San Francisco International Airport (KSFO)

San Francisco, United States · North America

By Renzo, CPL

ICAO

KSFO

IATA

SFO

City

San Francisco

Country

United States

Region

North America

Elevation

13 ft

Runways

4 runways

Coordinates

37.6213, -122.3790

Overview

Major West Coast gateway known for frequent fog and low-visibility approaches with closely spaced parallel runways.

Current Weather at KSFO

Pilots flying into or out of San Francisco International Airport should always check the latest METAR (Meteorological Aerodrome Report) before departure. A METAR is a standardized weather observation issued every hour (or more frequently as a SPECI when conditions change rapidly). It includes wind direction and speed, visibility, cloud layers, temperature, dewpoint, and altimeter setting -- everything you need for a safe go/no-go decision.

Decode METAR for KSFO

Paste the KSFO METAR into our free decoder and get a plain-English breakdown instantly.

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Check Weather Before Your Flight

A thorough weather briefing is essential for safe flight operations at San Francisco International Airport. Here are the key weather products every pilot should review:

METARHourly surface observation for KSFO. Includes wind, visibility, ceiling, temp/dewpoint, and altimeter.
TAFTerminal Aerodrome Forecast covering the next 24-30 hours. Look for expected wind shifts, visibility changes, and precipitation.
NOTAMNotices to Air Missions for KSFO. Check for runway closures, taxiway restrictions, and navaid outages.
PIREPPilot Reports from aircraft near San Francisco. Real-world turbulence, icing, and cloud top reports.
SIG/AIRMETArea forecasts for significant weather, turbulence, and icing that may affect operations around San Francisco International Airport.

Learn to read sectional charts to plan your route visually, and use our crosswind calculator to check runway compatibility with current winds.

Pilot Resources at San Francisco International Airport

Radio Frequencies

Always verify current frequencies in the Chart Supplement (formerly A/FD) before flight. Common frequencies for airports like KSFO include ATIS/AWOS, Ground, Tower (if towered), Approach/Departure, and Clearance Delivery. Frequencies change -- never rely on outdated sources.

Flight Schools Nearby

Browse flight schools near San Francisco and compare training programs.

Private Pilot Guide

Everything you need to earn your PPL, from requirements to checkride prep.

METAR Decoder

Decode any METAR report into plain English. Free tool for student and experienced pilots.

Sectional Chart Guide

Learn to read VFR sectional charts for navigation around San Francisco.

Training Availability

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No On-Field Training Reported

San Francisco International Airport is primarily a commercial operations airport. Check nearby GA airports for flight training options.

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