KNQX/NQX METAR & TAF Naval Air Station Key West/Boca Chica Field

Key West, FloridaElevation 6 ftMedium airport

CURRENT STATUS

VFR40 min old

No ceiling, visibility 10 SM, gusts to 25 kt.

FLIGHT CATEGORY

VFR

ceiling & visibility

WIND

030@13

gust 25 kt

VISIBILITY

10 SM

16.1 km

CEILING

None

no BKN/OVC layer

DENSITY ALT

1,274 ft

+1,268 ft vs field

ACTIVE NWS ALERTS

Active weather alerts

Coastal Flood AdvisoryMinor · Expected · Likely

25 0800Z to 26 0900Z

Monroe Middle Keys; Monroe Lower Keys

* WHAT...Saltwater flooding. * WHERE...Middle and Lower Florida Keys. * WHEN...Until 5 AM EDT Monday. * IMPACTS...Saltwater flooding of low elevation streets and lots is expected. Some storm drains will overflow, and some seawalls and docks will be overtopped. Boaters can expect less clearance under fixed bridges. Motorists should remember that persistent puddles around the times of high tide a…

If travel is required, allow extra time as some roads may be closed. Do not drive around barricades or through water of unknown depth. Take the necessary actions to protect flood-prone property.

Alerts from the National Weather Service. For situational awareness only; always confirm against an official briefing.

CURRENT METAR

Decoded observation

Observed 0153Z (9:53 PM local) · 40 min old

KNQX is currently VFR. Winds are from the northeast at 13 knots gusting 25. Visibility is 10 statute miles. There is no ceiling. The main issue is wind gusting to 25 kt (gust spread 12 kt).

WIND

30° at 13 kt, gust 25

Gusts 12 kt above the steady wind.

VISIBILITY

10 statute miles

16.1 km, good.

CEILING & SKY

FEW025

FEW and SCT layers are not ceilings.

TEMP / DEWPOINT

26°C / 21°C

79°F / 70°F. 5°C spread.

ALTIMETER

29.96 inHg

1014.6 hPa, near standard.

WEATHER & HAZARDS

GUST

Wind gusting to 25 kt (gust spread 12 kt).

Codes in this report: FEW 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)

PK WND 03027/0058

peak wind 27 knots from 030 degrees at 00:58

SLP144

sea-level pressure 1014.4 hPa

T02560211

precise temperature 25.6°C, dew point 21.1°C

$

station needs maintenance

TERMINAL AERODROME FORECAST

TAF timeline

Issued 2300Z (7:00 PM local) · valid to 2300Z (7:00 PM local)

KNQX forecast starts VFR at 23Z. Worst period is 16Z to 21Z with IFR possible (TS, CB, GUST). Best period is 00Z to 10Z (VFR). Overall the forecast improves over the period. Watch the TEMPO group: thunderstorms are temporarily forecast.

Maximum temperature 28°C expected at 1900Z on day 26.
Minimum temperature 25°C expected at 1100Z on day 26.

IFR

VFR

BKN0808,000 ft

2300Z7:00 PM0348Z11:48 PM0836Z4:36 AM1324Z9:24 AM1812Z2:12 PM2300Z7:00 PM

Codes in this report: 9999 SCT TEMPO BKN BECMG

Tap any group to decode it.

FAA: no delays reported at NQX.

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

SUGGESTED RISK · TRAINING USE

Suggested risk level: High

›Wind gusting to 25 kt (gust spread 12 kt).

›Large gust spread: 13 kt gusting 25 kt.

›Becoming: in the vicinity: thunderstorm (VCTS).

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 from 30° at 13 kt, gusting 25 kt, visibility 10 SM, ceiling none. Forecast suggests tonight chance showers and thunderstorms, low near 76F, 36% chance of precipitation. Key risks: gusty winds; thunderstorms in the forecast. Note: the NWS forecast for now reads "Chance Showers And Thunderstorms" but the current METAR shows none of it; the observation and forecast differ, so trust the METAR for current conditions.

PILOT WEATHER NOTES

Gusty windsMETAR

Winds gusting to 25 kt. Plan for the gust factor on approach and landing.

Thunderstorms in the forecastWeather.gov

Tonight: Chance Showers And Thunderstorms. Watch for developing convection and plan alternates.

Day	Conditions	Temp F	Wind	Gusts	Precip	Pilot note
Tonight	Chance Showers And Thunderstorms	76	NE 17 kt	–	36%	Thunderstorms in the forecast
Monday	Chance Showers And Thunderstorms	84/76	NE 17 kt	–	36%
Tuesday	Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms	85/77	NE 17 kt	–	33%
Wednesday	Chance Showers And Thunderstorms	85/79	NE 17 kt	–	33%
Thursday	Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms	84/78	NE 13 kt	–	33%
Friday	Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms	84/78	E 13 kt	–	23%
Saturday	Slight Chance Rain Showers	84/78	E 13 kt	–	14%
Sunday	Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms	84	E 13 kt	–	17%

Note: the NWS forecast for now reads "Chance Showers And Thunderstorms" but the current METAR shows none of it; the observation and forecast differ, so trust the METAR for current conditions.

Source: National Weather Service (office KEY). Forecast issued 0233Z.

Radar

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

RUNWAYS & WIND

3 runways · crosswind ranking

ON-FIELD METAR

READING THE BARB · SWIPE FOR MORE →

Calm

5 kt

10 kt

15 kt

20 kt

25 kt

30 kt

35 kt

40 kt

45 kt

50 kt

65 kt

75 kt

100 kt

105 kt

Half feather = 5 kt, full = 10 kt, filled pennant = 50 kt; add them up. The staff points the direction the wind blows from.

WIND USED

030° at 13 kt, gust 25

Components computed from the current on-field METAR wind.

RECOMMENDED

RWY 0413 kt headwind · no crosswind

RUNWAYS BY WIND · best end

04

HEAD

13 kt

CROSS

calm

BEST

08

HEAD

10 kt

CROSS

9 kt L

X-WIND

32

HEAD

2 kt

CROSS

13 kt R

X-WIND

14

HEAD

2 kt tail

CROSS

13 kt L

X-WIND

26

HEAD

10 kt tail

CROSS

9 kt R

X-WIND

22

HEAD

13 kt tail

CROSS

calm

OK

Components are estimates from the current METAR wind and runway heading. Verify with the Chart Supplement and NOTAMs.

RUNWAYS

Runway detail & declared distances

3 runways · longest 10,001 ft

08/26

Dimensions

10,001 x 200 ft

Surface

Pem (fair)

Edge lights

HIGH

RWY 0873°T

Approach lightsALSF1

VGSIPAPI (P4L)

RWY 26253°T

VGSIPAPI (P4L)

04/22

Dimensions

7,001 x 150 ft

Surface

Pem (fair)

Edge lights

HIGH

RWY 0432°T

VGSIPAPI (P4L)

RWY 22212°T

VGSIPAPI (P4L)

14/32

Dimensions

7,000 x 150 ft

Surface

Pem (fair)

Edge lights

HIGH

RWY 14131°T

VGSIPAPI (P4R)

RWY 32311°T

VGSIPAPI (P4L)

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

1,274 ft

Pressure altitude

-34 ft

Field elevation

6 ft MSL

Temperature

26°C (79°F)

Dewpoint

21°C (70°F)

Altimeter

29.96 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

2251Z 6:51 PM

Sunrise

1130Z 7:30 AM

Loggable night

2315Z (7:15 PM local) → 1106Z (7:06 AM local)

end of evening to start of morning civil twilight

Position lights required

2251Z (6:51 PM local) → 1130Z (7:30 AM local)

sunset to sunrise (91.209)

Night passenger currency

2351Z (7:51 PM local) → 1030Z (6:30 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

Naval Air Station Key West/Boca Chica Field is in Key West, Florida. Field elevation 6 ft MSL. Airport facts are drawn from OurAirports and the FAA NASR dataset.

OPERATIONS & CONTACT

OwnershipNavy owned

UsePrivate use

TypeMedium airport

ManagerCOMMANDING OFFICER

Manager phone305-293-2770

AttendedDaily, 1200–0300Z

CHARTS & AIRSPACE

ICAO / IATAKNQX / NQX

SectionalMIAMI

Center (ARTCC)MIAMI

Flight service (AFSS)MIAMI

RegionFlorida

CountryUnited States

Coordinates24.5758, -81.6889

Distance from city4 NM E

SERVICES & LIGHTING

Control towerTowered

Field lightingSee remarks

BeaconSunset to sunrise · Split white-green (military)

FREQUENCIES

Communications

119.25

APP DEP

A/D

27.72

ATIS

121.2

CLNC DEL

CLD

121.7

GND

33.8

BASE OPS

OPS

34.46

PMSV METRO

PMSV

126.1

TWR

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

AIRCRAFT ACTIVITY

KNQX traffic patterns

2026-09-04 to 2026-09-30, 11 days observed · data 2026-10-23

Low confidence

TRAFFIC VOLUME (30-DAY)

AVG LANDINGS/DAY

2.7

AVG OPS/DAY

4.7

Operations trend (11 days)

Busiest day: Thu · Busiest month: Sep

FLEET MIX

Jet 70%Unknown 23%Airliner 3%Helicopter 3%

Mostly jet aircraft.

TOP AIRCRAFT TYPES

›HUNT (Jet) · ~21 landings/mo

›C27J (Unknown) · ~4 landings/mo

›F5 (Unknown) · ~3 landings/mo

›C17 (Airliner) · ~1 landings/mo

›H60 (Helicopter) · ~1 landings/mo

LIKELY BASED AIRCRAFT

Low-confidence estimate

Aircraft likely based near this airport (estimate), mostly aircraft of unknown type.

›F5 (Unknown)

›C27J (Unknown)

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.

KEYW Key West International Airport

4 NM W

VFR

KMTH Florida Keys Marathon International Airport

36 NM E

VFR

KMKY Marco Island Executive Airport

85 NM N

VFR

KHST Homestead Air Reserve Base

90 NM NE

VFR

MUVR Juan Gualberto Gomez International Airport

94 NM S

MVFR

KTMB Miami Executive Airport

94 NM NE

UNKNOWN

AIRPORT REMARKS

Operational remarks

›HOT CARGO PAD UNLIT; DAY USE ONLY.

›RSTD: PPR IS VALID FOR +/- 1 HR OF PROPOSED ETA. IF OUTSIDE OF ETA SLOT, CTC AIR TRML TO UPDATE PPR.

›MISC: FIGHTER ACFT OPS DLY M-SA 0800-1700. TRAN ACFT PRAC APCH NOT TO INTERFERE BASIS; PPR FOR COPTER LDG TRUMBO PT - CTC BASE OPS 15 MIN PRIOR TO ETA.

›SAR ONLY AVBL ON SAT-SUN WITH PRIOR CDN AND SKED ASP BY FRI PRIOR TO 1300Z++.

›JASU: (NC-10) (MSU-200)

›HOOK E28(B) (1501 FT)

›HOOK E28(B) (1202 FT)

›HOOK E28(B) (1135 FT)

›HOOK E28(B) (1500 FT)

›A-GEAR: ALL E-28(B) SHORT FLD A-G IN RAISED POSN. EXC SHORT FLD A-G DUTY RWY DERIGGED.

›OIL: -O-128-156

›RSTD: CIV ACFT LDG PMT INFO - AMGR 305-293-2250; 305-293-2779.

›RSTD: UNLGTD RAMP PARL TO TWY L.

›HAZARDOUS CARGO, TRANSIENT RAMP, AND FIGHTER RAMP LABELS.

›AVBL DURG OPS HRS.

›TFC PAT: REDUCED RWY SEPARATION STD IN EFF USN/USMC ACFT.

›AVBL 1100-0400Z++MON-SAT, SUN 1400-0000Z++.

›OT BY NOTAM; CTC ATC, C305-293-2770. FOR AIR SERVICES OR PPRS CONTACT C305-293-2779.

›MISC: EV THU ALL APCHS PRIOR TO 1030L WILL BE IAW IFR PROCS.

›FLUID: SP

›CSTMS/AG/IMG: AVLB 1200-2000Z++ MON - SAT, WITH PRIOR COORDINATION. ACFT REQ INSPECTIONS MUST ANNOTATE ON PPR AND NOTIFY NAVY APP WHEN IN RDO CTC WITH UPDATED ETA AND REQUEST CSTMS COORDINATION, FAILURE MAY CAUSE UNDUE DELAYS WITH CSTMS LIMITED RESOURCES.

›RSTD: PPR CTC AIR TERMINAL DSN 483-2769/2779, 305-293-2769/2779, FAX DSN 483-2355, C305-293-2355.

›CAUTION: UNLGT RAMP PARL TO TWY I; R2916 TETHERED AEROSTAT RADAR SYSTEM OPS CONT TO 14000; KEY WEST NAS & KEY WEST INTL HAVE ADJ CLASS D; CIVIL TFC SW & NW SECTS KEY WEST NAS CLASS D; BIRD HAZ; UNMRK/UNLGT TWY OBSTN.

›CAUTION: RWY 04/22, 7 FT OBST 87 FT WEST OF CNTRLN. FLOLS. 758 FT FM APCH END RWY 04, DER RWY 22. ONLY C-130 (WINGSPAN 32 FT) TYPE ACFT OR SMLR MAY OPR FOR LDG AND TKOF. ALL ACFT MAY TAXI DOWN RWY 22 TIL THE DER A-G.

›TRAN ALERT: EXP SVC DELAYS; NO PRIORITY BASIS; LTD MAINT 1200-2100Z++ MON-FRI; TRANS ACFT RQRG FUEL PRVD QLFYD PSNL; FLEET SVC, POTABLE WATER & BASE TRNSPN NA; CLSD FED HOL.

›HOOK E28(B) (1501 FT)

›HOOK E28(B) (1500 FT)

OFFICIAL LINKS & SOURCES

↗Official METAR on AviationWeather.gov

↗Search NOTAMs (official FAA NOTAM Search)

↗Official airport website

↗Wikipedia

↗KNQX on OurAirports

FREQUENTLY ASKED

Does KNQX have a METAR?

Yes. KNQX has a current METAR observation, decoded into plain English on this page.

Does KNQX have a TAF?

Yes, a TAF is issued for KNQX; the decoded forecast timeline is shown above.

What is the field elevation at KNQX?

KNQX sits at 6 ft MSL, which factors into the density-altitude estimate on this page.

Is this an official preflight weather briefing for KNQX?

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.