WxDecoder

KNUW/NUW METAR & TAF Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field)

Oak Harbor, WashingtonElevation 47 ftMedium airport
CURRENT STATUS
VFR37 min old
Ceiling 6,000 ft, visibility 10 SM.
FLIGHT CATEGORY
VFR
ceiling & visibility
WIND
100@8
steady
VISIBILITY
10 SM
16.1 km
CEILING
6,000 ft
lowest BKN/OVC
DENSITY ALT
-685 ft
-732 ft vs field
CURRENT METAR

Decoded observation

Observed 1553Z (8:53 AM local) · 37 min old

KNUW is currently VFR. Winds are from the east at 8 knots. Visibility is 10 statute miles. The ceiling is 6,000 feet AGL.

WIND
100° at 8 kt
Steady.
VISIBILITY
10 statute miles
16.1 km, good.
CEILING & SKY
Ceiling 6,000 ft
Lowest broken or overcast layer.
TEMP / DEWPOINT
9°C / 7°C
48°F / 45°F. 2°C spread.
ALTIMETER
29.95 inHg
1014.2 hPa, near standard.
WEATHER & HAZARDS
No significant hazards
No precipitation or obscuration reported.

Codes in this report: OVC 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)
RAE17
rain ended at :17 past the hour
SLP145
sea-level pressure 1014.5 hPa
P0000
0.00 inches of precipitation in the last hour
T00890072
precise temperature 8.9°C, dew point 7.2°C
$
station needs maintenance
TERMINAL AERODROME FORECAST

TAF timeline

Issued 1500Z (8:00 AM local) · valid to 1500Z (8:00 AM local)

KNUW forecast starts VFR at 15Z. Worst period is 21Z to 23Z with VFR possible (GUST, ICE, ICE). Best period is 23Z to 01Z (VFR). Conditions are roughly steady over the period.

  • Maximum temperature 12°C expected at 2300Z on day 25.
  • Minimum temperature 7°C expected at 1300Z on day 26.
BKN0707,000 ft
BKN0404,000 ft
BKN0404,000 ft
BKN0353,500 ft
BKN0404,000 ft
1500Z8:00 AM1948Z12:48 PM0036Z5:36 PM0524Z10:24 PM1012Z3:12 AM1500Z8:00 AM

Codes in this report: 9999 FEW BKN TEMPO OVC BECMG NSW

Tap any group to decode it.

FAA: no delays reported at NUW.

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 from 100° at 8 kt, visibility 10 SM, ceiling 6,000 ft. Forecast suggests today light rain likely, high near 55F, low near 40F, 57% chance of precipitation. Key risks: no significant hazards are highlighted right now, but always confirm against an official briefing. Note: the NWS forecast for now reads "Light Rain Likely" but the current METAR shows none of it; the observation and forecast differ, so trust the METAR for current conditions.

DayConditionsTemp FWindGustsPrecipPilot note
Today Light Rain Likely 55/40 SE 10 kt – 57%
Monday Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Light Rain 54/39 NNW 3 kt – 21%
Tuesday Light Rain Likely 53/37 S 6 kt – 94%
Wednesday Light Rain 51/36 SE 7 kt – 91%
Thursday Chance Light Rain 50/35 ESE 7 kt – 52%
Friday Partly Sunny 49/34 ENE 3 kt – 14%
Saturday Partly Sunny 50/35 SE 4 kt – 25%

Note: the NWS forecast for now reads "Light Rain Likely" 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 SEW). Forecast issued 1629Z.

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
ON-FIELD METAR
NESW14320725 100°100°8 kt100°100° 8100°
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
100° at 8 kt
Components computed from the current on-field METAR wind.
RECOMMENDED
RWY 078 kt headwind · 2 kt crosswind
RUNWAYS BY WIND · best end
07
HEAD
8 kt
CROSS
2 kt R
BEST
14
HEAD
5 kt
CROSS
7 kt L
OK
32
HEAD
5 kt tail
CROSS
7 kt R
OK
25
HEAD
8 kt tail
CROSS
2 kt L
OK
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 8,001 ft

14/32
Dimensions
8,001 x 200 ft
Surface
Concrete (good)
Edge lights
HIGH
RWY 14155°T
ILSILS/DME
Approach lightsALSF2
VGSIPAPI (P4L)
RWY 32335°T
Approach lightsALSF2
VGSIPAPI (P4L)
07/25
Dimensions
7,999 x 200 ft
Surface
Concrete (good)
Edge lights
HIGH
RWY 0787°T
VGSIPAPI (P4L)
RWY 25267°T
Approach lightsALSF1
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
-685 ft
Pressure altitude
17 ft
Field elevation
47 ft MSL
Temperature
9°C (48°F)
Dewpoint
7°C (45°F)
Altimeter
29.95 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
0103Z 6:03 PM
Sunrise
1446Z 7:46 AM
Loggable night
0135Z (6:35 PM local) → 1414Z (7:14 AM local)
end of evening to start of morning civil twilight
Position lights required
0103Z (6:03 PM local) → 1446Z (7:46 AM local)
sunset to sunrise (91.209)
Night passenger currency
0203Z (7:03 PM local) → 1346Z (6:46 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

Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field) is in Oak Harbor, Washington. Field elevation 47 ft MSL. Airport facts are drawn from OurAirports and the FAA NASR dataset.

OPERATIONS & CONTACT
OwnershipNavy owned
UsePrivate use
TypeMedium airport
ManagerCOMMANDING OFFICER
Manager phone360 257 2681
AttendedContinuous (24 hours)
CHARTS & AIRSPACE
ICAO / IATAKNUW / NUW
SectionalSEATTLE
Center (ARTCC)SEATTLE
Flight service (AFSS)SEATTLE
RegionWashington
CountryUnited States
Coordinates48.3518, -122.6560
Distance from city3 NM N
SERVICES & LIGHTING
Fuel100LL
Control towerTowered
Field lightingSee remarks
BeaconSunset to sunrise · Split white-green (military)
FREQUENCIES

Communications

118.2
APP/DEP
A/D
134.15
ATIS
ATIS
124.15
CLNC DEL
CLD
121.75
GND
GND
35.01
BASE OPS
OPS
34.34
PMSV METRO
PMSV
127.9
TWR
TWR

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

AIRCRAFT ACTIVITY

KNUW traffic patterns

2026-06-12 to 2026-10-23, 66 days observed · data 2026-10-23

High confidence
TRAFFIC VOLUME (30-DAY)
AVG LANDINGS/DAY
18.1
AVG OPS/DAY
29.5
Activity trend over 16 days: rising, from 14 to 29 operations per dayOperations trend (16 days)

Busiest day: Thu · Busiest month: Aug

FLEET MIX
Unknown 93%Airliner 4%Helicopter 1%

Fleet composition unclear from available data.

TOP AIRCRAFT TYPES
›UNKN (Unknown) · ~234 landings/mo
›P8 (Unknown) · ~16 landings/mo
›B737 (Airliner) · ~9 landings/mo
›P8 ? (Unknown) · ~8 landings/mo
›H60 (Helicopter) · ~2 landings/mo
LIKELY BASED AIRCRAFT
Low-confidence estimate

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

›UNKN (Unknown)
›P8 (Unknown)
›P8 ? (Unknown)
›B737 (Airliner)

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.

KOKH AJ Eisenberg Airport
6 NM S
VFR
KBVS Skagit Regional Airport
12 NM NE
VFR
KFHR Friday Harbor Airport
18 NM NW
VFR
KORS Orcas Island Airport
24 NM NW
VFR
KBLI Bellingham International Airport
27 NM N
VFR
CYWH Victoria Harbour Seaplane Base
29 NM W
VFR
AIRPORT REMARKS

Operational remarks

›CSTMS/AG/IMG: 48 HR PN REQ, CTC AIR TERMINAL SUPERVISOR, 1430-0100Z++ AT DSN 820-2604/6707, C360-257-2604/6707.
›AVBL ONLY DURING HRS OF OPERATION.
›RWY 14/32 PORTION OF SE END BTN 3000 & 2000 FT REMAINING MKR NOT FULLY VISIBLE FM ATCT.
›TFC PAT - OVERHEAD INITIAL FOR RWYS 7, 14, 32 4NM 2500', RWY 25 6NM 3000'; OVERHEAD BREAK 1500'; PATTERN ALT 1000'.
›RSTD: PPR REQUIRED FOR ALL ACFT EXC SAR/MEDEVAC. CTC AIR TERMINAL SUPERVISOR, 1430-0100Z++ AT DSN 820-2604/6707, C360-257-2604/6707. PRIOR COORD/FLT ADVSY RQR FOR AMC/JOSAC/NALO MSN.
›SERVICE - PAPI RWY 07/25 AND RWY 14/32 H24.
›DCT REFUL FAC LANES NOT AVBL TO TRAN ACFT.
›CTN: NO WEPS LOADING OR OFFLOADING BTN HN.
›CTN: LANDING SIGNAL OFFICER SHELTER 15 FT AGL, 32 FT FROM RWY EDGE, LCTD LEFT SIDE RWY, 558 FT FROM RWY 07 THLD AND 400 FT FROM THLD ON RWY 14, 25 AND 32. LARGE ACFT EXER CTN. EXTREME CTN RQRD FOR BACK TAXI IN LAST 1000 FT OF ALL RWYS.
›FOR CIVIL AIRCRAFT LANDING PERMITS (CALP) REQUESTS CTC OPS DUTY OFFICER.
›OPERATIONS DUTY OFFICER C360-257-2681, DSN 820-2681.
›HIRL AND SFL UNAVBL TO RWY 7. RCLL AVBL TO RWY 14-32 ONLY.
›OLS LENSES AVBL TO ALL RWY.
›SERVICE- JASU - 1 (NC-10C), 1 (GTC-85/GTE-85), 1(MSU-200NAV/ A/U47A-5 FUEL-J8 FLUID-SP PRESAIR DE-ICE (2 HR PN REQ) LHOX TRAN ALERT- TRAN CREWS MUST PROVIDE TECHNICAL DIRECT/ASSISTANCE IN SVC/MAINT TO INCLUDE DIRECT SUPERVISION OF FUELING. LTD SVC/MAINT AVBL 1500-2300Z++ MON-FRI. NO MAINT SAT, SUNAND HOL. AIR TERMINAL OPR 1400-0200Z++, AS RQR OT.
›SEE FLIP AP/1.
›THIS AIRPORT HAS BEEN SURVEYED BY THE NATIONAL GEODETIC SURVEY.
OFFICIAL LINKS & SOURCES
↗Official METAR on AviationWeather.gov
↗Search NOTAMs (official FAA NOTAM Search)
↗Wikipedia
↗KNUW on OurAirports
FREQUENTLY ASKED
Does KNUW have a METAR?
Yes. KNUW has a current METAR observation, decoded into plain English on this page.
Does KNUW have a TAF?
Yes, a TAF is issued for KNUW; the decoded forecast timeline is shown above.
What is the field elevation at KNUW?
KNUW sits at 47 ft MSL, which factors into the density-altitude estimate on this page.
Is this an official preflight weather briefing for KNUW?
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.