Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field)

KNUW / NUW

Oak Harbor, US

Last Updated
Jul 4, 23:53Z

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
Aging 1 hour ago
23:53Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
17°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 10°C
9 kt
230°
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1022 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KNUW 042353Z AUTO 23009KT 10SM CLR 17/10 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP220 T01670100 10167 20128 58004 $

Weather Briefing

VFR

Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field) is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with clear skies and 10 SM visibility. Note: This observation is 1.3 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the southwest (230°) at 9 knots. Runway 25 is favored with a 8-knot headwind and 3-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. Skies are clear with unlimited ceiling.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 17°C (63°F) with a dewpoint of 10°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 23 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Temporary VFR conditions are forecast between 02:00Z and 06:00Z.

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
1022 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1020 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (47 ft)
Pressure Alt
-216 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 35 ft
ISA Deviation: +2.1°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF AMD KNUW 050005Z 0500/0523 23010KT 9999 FEW025 QNH3012INS TEMPO 0502/0506 25013G22KT BECMG 0506/0508 27010KT 9999 SCT040 QNH3013INS FM051100 VRB06KT 9999 BKN035 BKN050 QNH3015INS FM051700 33009KT 9999 FEW020 SCT050 QNH3017INS AUTOMATED SENSOR METWATCH 0500 TIL 0507 TX19/0522Z TN11/0513Z AMD 0005 FS30232
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
01:08Z BASE
+0h
VFR 230° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
02:00Z TEMPO
+1h
VFR 250° 13 kt
06:00Z BECMG
+5h
VFR 270° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
11:00Z FM051100
+10h
VFR VRB 6 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 3,500 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
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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
NUW
07
25 ✈️
14
32

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 07/25
Active: 25
8,000 ft 200 ft CON 87°
8.5 kt 3.1 kt
20° angle
14/32 8,001 ft 200 ft CONC 155°
2.3 kt 8.7 kt
75° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KNUW

11,996 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
72.6%
MVFR
21.7%
IFR
3.2%
LIFR
2.5%

Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field) typically experiences VFR conditions 72.6% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 5.7% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SE averaging 8.9 knots, with gusts recorded up to 46 knots. Calm conditions occur 12.4% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -5°C to 30°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are June, October, May.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SE (135°)
Average Speed: 8.9 kt
Maximum Recorded: 46 kt
Calm Winds: 12.4%
Direction Distribution:
E
18.1%
N
2.5%
S
5.8%
W
17.7%
NE
0.9%
NW
5.2%
SE
25.6%
SW
11.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 9°C
Range: -5°C to 30°C
-5°C 30°C

Visibility

Average: 9.4 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.1%
Fog Frequency: 6.9%

Best Months for VFR

June October May

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 07/25
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.7 kt
Runway 14/32
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.4 kt

Statistics computed from 11,996 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field) - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KNUW
IATA Code: NUW
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 47 ft MSL

Location

City: Oak Harbor
Country: US
Latitude: 48.351799°
Longitude: -122.655998°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+8

Runway Information

Runway 07/25
Length: 8,000 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 14/32
Length: 8,001 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: CONC
ILS: No

About Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field)

Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault 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

Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field) is a medium-sized military airport located in Oak Harbor, Washington, serving naval aviation operations. Situated at an elevation of 47 feet MSL, the station provides critical infrastructure for maritime aviation activities in the Pacific Northwest region.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at KNUW are predominantly VFR, with 66.5% of observations showing clear conditions and only 8% of time experiencing low IFR or LIFR conditions. Prevailing winds are from the southeast at an average of 9.2 knots, with temperatures ranging from -3°C to 30°C. Visibility averages 9.1 statute miles, with fog present 10.3% of the time.

Notable Features

The airport features two substantial concrete runways: Runway 07/25 at 8,000 feet and Runway 14/32 at 8,001 feet. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind coverage, with minimal average crosswind conditions of 6.5 knots for 07/25 and 3.9 knots for 14/32. The coastal location provides unique geographical positioning for naval aviation operations.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect consistently favorable wind conditions for both primary runways. September, October, and January offer the best VFR conditions, with wind patterns predominantly from the southeast. Maximum recorded wind speeds reach 46 knots, suggesting potential for challenging wind conditions during specific weather events.

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.