Nairobi Wilson Airport

HKNW / WIL

Nairobi, KE

Last Updated
May 14, 12:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 51 min ago
12:00Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
25°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 15°C
5 kt
80°
10+ km
Visibility
2,700 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR HKNW 141200Z 08005KT 9999 BKN027 25/15 Q1022

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 5,536 ft
BKN 2,700 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
2,700 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
8,236 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Nairobi Wilson Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with broken clouds at 2,700 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east (80°) at 5 knots. Runway 07/25 is favored with a 5-knot headwind and 1-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 2700 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 25°C (77°F) with a dewpoint of 15°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions. High temperatures at this elevation may result in significant density altitude effects. Pilots should calculate density altitude and adjust performance expectations accordingly.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 30 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Light Showers Rain between 13:00Z and 17:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF HKNW 132300Z 1400/1506 VRB03KT 9999 SCT020 BKN080 BECMG 1408/1411 12010KT BKN024 TEMPO 1313/1317 -SHRA FEW021CB SCT022 BKN080 BECMG 1420/1423 VRB03KT NSW BKN018
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
12:50Z BASE
+0h
VFR VRB 3 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 8,000 ft
20:00Z BECMG
+8h
MVFR VRB 3 kt
Ceiling: 1,800 ft

24-Hour Weather Evolution

Loading weather data...
Data Sources
  • • Current conditions from METAR observations
  • • Historical data from past 24 hours
  • • No forecast or predicted data included
  • • Data updated with each new METAR report
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Note: Future values beyond current TAF validity are estimates based on climatological data and trends. Always verify with current forecasts before flight operations.

Airport Runway Layout

N
KNW
07 ✈️
25
14
32

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 07/25
Active: 07
4,798 ft 72 ft ASP 70°
4.9 kt 0.9 kt
10° angle
14/32 5,052 ft 76 ft ASP 134°
2.9 kt 4.0 kt
54° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - HKNW

4,124 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
38.6%
MVFR
61.4%
IFR
0%
LIFR
0%

Nairobi Wilson Airport is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 38.6% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 0% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NE averaging 9.6 knots, with gusts recorded up to 105 knots. Calm conditions occur 30.3% of the time. Temperatures typically range between 11°C and 31°C with an average of 21.2°C. The best months for VFR flying are January, February, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NE (45°)
Average Speed: 9.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 105 kt
Calm Winds: 30.3%
Direction Distribution:
E
21.8%
N
5.8%
S
2.4%
W
0.9%
NE
31.6%
NW
0.9%
SE
5.7%
SW
0.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 21.2°C
Range: 11°C to 31°C
11°C 31°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0%

Best Months for VFR

January February October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 07/25
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.8 kt
Runway 14/32
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 8 kt

Statistics computed from 4,124 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Nairobi Wilson Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: HKNW
IATA Code: WIL
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 5,536 ft MSL

Location

City: Nairobi
Country: KE
Latitude: -1.321720°
Longitude: 36.814800°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-2

Runway Information

Runway 07/25
Length: 4,798 ft
Width: 72 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 14/32
Length: 5,052 ft
Width: 76 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Nairobi Wilson Airport

Overview

Nairobi Wilson Airport serves as a medium-sized airport located in Nairobi, Kenya, situated at an elevation of 5,536 feet mean sea level. The airport features two asphalt runways: 07/25 measuring 4,798 feet and 14/32 extending 5,052 feet. Its strategic location in the capital city makes it an important facility for regional aviation operations.

Flying Conditions

Meteorological data indicates predominantly MVFR conditions, with 62.4% of observations showing marginal visual flight rules. The prevailing winds from the northeast at an average of 9.7 knots create generally stable flying conditions, with calm periods occurring in 26.8% of observations. Temperature variations are moderate, ranging from 11°C to 29°C with an average of 21.2°C, supporting consistent flight operations throughout the year.

Notable Features

The airport's high elevation at 5,536 feet presents performance considerations for aircraft operations, particularly during warmer periods. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignments, with Runway 14/32 experiencing slightly higher average crosswinds at 8.2 knots compared to Runway 07/25's 3.8 knots. Visibility consistently remains excellent, with an average of 10 statute miles and no reported instances of fog or significant visibility restrictions.

Approach Considerations

January, September, and October represent the best months for visual flight conditions based on historical weather patterns. Pilots should anticipate northeast winds when planning approaches, with a low probability of significant wind-related challenges. The consistent wind characteristics and excellent visibility support predictable approach and departure procedures for both runways.

Data Sources & Accuracy: Airport information sourced from OurAirports.com, a collaborative database of worldwide airport data. Weather data from official aviation weather services including NOAA Aviation Weather Center and international METAR/TAF providers. Information is updated regularly but pilots should always verify current conditions and NOTAMs through official channels before flight operations.

Official Data Sources

Weather NOAA Aviation Weather Center • International METAR/TAF Network
Airports OurAirports.com • Public domain airport database
NOTAMs FAA NOTAM System • ICAO NOTAM Distribution
Last updated: Jan 1, 1970 12:00 AM UTC

Disclaimer: Data is provided for informational purposes only. Pilots must verify all information through official sources before flight operations. Weather conditions change rapidly; always obtain a current briefing from approved weather services.