Williston Basin International Airport

KXWA / XWA

Williston, US

Last Updated
May 14, 23:51Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 14 min ago
23:51Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
19°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 1°C
27 kt
280° G40 kt
7 SM
Visibility
3,200 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1000 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KXWA 142351Z AUTO 28027G40KT 7SM BKN032 OVC040 19/01 A2952 RMK AO2 PK WND 27048/2307 RAB38E49 SLP998 P0000 60000 T01940011 10206 20172 51010

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 2,344 ft
BKN 3,200 ft AGL
OVC 4,000 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
3,200 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,544 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
4,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
6,344 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Williston Basin International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with overcast skies at 4,000 feet and 7 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west (280°) at 27 knots with gusts to 40 knots. Runway 32 is favored with a 21-knot headwind and 17-knot crosswind component (gusting to 26 knots crosswind). These are strong winds that may exceed crosswind limits for light aircraft.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 7 SM. The ceiling is 3200 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 19°C (66°F) with a dewpoint of 1°C, indicating very dry conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Blowing Dust. Winds are forecast to reach up to 35 knots during the period. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 20 to 35 knots.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. Gusty conditions may exceed demonstrated crosswind components for many general aviation aircraft. Check your aircraft's limitations. 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
1000 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
922 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (2,344 ft)
Pressure Alt
2,742 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 3,785 ft
ISA Deviation: +8.7°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KXWA 142343Z 1500/1524 27035G50KT 5SM BLDU BKN035 FM150400 27025G40KT P6SM SCT080 FM150900 27020G30KT P6SM FEW080 FEW250 FM151600 27030G40KT P6SM FEW080 SCT150
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
00:05Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 270° 35 kt
Visibility: 5SM
Ceiling: 3,500 ft
Blowing Dust
04:00Z FM150400
+4h
VFR 270° 25 kt
Visibility: >6SM
09:00Z FM150900
+9h
VFR 270° 20 kt
Visibility: >6SM

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
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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
XWA
14
32 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 14/32
Active: 32
7,501 ft 150 ft CON 148°
20.7 kt 17.4 kt
40° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KXWA

7,556 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
66.8%
MVFR
17.3%
IFR
8.9%
LIFR
7.1%

Williston Basin International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 66.8% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 16% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NW averaging 11.8 knots, with gusts recorded up to 47 knots. Temperature extremes range from -34°C to 30°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are May, October, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NW (315°)
Average Speed: 11.8 kt
Maximum Recorded: 47 kt
Calm Winds: 2.6%
Direction Distribution:
N
15.9%
NE
7.7%
E
9.9%
SE
8.9%
S
13.5%
SW
9%
W
15.1%
NW
17.4%

Temperature Range

Average: -1°C
Range: -34°C to 30°C
-34°C 30°C

Visibility

Average: 8.9 SM
Below 3 SM: 4.5%
Fog Frequency: 4.8%

Best Months for VFR

May October September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 14/32
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.2 kt

Statistics computed from 7,556 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Williston Basin International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KXWA
IATA Code: XWA
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 2,344 ft MSL

Location

City: Williston
Country: US
Latitude: 48.258387°
Longitude: -103.748797°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+7

Runway Information

Runway 14/32
Length: 7,501 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About Williston Basin International Airport

Overview

Williston Basin International Airport serves the energy-rich region of western North Dakota, located in Williston at an elevation of 2,344 feet MSL. The airport supports regional commercial, cargo, and general aviation operations in an area significantly impacted by oil and gas industry transportation needs. Its international designation reflects the airport's strategic importance to the region's transportation infrastructure.

Flying Conditions

Weather at Williston Basin demonstrates significant variability, with Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions predominating at 65.6% of observations. Winter conditions are challenging, with temperatures ranging from -34°C to 30°C and an average of -1.3°C. Pilots should anticipate northwest winds averaging 11.7 knots, with occasional gusts up to 47 knots and calm periods accounting for 3.2% of observations.

Notable Features

The airport features a single concrete runway (14/32) extending 7,501 feet, capable of supporting a wide range of aircraft operations. The prevailing northwest wind direction provides consistent runway alignment, with wind favorable to runway orientation 100% of the time. Visibility averages 8.6 statute miles, with reduced visibility (below 3SM) occurring in 6.1% of observations and fog present in 7% of reports.

Approach Considerations

September through November offer the most consistently favorable flying conditions, with optimal Visual Flight Rules (VFR) weather. The runway experiences an average crosswind of 6.1 knots, which pilots should factor into their approach and landing calculations. Instrument meteorological conditions (IFR and LIFR) combine for approximately 18.1% of observations, indicating the potential need for alternate planning during certain periods.

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.