Orcas Island Airport

KORS / ESD

Eastsound, US

Last Updated
May 14, 22:55Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 12 min ago
22:55Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
15°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 7°C
10 kt
190° G16 kt
10 SM
Visibility
12,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1019 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KORS 142255Z AUTO 19010G16KT 10SM SCT085 BKN120 15/07 A3008 RMK AO2

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 31 ft
SCT 8,500 ft AGL
BKN 12,000 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
8,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
8,531 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
12,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
12,031 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Orcas Island Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 12,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (190°) at 10 knots with gusts to 16 knots. Runway 16/34 is favored with a 9-knot headwind and 5-knot crosswind component (gusting to 8 knots crosswind).

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 12000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 15°C (59°F) with a dewpoint of 7°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight.

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
1018 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (31 ft)
Pressure Alt
-142 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -135 ft
ISA Deviation: +0.1°C

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
ORS
16
34 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 16/34
Active: 34
2,900 ft 60 ft ASPH-G
8.7 kt 5.0 kt
150° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KORS

16,021 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
74.8%
MVFR
18.5%
IFR
3.1%
LIFR
3.6%

Orcas Island Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 74.8% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 6.7% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 7.9 knots. Calm conditions occur 36.9% of the time. Temperatures typically range between -1°C and 24°C with an average of 9.6°C. The best months for VFR flying are May, April, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 7.9 kt
Maximum Recorded: 25 kt
Calm Winds: 36.9%
Direction Distribution:
E
0.3%
N
7.8%
S
40.5%
W
0.2%
NE
1.9%
NW
6.4%
SE
4%
SW
1.9%

Temperature Range

Average: 9.6°C
Range: -1°C to 24°C
-1°C 24°C

Visibility

Average: 9.1 SM
Below 3 SM: 1%
Fog Frequency: 1.1%

Best Months for VFR

May April October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 16/34
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2.2 kt

Statistics computed from 16,021 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Orcas Island Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KORS
IATA Code: ESD
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 31 ft MSL

Location

City: Eastsound
Country: US
Latitude: 48.708199°
Longitude: -122.910004°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+8

Runway Information

Runway 16/34
Length: 2,900 ft
Width: 60 ft
Surface: ASPH-G
ILS: No

About Orcas Island Airport

Overview

Orcas Island Airport serves the San Juan Islands region in Washington State, located in Eastsound at a modest elevation of 31 feet MSL. This medium-sized airport provides critical transportation infrastructure for the island community, supporting general aviation operations with its single 2,900-foot asphalt runway oriented 16/34.

Flying Conditions

Weather observations indicate predominantly favorable VFR conditions, with 68.9% of recorded METARs showing clear flying conditions. The airport experiences a moderate maritime climate, with temperatures ranging from 1°C to 21°C and an average of 10.5°C. Wind patterns are characterized by southerly flows at an average of 8.2 knots, with calm conditions occurring 39% of the time.

Notable Features

Situated at coordinates 48.708199, -122.910004, the airport is positioned in a coastal island environment with potential for challenging terrain and localized weather variations. The surrounding San Juan Islands landscape may introduce microclimatic effects that pilots should anticipate, particularly regarding visibility and wind conditions around the approach and departure paths.

Approach Considerations

Runway 16/34 demonstrates excellent wind alignment, with 100% favorable wind coverage and a minimal average crosswind of just 2.2 knots. Pilots can expect optimal VFR conditions during autumn months (September, October, November), with consistently good visibility averaging 8.8 statute miles and minimal fog interference.

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.