36 AM1424Z7:24 AM1912Z12:12 PM0000Z5:00 PM

Codes in this report: P6SM SKC

Tap any group to decode it.

FAA: no delays reported at BFL.

Source: FAA System Operations (ASWS). Operational status only; verify with official FAA sources and NOTAMs.

SUGGESTED RISK · TRAINING USE

Suggested risk level: Low

›No significant weather concerns in the current report.

A suggested risk level for training and situational awareness only, not a go/no-go authority. Verify with official sources and apply your personal minimums.

FORECAST & PILOT NOTES · SUPPLEMENTAL

Extended forecast and pilot notes

Current aviation conditions show flight category VFR, wind variable at 5 kt, visibility 10 SM, ceiling none. Forecast suggests this afternoon sunny, high near 77F, low near 55F, 0% chance of precipitation. Key risks: no significant hazards are highlighted right now, but always confirm against an official briefing.

DayConditionsTemp FWindGustsPrecipPilot note
This Afternoon Sunny 77/55 NNW 4 kt – 0%
Monday Sunny 75/51 NW 4 kt – 0%
Tuesday Sunny 70/50 WNW 4 kt – 0%
Wednesday Mostly Sunny 69/52 NW 4 kt – 0%
Thursday Partly Sunny 70/51 S 4 kt – 1%
Friday Mostly Sunny 68/49 NNW 4 kt – 4%
Saturday Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Light Rain 64/48 WNW 4 kt – 38%

Source: National Weather Service (office HNX). Forecast issued 2356Z.

Radar

Radar data: NOAA/NWS MRMS composite reflectivity. For situational awareness only, not a substitute for an official weather briefing.

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RUNWAYS & WIND
2 runways · crosswind ranking
NESW12L30R12R30LVRB 5 ktVRB 5 ktVRB 5 ktVRB 5 ktVRB 5 kt
WIND USED
Wind calm or variable
Crosswind ranking is unavailable until the wind has a steady direction.
Components are estimates from the current METAR wind and runway heading. Verify with the Chart Supplement and NOTAMs.
RUNWAYS

Runway detail & declared distances

2 runways · longest 10,849 ft

12L/30R
Dimensions
10,849 x 150 ft
Surface
Asphalt (good)
Edge lights
HIGH
RWY 12L135°T
Landing length (LDA)10,849 ft
TORA / TODA / ASDA10,849 / 10,849 / 10,849 ft
VGSIPAPI (P4L)
Traffic patternLeft
RWY 30R315°T
Landing length (LDA)7,430 ft
TORA / TODA / ASDA10,849 / 10,849 / 10,849 ft
Displaced threshold3,419 ft
ILSILS/DME
Approach lightsMALSR
VGSIPAPI (P4L)
Traffic patternRight
12R/30L
Dimensions
7,700 x 100 ft
Surface
Asphalt (excellent)
Edge lights
MED
RWY 12R135°T
Landing length (LDA)7,703 ft
TORA / TODA / ASDA7,703 / 7,703 / 7,703 ft
REILYes
VGSIPAPI (P4L)
Traffic patternRight
RWY 30L315°T
Landing length (LDA)6,203 ft
TORA / TODA / ASDA7,703 / 7,703 / 7,703 ft
Displaced threshold1,499 ft
REILYes
VGSIPAPI (P4L)
Traffic patternLeft

Runway data from the FAA NASR dataset (effective 2026-06-11). Verify with the current Chart Supplement and NOTAMs.

FIELD CONDITIONS

Performance & density altitude

Density altitude
1,847 ft
Pressure altitude
420 ft
Field elevation
510 ft MSL
Temperature
26°C (79°F)
Dewpoint
8°C (46°F)
Altimeter
30.01 inHg

Density altitude estimates how the aircraft performs versus standard atmosphere. Higher density altitude reduces climb performance and increases takeoff distance.

DAYLIGHT & NIGHT

Sun & logging windows

Sunset
0108Z 6:08 PM
Sunrise
1412Z 7:12 AM
Loggable night
0134Z (6:34 PM local) → 1346Z (6:46 AM local)
end of evening to start of morning civil twilight
Position lights required
0108Z (6:08 PM local) → 1412Z (7:12 AM local)
sunset to sunrise (91.209)
Night passenger currency
0208Z (7:08 PM local) → 1312Z (6:12 AM local)
1 hr after sunset to 1 hr before sunrise (61.57(b))

FAA definitions, shown in Zulu with airport-local time. Verify for your operation.

AIRPORT INFORMATION

Facility & services

Meadows Field is in Bakersfield, California. Field elevation 510 ft MSL. Airport facts are drawn from OurAirports and the FAA NASR dataset.

OPERATIONS & CONTACT
OwnershipPublicly owned
UseOpen to the public
TypeMedium airport
Airline serviceYes
ManagerBILL LAMANQUE
Manager phone661-747-4053
AttendedContinuous (24 hours)
CHARTS & AIRSPACE
ICAO / IATAKBFL / BFL
SectionalLOS ANGELES
Center (ARTCC)LOS ANGELES
Flight service (AFSS)RANCHO MURIETA
RegionCalifornia
CountryUnited States
Coordinates35.4336, -119.0570
Distance from city3 NM NW
SERVICES & LIGHTING
Fuel100 · 100LL · Jet A
Control towerTowered
Field lightingSee remarks
BeaconSunset to sunrise · White-green (lighted land airport)
CTAF118.100
UNICOM122.950
FREQUENCIES

Communications

118.8
BAKERSFIELD APP SOUTH INITIAL CONTACT
APP
118.9
BAKERSFIELD APP NORTH INITIAL CONTACT
APP
118.6
ATIS
ATIS
118.1
CTAF
CTAF
127.1
LOS ANGELES CENTER
CTR
126.45
BAKERSFIELD DEP
DEP
121.7
GND
GND
122.45
RANCHO RDO
RDO
118.1
BAKERSFIELD TWR
TWR
122.95
UNICOM
UNIC
122.950
UNICOM
UNICOM

Not all tower/ground/approach frequencies are in our datasets. Verify with the FAA Chart Supplement.

AIRCRAFT ACTIVITY

KBFL traffic patterns

2026-06-14 to 2026-10-23, 66 days observed · data 2026-10-23

High confidence
TRAFFIC VOLUME (30-DAY)
AVG LANDINGS/DAY
41.2
AVG OPS/DAY
55.8
Activity trend over 18 days: rising, from 54 to 78 operations per dayOperations trend (18 days)

Busiest day: Thu · Busiest month: Oct

FLEET MIX
Piston single 66%Airliner 10%Jet 8%Turboprop 7%Helicopter 4%Unknown 3%Twin 2%

Mostly small piston aircraft.

TOP AIRCRAFT TYPES
›C172 (Piston single) · ~241 landings/mo
›CC19 (Piston single) · ~123 landings/mo
›E75L (Airliner) · ~21 landings/mo
›CRJ2 (Airliner) · ~11 landings/mo
›A320 (Airliner) · ~10 landings/mo
LIKELY BASED AIRCRAFT
Low-confidence estimate

Aircraft likely based near this airport (estimate), mostly single-engine piston aircraft.

›C172 (Piston single)
›CC19 (Piston single)
›BE20 (Turboprop)
›AS50 (Helicopter)
›B350 (Turboprop)

This is an estimate based on repeated flight patterns, not registration data. Do not rely on it to identify specific aircraft or owners.

Data limitations (4)
›ADS-B coverage is incomplete; counts are an observed lower bound, not official totals.
›Some aircraft do not transmit usable ADS-B and are not counted.
›Aircraft types and based estimates are inferred and may be wrong.
›This is not official ATC, FAA, or airport data.
NEARBY AIRPORTS

Weather reference stations

Current flight category at nearby reporting stations.

KTSP Tehachapi Municipal Airport
35 NM SE
VFR
KPTV Porterville Municipal Airport
36 NM N
VFR
KMHV Mojave Air & Space Port
50 NM SE
VFR
KVIS Visalia Municipal Airport
56 NM N
VFR
KWJF General William J Fox Airfield
59 NM SE
VFR
KEDW Edwards Air Force Base
65 NM SE
VFR
AIRPORT REMARKS

Operational remarks

›INDEX C ARFF AVAILABLE
›CNTRLN LGTS ARE ONLY VSB ON RWY 30R.
›PCR VALUE: 127/F/B/X/T
›PCR VALUE: 396/F/B/X/T
›WHEN ATCT CLSD ACTVT MALSR RWY 30R; PAPI RWY 12L & 30R; HIRL RWY 12L/30R; TWY LGTS - CTAF. RWY 12R/30L CLSD WHEN ATCT CLSD.
›MIL HELICOPTERS MAKE ALL APCHS TO RY OR PAVED AREAS. MINIMIZE HOVERING & POWER TO AVOID CAUSING BLOWING DUST; WHEELED HELICOPTERS GND TAXI ONLY. FORMATION JOIN-UP AFT DEP ONLY.
›RIGHT BASE OPNS FOR RY 30R ESTABLISH WINGS LEVEL ON FINAL APCH NO LOWER THAN 300 FT AGL.
›NOISE SENSITIVE AREAS S & E OF ARPT RECOMMENDED TURBOJET TRNG HRS WKDAY 0800-2200 WKENDS 1200-2200; NO MORE THAN TEN PRACTICE APCHS PER HR.
›BILL LAMANQUE - LAMANQUEBI@KERNCOUNTY.COM
›CELL PHONE: 661-747-4053; H24 CTC: 661-747-4053; FAX: 661-391-1801; EMAIL: LAMANQUEBI@KERNCOUNTY.COM.
›LDG FEE CHRGD TO ALL AIR TAXI, COML ACFT OPS (EXC FLT INSTRN), AND TSNT ACFT WEIGHING MORE THAN 10000 LBS.
›RWY 12R/30L NOT AVBL FOR PART 121/PART 380 OPS WITH SKED PAX CARRYING OPS MORE THAN 9 PAX SEATS AND NON-SKED PAX CARRYING OPS MORE THAN 30 PAX SEATS.
›RY 30R 50:1 TO DSPLD THLD.
›ARPT OPS NA BLO 1200 RVR WITHOUT SMGCS. ARPT OPS NOT INITIATED BLO 600 RVR OR AUTH BLO 500 RVR.
›CAP SQUADRON ON ARPT.
OFFICIAL LINKS & SOURCES
↗Official METAR on AviationWeather.gov
↗Search NOTAMs (official FAA NOTAM Search)
↗Wikipedia
↗KBFL on OurAirports
FREQUENTLY ASKED
Does KBFL have a METAR?
Yes. KBFL has a current METAR observation, decoded into plain English on this page.
Does KBFL have a TAF?
Yes, a TAF is issued for KBFL; the decoded forecast timeline is shown above.
What is the field elevation at KBFL?
KBFL sits at 510 ft MSL, which factors into the density-altitude estimate on this page.
Is this an official preflight weather briefing for KBFL?
No. wxdecoder.com is for education and situational awareness only. It is not an official weather briefing or a substitute for official sources, NOTAM review, and pilot judgment.
This app is for aviation weather education, training, and situational awareness only. It is not a substitute for an official weather briefing, approved flight-planning software, flight service, dispatch procedures, current FAA regulations, or pilot judgment. Always verify weather with official sources before flight.