Wellington International Airport

NZWN / WLG

Wellington, NZ

Last Updated
May 14, 20:30Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 13 min ago
20:30Z

🌙 Night
MVFR
Flight Rules
12°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 9°C
11 kt
180°
10+ km
Visibility
1,700 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR NZWN 142030Z AUTO 18011KT 9999 BKN017/// OVC022/// 12/09 Q1038

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 41 ft
BKN 1,700 ft AGL
OVC 2,200 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
1,700 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,741 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
2,200 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,241 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Wellington International Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with overcast skies at 2,200 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (180°) at 11 knots. Runway 16/34 is favored with a 10-knot headwind and 4-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 1700 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 12°C (54°F) with a dewpoint of 9°C. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread suggests high humidity and potential for visibility restrictions, especially during cooling periods.

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

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours.

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 NZWN 141714Z 1418/1524 17010KT 9999 SCT020 BECMG 1418/1420 BKN012 BECMG 1512/1514 BKN020
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
20:43Z BASE
+0h
VFR 170° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km

24-Hour Weather Evolution

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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
ZWN
16 ✈️
34

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 16/34
Active: 16
6,352 ft 148 ft ASP 183°
10.3 kt 3.8 kt
20° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - NZWN

11,032 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
65.5%
MVFR
28.9%
IFR
5.1%
LIFR
0.6%

Wellington International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 65.5% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 5.7% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the N averaging 14.5 knots, with gusts recorded up to 51 knots. Temperatures typically range between 5°C and 25°C with an average of 15.8°C. The best months for VFR flying are September, January, April.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: N (0°)
Average Speed: 14.5 kt
Maximum Recorded: 51 kt
Calm Winds: 0%
Direction Distribution:
N
56.4%
NE
8.6%
E
0.8%
SE
4.3%
S
21.9%
SW
3.5%
W
0.9%
NW
3.5%

Temperature Range

Average: 15.8°C
Range: 5°C to 25°C
5°C 25°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.2%

Best Months for VFR

September January April

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 16/34
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.3 kt

Statistics computed from 11,032 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Wellington International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: NZWN
IATA Code: WLG
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 41 ft MSL

Location

City: Wellington
Country: NZ
Latitude: -41.327202°
Longitude: 174.804993°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-12

Runway Information

Runway 16/34
Length: 6,352 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Wellington International Airport

Overview

Wellington International Airport serves as the primary airport for New Zealand's capital city, located on the southern tip of the North Island. The airport supports commercial passenger operations, general aviation, and serves as a critical transportation hub for the Wellington region. Its single runway (16/34) extends 6,352 feet and is constructed of asphalt, accommodating a range of aircraft types.

Flying Conditions

Wellington is known for challenging wind conditions, which are particularly notable given the airport's low elevation of 41 feet mean sea level. The airport's location between mountain ranges and coastal terrain can create complex wind patterns and potential turbulence during approach and departure. Pilots should anticipate potential wind shear and crosswind conditions that may require heightened situational awareness.

Notable Features

The airport's geographic position at coordinates -41.327202, 174.804993 places it in a topographically complex environment surrounded by significant terrain. Its proximity to urban areas and mountainous landscape means pilots must be prepared for potential wind gradient effects and terrain-induced turbulence. The single runway's orientation (16/34) provides some flexibility in handling varying wind directions.

Approach Considerations

Approach planning should carefully consider the airport's wind characteristics and surrounding terrain. The runway's length of 6,352 feet provides adequate space for most commercial and general aviation aircraft, but precise navigation is crucial given the challenging local environment. Pilots should maintain heightened awareness of potential wind shifts and be prepared for dynamic approach conditions.

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.