Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field)

KNUW / NUW

Oak Harbor, US

Last Updated
May 15, 00:53Z

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
Recent 36 min ago
00:53Z

🌙 Night
MVFR
Flight Rules
11°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 8°C
5 kt
240°
10 SM
Visibility
2,800 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1019 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KNUW 150053Z 24005KT 10SM BKN028 BKN035 OVC085 11/08 A3009 RMK AO2 RAE08 SLP194 CB DSNT NE P0000 T01110078 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 47 ft
BKN 2,800 ft AGL
BKN 3,500 ft AGL
OVC 8,500 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
2,800 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,847 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
3,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,547 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
8,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
8,547 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field) is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with overcast skies at 8,500 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots. Runway 25 is favored with a 5-knot headwind and 1-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 2800 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 11°C (52°F) with a dewpoint of 8°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 24 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Expected weather includes: Showers Rain, Mist, Light Showers Rain. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Showers Rain, Mist between 23:00Z and 04:00Z. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Showers Rain, Mist between 04:00Z and 10:00Z. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Light Showers Rain between 18:00Z and 23:00Z.

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. 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
1019 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1017 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (47 ft)
Pressure Alt
-126 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -595 ft
ISA Deviation: -3.9°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KNUW 1423/1523 27007KT 9999 VCSH SCT030 BKN055 BKN090 BKN200 640509 530109 QNH3005INS TEMPO 1423/1504 VRB05KT 6000 SHRA BR BKN025 BKN050 OVC090 FM150400 25010G20KT 9999 -SHRA SCT020 BKN040 OVC075 640509 530109 QNH3006INS TEMPO 1504/1510 27015G27KT 3200 SHRA BR SCT010 BKN015 OVC035 FM151000 26015G24KT 9999 VCSH FEW030 BKN050 BKN120 BKN230 620509 530009 QNH3008INS FM151500 14010G20KT 9999 VCSH SCT020 SCT050 BKN090 BKN200 620409 530109 530909 QNH3002IN TEMPO 1518/1523 VRB10KT 8000 -SHRA SCT025 BKN050CB OVC090 TX14/1423Z TN08/1513Z FS30046
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
01:28Z BASE
+0h
VFR 270° 7 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 5,500 ft
04:00Z FM150400
+3h
VFR 250° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 4,000 ft
Light Showers Rain
04:00Z TEMPO
+3h
IFR 270° 15 kt
Visibility: 3.2 km
Ceiling: 1,500 ft
Showers Rain, Mist
10:00Z FM151000
+9h
VFR 260° 15 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 5,000 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
  • • Hover for exact values and timestamps
  • • Click legend items to toggle data series
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  • • Units automatically converted to preferences
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°
4.9 kt 0.9 kt
10° angle
14/32 8,001 ft 200 ft CONC 155°
0.4 kt 5.0 kt
85° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KNUW

10,068 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
70%
MVFR
24%
IFR
3.4%
LIFR
2.6%

Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field) typically experiences VFR conditions 70% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 6% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SE averaging 9.2 knots, with gusts recorded up to 46 knots. Calm conditions occur 12.9% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -5°C to 30°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are October, May, April.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SE (135°)
Average Speed: 9.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 46 kt
Calm Winds: 12.9%
Direction Distribution:
N
2.8%
NE
1%
E
20.5%
SE
29%
S
5.9%
SW
8%
W
14.6%
NW
5.1%

Temperature Range

Average: 8.2°C
Range: -5°C to 30°C
-5°C 30°C

Visibility

Average: 9.3 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.2%
Fog Frequency: 7.6%

Best Months for VFR

October May April

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 07/25
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.2 kt
Runway 14/32
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.1 kt

Statistics computed from 10,068 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 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.