Miramar Marine Corps Air Station - Mitscher Field

KNKX / NKX

San Diego, US

Last Updated
Jul 4, 18:55Z

Military Airport

Restricted

This is a U.S. military installation. Civil aircraft operations are generally prohibited without prior authorization.

Access Notes:

Most military airfields closed to civil traffic; some joint-use exceptions exist

Consult official AIP (FAA AIP GEN 3.3) for current access procedures and restrictions.

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 53 min ago
18:55Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
27°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 16°C
5 kt
270°
10 SM
Visibility
15,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1017 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KNKX 041855Z 27005KT 10SM BKN150 BKN200 27/16 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP161 T02720156 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 477 ft
BKN 15,000 ft AGL
BKN 20,000 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
15,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
15,477 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
20,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
20,477 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Miramar Marine Corps Air Station - Mitscher Field is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 15,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west (270°) at 5 knots. Runway 28 is favored with a 5-knot headwind and 1-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 15000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 27°C (81°F) with a dewpoint of 16°C, indicating relatively dry conditions.

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.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. The forecast indicates conditions may deteriorate. Ensure you have fuel reserves and a viable alternate airport.

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

QNH
1017 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1001 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (477 ft)
Pressure Alt
365 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,919 ft
ISA Deviation: +13.0°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KNKX 041600Z 0416/0522 VRB06KT 9999 BKN200 QNH3000INS FM041830 31008KT 9999 BKN200 QNH2993INS FM050500 VRB06KT 9999 OVC010 QNH2998INS FM050900 VRB06KT 9999 BKN200 QNH3000INS FM052100 29008KT 9999 BKN200 QNH2995INS TX25/0423Z TN16/0511Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
19:47Z BASE
+0h
VFR VRB 6 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 20,000 ft
05:00Z FM050500
+10h
MVFR VRB 6 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 1,000 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
Chart Features
  • • Hover for exact values and timestamps
  • • Click legend items to toggle data series
  • • Zoom and pan for detailed analysis
  • • Units automatically converted to preferences
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
NKX
06L
24R ✈️
06R
24L ✈️
10
28 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 06L/24R
Active: 24R
12,000 ft 200 ft CON 75°
4.3 kt 2.5 kt
30° angle
✈️ 06R/24L
Active: 24L
8,000 ft 200 ft PEM 75°
4.3 kt 2.5 kt
30° angle
✈️ 10/28
Active: 28
2,800 ft 200 ft CON 110°
4.9 kt 0.9 kt
10° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KNKX

12,822 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
68.7%
MVFR
19.6%
IFR
6.7%
LIFR
4.9%

Miramar Marine Corps Air Station - Mitscher Field typically experiences VFR conditions 68.7% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 11.6% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 5.9 knots, with gusts recorded up to 85 knots. Calm conditions occur 17.4% of the time. Temperature extremes range from 2°C to 34°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are April, March, February.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 5.9 kt
Maximum Recorded: 85 kt
Calm Winds: 17.4%
Direction Distribution:
E
8.7%
N
4.3%
S
7.4%
W
23.9%
NE
14.8%
NW
10.5%
SE
5%
SW
8.2%

Temperature Range

Average: 16.1°C
Range: 2°C to 34°C
2°C 34°C

Visibility

Average: 9.7 SM
Below 3 SM: 2.1%
Fog Frequency: 3.3%

Best Months for VFR

April March February

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 10/28
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3 kt
Runway 06L/24R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.1 kt
Runway 06R/24L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.1 kt

Statistics computed from 12,822 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Miramar Marine Corps Air Station - Mitscher Field - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KNKX
IATA Code: NKX
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 477 ft MSL

Location

City: San Diego
Country: US
Latitude: 32.868401°
Longitude: -117.142998°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+8

Runway Information

Runway 06L/24R
Length: 12,000 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 06R/24L
Length: 8,000 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: PEM
ILS: No
Runway 10/28
Length: 2,800 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About Miramar Marine Corps Air Station - Mitscher Field

Miramar Marine Corps Air Station - Mitscher Field is a military facility. Civilian access may be restricted or require Prior Permission (PPR). Pilots should consult the US AIP for current access procedures and restrictions.

Overview

Miramar Marine Corps Air Station - Mitscher Field serves as a critical military aviation facility located in San Diego, California. Situated at 477 ft MSL, the airport supports Marine Corps aviation operations with three runways, including a substantial 12,000 ft concrete runway capable of accommodating large aircraft. The station plays a key role in Marine Corps training and operational readiness on the West Coast.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect predominantly favorable visual flight conditions, with 67.8% of observations reporting VFR weather. The airport experiences consistent northeast winds averaging 5.6 knots, with occasional stronger gusts up to 24 knots. Temperature ranges from 2°C to 32°C, with October through December offering the most stable VFR conditions, characterized by high visibility averaging 10.4 statute miles.

Notable Features

Located near San Diego, Miramar is positioned in a coastal environment with relatively mild weather patterns. All three runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, minimizing crosswind challenges for pilots. The airport's elevation and geographical position contribute to generally stable atmospheric conditions, with only 7.8% of observations reporting instrument flight conditions.

Approach Considerations

The primary 12,000 ft runway (06L/24R) provides ample landing surface with minimal crosswind interference. Average crosswind components remain low at approximately 3.2 knots across runways, offering consistent approach opportunities. Pilots should be prepared for occasional reduced visibility, with 6.4% of observations reporting fog and 3.3% showing visibility below 3 statute miles.

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.