Vardø Airport, Svartnes

ENSS / VAW

Vardø, NO

Last Updated
May 15, 08:50Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 12 min ago
08:50Z

☀️ Day
IFR
Flight Rules
4°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 3°C
14 kt
150°
10+ km
Visibility
700 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1013 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR ENSS 150850Z 15014KT 9999 BKN007 04/03 Q1013 RMK WIND 0500FT 15015KT

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 42 ft
BKN 700 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
700 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
742 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

IFR

Vardø Airport, Svartnes is currently reporting instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions with broken clouds at 700 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south-southeast (150°) at 14 knots. Runway 15/33 is favored with a 14-knot headwind and 0-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 700 feet AGL (broken). Only precision approaches may be usable depending on minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 4°C (39°F) with a dewpoint of 3°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 9 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast between 09:00Z and 12:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

An instrument rating and IFR flight plan are required. Verify that destination and alternate approach minimums are above current and forecast conditions. 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.

QNH
1013 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1012 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (42 ft)
Pressure Alt
50 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -1,260 ft
ISA Deviation: -10.9°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF ENSS 150800Z 1509/1518 14018KT 9999 BKN008 TEMPO 1509/1512 SCT008 BKN018 BECMG 1510/1512 16008KT BECMG 1512/1514 FEW008
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
09:02Z BASE
+0h
IFR 140° 18 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 800 ft
10:00Z BECMG
+1h
VFR 160° 8 kt
12:00Z BECMG
+3h
VFR

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
NSS
15 ✈️
33

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 15/33
Active: 15
3,707 ft 98 ft ASP 163°
14.0 kt 0.0 kt
0° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - ENSS

10,839 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
63.9%
MVFR
20.1%
IFR
9.9%
LIFR
6.2%

Vardø Airport, Svartnes typically experiences VFR conditions 63.9% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 16.1% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SW averaging 14.6 knots, with gusts recorded up to 43 knots. Temperature extremes range from -18°C to 18°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are April, May, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SW (225°)
Average Speed: 14.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 43 kt
Calm Winds: 0.7%
Direction Distribution:
E
3.6%
N
9%
S
12.5%
W
21.7%
NE
3.6%
NW
9.5%
SE
6.5%
SW
32.9%

Temperature Range

Average: 0.1°C
Range: -18°C to 18°C
-18°C 18°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.4%

Best Months for VFR

April May September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 15/33
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 10.1 kt

Statistics computed from 10,839 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Vardø Airport, Svartnes - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: ENSS
IATA Code: VAW
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 42 ft MSL

Location

City: Vardø
Country: NO
Latitude: 70.355400°
Longitude: 31.044901°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-2

Runway Information

Runway 15/33
Length: 3,707 ft
Width: 98 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Vardø Airport, Svartnes

Overview

Vardø Airport, Svartnes serves the easternmost municipality in Norway, located in the Finnmark region near the Russian border. Situated at an elevation of 42 feet MSL, this medium-sized airport provides critical transportation infrastructure for the remote northeastern coastal area. The airport plays a key role in connecting this isolated region with larger Norwegian transportation networks.

Flying Conditions

Weather at Vardø Airport demonstrates significant variability, with visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailing 64.7% of the time. Pilots can expect southwest winds averaging 14.3 knots, with occasional gusts up to 42 knots. Temperature ranges from -15°C to 18°C, with an average of 1.1°C, presenting potential challenges for winter operations.

Notable Features

The airport's single runway 15/33 is 3,707 feet long with an asphalt surface, positioned to maximize wind alignment. Its high-latitude location (70.355400, 31.044901) means extreme seasonal variations in daylight and potential rapid weather changes. Prevailing winds from 225° provide consistent wind conditions for most operations.

Approach Considerations

Runway 15/33 offers favorable wind conditions 100% of the time, with an average crosswind component of 10.2 knots. Pilots should note the best VFR months are September, October, and January, which provide the most consistent flying conditions. Visibility averages 10 statute miles, with minimal instances of restricted visibility or fog.

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.