KRCA METAR

Current observed weather at Ellsworth AFB (RCA · KRCA), Rapid City, SD, elevation 3,276 ft. Reported 21 Sep 2026 0314Z, decoded below with the past 24 hours of observations. · Open on the map

All of Ellsworth AFB — runways, frequencies, charts and live weather

SPECI special report 21 Sep 2026 0314Z

LIFR

SPECI KRCA 210314Z AUTO 09007KT 2 1/4SM -RA BR BKN004 15/14 A3013 RMK AO2 DZE0255DZB09E11RAB11 BKN V OVC SLP197 CHINO RWY31 $

Wind

090° at 7 kt

Visibility

2.25 SM

Ceiling

400 ft BKN

Temp / Dewpoint

15° / 14°C

Altimeter

30.13"

Times are UTC (Zulu), as they appear in the report.

What it says

Field	Value	What that means
Flight category	LIFR	Low IFR — ceiling below 500 ft and/or visibility less than 1 SM.
Wind	090° at 7 kt	Direction is degrees true, as reported.
Visibility	2.25 SM	Prevailing horizontal visibility in statute miles.
Ceiling	400 ft BKN	Lowest BKN layer, 400 ft above the field.
Sky	Broken at 400 ft AGL	—
Temperature	15°C (59°F)	—
Dewpoint	14°C (57°F)	—
Temp/dewpoint spread	1°C	A spread of 2°C or less favours fog or low stratus forming.
Altimeter	30.13 inHg	Set this in the Kollsman window; it is the field’s current sea level pressure setting.

VFRMVFRIFRLIFRhover for the full observation

Flight category

Wind · kt (gust shading)

Ceiling · ft (log scale, ▲ = unlimited)

Visibility · SM

All 24 stored observations time · category · wind · visibility · ceiling · temp

Time	Category	Wind	Visibility	Ceiling	Temp
0355Z	IFR	090° at 9 kt	1.88 SM	500 ft	17°C
0455Z	LIFR	100° at 11 kt	0.88 SM	300 ft	16°C
0555Z	IFR	120° at 9 kt	10+ SM	700 ft	17°C
0655Z	MVFR	120° at 7 kt	4 SM	1,100 ft	13°C
0755Z	IFR	120° at 7 kt	9 SM	800 ft	12°C
0855Z	LIFR	120° at 6 kt	0.75 SM	300 ft	15°C
0955Z	IFR	120° at 6 kt	1.13 SM	900 ft	15°C
1055Z	MVFR	130° at 7 kt	3 SM	1,400 ft	—
1155Z	MVFR	100° at 7 kt	3 SM	4,100 ft	—
1255Z	IFR	090° at 10 kt	2.5 SM	500 ft	14°C
1355Z	IFR	100° at 5 kt	10+ SM	500 ft	15°C
1455Z	IFR	120° at 4 kt	10+ SM	700 ft	13°C
1555Z	IFR	130° at 9 kt	1.88 SM	1,000 ft	15°C
1655Z	LIFR	120° at 8 kt	0.88 SM	1,200 ft	14°C
1755Z	IFR	120° at 8 kt	3 SM	700 ft	18°C
1855Z	IFR	110° at 6 kt	2.5 SM	1,700 ft	15°C
1955Z	IFR	110° at 8 kt	1.88 SM	1,900 ft	15°C
2055Z	MVFR	100° at 7 kt	10+ SM	1,100 ft	15°C
2155Z	MVFR	110° at 8 kt	10+ SM	1,400 ft	15°C
2245Z	IFR	100° at 9 kt	8 SM	700 ft	15°C
2355Z	IFR	090° at 10 kt	7 SM	700 ft	14°C
0055Z	LIFR	100° at 11 kt	0.63 SM	400 ft	15°C
0155Z	IFR	100° at 8 kt	7 SM	600 ft	12°C
0255Z	LIFR	090° at 9 kt	2 SM	400 ft	15°C

Frequently asked

What is the current METAR at KRCA?

The 21 Sep 2026 0314Z observation at Ellsworth AFB reads: SPECI KRCA 210314Z AUTO 09007KT 2 1/4SM -RA BR BKN004 15/14 A3013 RMK AO2 DZE0255DZB09E11RAB11 BKN V OVC SLP197 CHINO RWY31 $

Is KRCA VFR right now?

Ellsworth AFB is reporting LIFR. Low IFR — ceiling below 500 ft and/or visibility less than 1 SM.

How often is the KRCA METAR updated?

Routine observations are issued hourly, usually in the 5 minutes before the hour. A SPECI is issued between them whenever conditions change significantly — a ceiling or visibility crossing a category threshold, a wind shift, or the onset of precipitation or a thunderstorm.

More about KRCA

Observations from the US National Weather Service Aviation Weather Center. Times are UTC (Zulu). For planning and education only — always confirm with an official preflight briefing.

Something here wrong or out of date? Report a data problem.