Kiruna Airport

ESNQ / KRN

Kiruna, SE

Last Updated
May 15, 04:20Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 10 min ago
04:20Z

🌅 Dawn
MVFR
Flight Rules
4°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 2°C
14 kt
200°
10+ km
Visibility
1,300 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR ESNQ 150420Z AUTO 20014KT 9999 OVC013/// 04/02 Q1005

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,508 ft
OVC 1,300 ft AGL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
1,300 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,808 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Kiruna Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with overcast skies at 1,300 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south-southwest (200°) at 14 knots. Runway 21 is favored with a 14-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 1300 feet AGL (overcast), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 4°C (39°F) with a dewpoint of 2°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

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.

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
SNQ
03
21 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 03/21
Active: 21
8,209 ft 148 ft ASP 33°
13.8 kt 2.4 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 - ESNQ

11,109 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
69.6%
MVFR
9.9%
IFR
10.1%
LIFR
10.4%

Kiruna Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 69.6% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 20.5% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SW averaging 7.7 knots, with gusts recorded up to 34 knots. Temperature extremes range from -33°C to 18°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are April, May, November.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SW (225°)
Average Speed: 7.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 34 kt
Calm Winds: 8.9%
Direction Distribution:
E
1.6%
N
8.1%
S
22.5%
W
5.8%
NE
3.8%
NW
7.1%
SE
3.3%
SW
39%

Temperature Range

Average: -5.3°C
Range: -33°C to 18°C
-33°C 18°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 1.9%

Best Months for VFR

April May November

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 03/21
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2.9 kt

Statistics computed from 11,109 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Kiruna Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: ESNQ
IATA Code: KRN
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,508 ft MSL

Location

City: Kiruna
Country: SE
Latitude: 67.821999°
Longitude: 20.336800°
Time Zone: Europe/Brussels

Runway Information

Runway 03/21
Length: 8,209 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

Nearby Airports

VFR MVFR IFR LIFR No Data

About Kiruna Airport

Overview

Kiruna Airport serves the northernmost city in Sweden, located in Lapland at 67.82°N latitude. Situated at 1508 ft elevation, this medium-sized airport supports regional and commercial aviation in an Arctic environment. The airport provides critical transportation infrastructure for the mining and tourism industries in Sweden's far north.

Flying Conditions

Weather at Kiruna demonstrates significant variability, with visual flight rules (VFR) conditions occurring 62.8% of the time. Winter conditions dominate, with an average temperature of -5.5°C and extreme ranges from -33°C to 18°C. Pilots can expect predominantly southwest winds averaging 7.3 knots, with occasional gusts up to 29 knots and calm periods accounting for 11.8% of observations.

Notable Features

The airport's single runway 03/21 spans 8209 feet with an asphalt surface, positioned to accommodate the challenging northern climate. Its geographic location near the Arctic Circle introduces unique considerations for aviation, including potential aurora visibility and extended periods of darkness during winter months. The terrain surrounding Kiruna is characterized by subarctic landscapes with significant elevation changes.

Approach Considerations

Runway 03/21 offers consistently favorable wind conditions, with a 100% favorable wind profile and minimal average crosswind of 3 knots. Instrument meteorological conditions (IFR and LIFR) occur in approximately 26.7% of observations, suggesting pilots should be prepared for potential instrument approaches. September, November, and December represent the most stable VFR months for operations.

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.