Salem-Willamette Valley Airport/McNary Field

KSLE / SLE

Salem, US

Last Updated
May 14, 14:56Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Aging 1 hour ago
14:56Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
12°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 9°C
4 kt
190°
10 SM
Visibility
5,500 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1023 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KSLE 141456Z 19004KT 10SM FEW030 FEW038 OVC055 12/09 A3021 RMK AO2 RAB16E26 SLP230 P0000 60000 T01170089 53001

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 214 ft
FEW 3,000 ft AGL
FEW 3,800 ft AGL
OVC 5,500 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
3,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,214 ft AMSL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
3,800 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,014 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
5,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,714 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Salem-Willamette Valley Airport/McNary Field is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with overcast skies at 5,500 feet and 10 SM visibility. Note: This observation is 1.1 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (190°) at 4 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 5500 feet AGL (overcast), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 12°C (54°F) with a dewpoint of 9°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. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. 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
1023 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1016 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (214 ft)
Pressure Alt
-79 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -388 ft
ISA Deviation: -2.6°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KSLE 141120Z 1412/1512 17008KT P6SM SCT035 OVC040 FM142300 29007KT P6SM BKN060
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
15:59Z BASE
+0h
VFR 170° 8 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 4,000 ft
23:00Z FM142300
+8h
VFR 290° 7 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 6,000 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
  • • Zoom and pan for detailed analysis
  • • 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
SLE
13 ✈️
31
16 ✈️
34

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 13/31
Active: 13
5,811 ft 150 ft ASP 150°
2.0 kt 3.5 kt
60° angle
✈️ 16/34
Active: 16
5,145 ft 100 ft ASP 181°
3.5 kt 2.0 kt
30° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KSLE

7,220 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
68.6%
MVFR
17.2%
IFR
8.6%
LIFR
5.5%

Salem-Willamette Valley Airport/McNary Field typically experiences VFR conditions 68.6% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 14.1% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 6.8 knots. Calm conditions occur 27.4% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -6°C to 34°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are September, April, May.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 6.8 kt
Maximum Recorded: 26 kt
Calm Winds: 27.4%
Direction Distribution:
N
12.7%
NE
2.9%
E
1.3%
SE
7.6%
S
29.6%
SW
4.8%
W
5.3%
NW
8.4%

Temperature Range

Average: 9.3°C
Range: -6°C to 34°C
-6°C 34°C

Visibility

Average: 8.9 SM
Below 3 SM: 4.6%
Fog Frequency: 3.6%

Best Months for VFR

September April May

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 13/31
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.5 kt
Runway 16/34
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2.9 kt

Statistics computed from 7,220 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Salem-Willamette Valley Airport/McNary Field - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KSLE
IATA Code: SLE
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 214 ft MSL

Location

City: Salem
Country: US
Latitude: 44.909500°
Longitude: -123.002998°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+8

Runway Information

Runway 13/31
Length: 5,811 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 16/34
Length: 5,145 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Salem-Willamette Valley Airport/McNary Field

Overview

Salem-Willamette Valley Airport serves the Salem, Oregon region as a medium-sized airport situated at 214 feet mean sea level. Located in the Willamette Valley, the airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for the surrounding agricultural and metropolitan areas, supporting both general aviation and regional transportation needs.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at McNary Field demonstrate significant variability, with Visual Flight Rules (VFR) predominating at 64.9% of observations. Pilots can expect prevailing southerly winds averaging 7 knots, with temperature ranges spanning from -4°C to 34°C. Seasonal visibility is generally excellent, averaging 8.5 statute miles, though pilots should anticipate occasional reduced conditions with fog affecting 4.8% of observations.

Notable Features

The airport features two asphalt runways: Runway 13/31 at 5,811 feet and Runway 16/34 at 5,145 feet. Both runways demonstrate highly favorable wind alignment, with 100% wind compatibility and minimal average crosswind components (4.6 knots for 13/31 and 2.7 knots for 16/34). The airport's moderate elevation and valley location contribute to relatively stable approach environments.

Approach Considerations

September, October, and January represent the most consistently favorable VFR months for operations. Pilots should be prepared for potential instrument meteorological conditions, with MVFR and IFR conditions collectively comprising approximately 27% of observations. Wind patterns suggest a consistent southerly flow, which can inform runway selection and approach planning.

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.