Whiteman Air Force Base

KSZL / SZL

Knob Noster, US

Last Updated
May 15, 06:56Z

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 54 min ago
06:56Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
19°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 10°C
8 kt
160°
10 SM
Visibility
15,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1010 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KSZL 150656Z 16008KT 10SM FEW060 OVC150 19/10 A2982 RMK AO2A LTG DST N SLP094 T01920097 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 870 ft
FEW 6,000 ft AGL
OVC 15,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
6,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
6,870 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
15,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
15,870 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Whiteman Air Force Base is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with overcast skies at 15,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south-southeast (160°) at 8 knots. Runway 19 is favored with a 7-knot headwind and 4-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 15000 feet AGL (overcast), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 19°C (66°F) with a dewpoint of 10°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 30 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Light Showers Rain between 05:00Z and 07:00Z.

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
1010 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
981 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (870 ft)
Pressure Alt
968 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,657 ft
ISA Deviation: +5.7°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KSZL 150300Z 1503/1609 17012KT 9999 BKN080 BKN180 621307 QNH2982INS BECMG 1504/1505 16012KT 9999 BKN070 WS020/18042KT 621309 QNH2979INS TEMPO 1505/1507 6000 -SHRA BECMG 1507/1508 17012KT 9999 NSW FEW060 WS020/20042KT QNH2979INS BECMG 1513/1514 20010G20KT 9999 FEW200 QNH2972INS TX31/1521Z TN18/1511Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
07:50Z BASE
+0h
VFR 170° 12 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 8,000 ft
13:00Z BECMG
+6h
VFR 200° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km

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
SZL
01
19 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 01/19
Active: 19
12,400 ft 200 ft CON 11°
6.9 kt 4.0 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 - KSZL

7,011 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
75.4%
MVFR
10.2%
IFR
7.9%
LIFR
6.6%

Whiteman Air Force Base typically experiences VFR conditions 75.4% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 14.5% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 8.8 knots, with gusts recorded up to 33 knots. Temperature extremes range from -20°C to 37°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are May, February, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 8.8 kt
Maximum Recorded: 33 kt
Calm Winds: 7.9%
Direction Distribution:
N
13.8%
NE
7.9%
E
8.5%
SE
8.1%
S
20.2%
SW
14.6%
W
7.4%
NW
11.6%

Temperature Range

Average: 10.2°C
Range: -20°C to 37°C
-20°C 37°C

Visibility

Average: 9.5 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.2%
Fog Frequency: 2.5%

Best Months for VFR

May February September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 01/19
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.6 kt

Statistics computed from 7,011 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Whiteman Air Force Base - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KSZL
IATA Code: SZL
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 870 ft MSL

Location

City: Knob Noster
Country: US
Latitude: 38.730301°
Longitude: -93.547897°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 01/19
Length: 12,400 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About Whiteman Air Force Base

Whiteman Air Force Base 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

Whiteman Air Force Base is located near Knob Noster, Missouri, serving as a strategic military aviation facility at 870 feet mean sea level. The base hosts a substantial 12,400-foot concrete runway (01/19), capable of supporting complex military aircraft operations. Its central US location provides critical infrastructure for strategic air mobility and defense missions.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Whiteman AFB demonstrate significant variability, with Visual Flight Rules (VFR) predominating 74% of observations. Temperature ranges from -16°C to 37°C, presenting diverse operational challenges throughout the year. Winds predominantly originate from the south at an average of 8.1 knots, with occasional gusts up to 29 knots, and calm conditions occurring 10.1% of the time.

Notable Features

The airport's single runway (01/19) demonstrates favorable wind alignment, with crosswinds averaging only 4.4 knots. Visibility typically remains excellent, averaging 9.5 statute miles, with restricted visibility (below 3SM) occurring in just 1.4% of observations. Fog events are relatively infrequent, affecting only 3.9% of recorded periods.

Approach Considerations

September, October, and January represent the most consistent VFR months for aviation operations. The runway's extensive 12,400-foot length provides substantial margin for diverse aircraft types and operational requirements. Pilots should anticipate predominantly southern wind patterns and prepare for potential marginal conditions during the roughly 25% of time when flight rules are not strictly VFR.

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.