Williston Basin International Airport

KXWA / XWA

Williston, US

Last Updated
May 14, 22:35Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 20 min ago
22:35Z

🌙 Night
MVFR
Flight Rules
19°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 1°C
38 kt
280° G52 kt
4 SM
Visibility
3,100 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
999 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

SPECI KXWA 142235Z AUTO 28038G52KT 4SM HZ FEW026 BKN031 OVC046 19/01 A2951 RMK AO2 PK WND 28052/2232 T01940011

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 2,344 ft
FEW 2,600 ft AGL
BKN 3,100 ft AGL
OVC 4,600 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
2,600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,944 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
3,100 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,444 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
4,600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
6,944 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Williston Basin International Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with overcast skies at 4,600 feet and 4 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west (280°) at 38 knots with gusts to 52 knots. Runway 32 is favored with a 29-knot headwind and 24-knot crosswind component (gusting to 33 knots crosswind). These are strong winds that may exceed crosswind limits for light aircraft.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 4 SM, below VFR minimums in some airspace classifications. Check local requirements before departing VFR. The ceiling is 3100 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 19°C (66°F) with a dewpoint of 1°C, indicating very dry conditions.

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: Blowing Dust. Winds are forecast to reach up to 36 knots during the period. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 21 to 36 knots.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further. Gusty conditions may exceed demonstrated crosswind components for many general aviation aircraft. Check your aircraft's limitations. 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
999 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
921 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (2,344 ft)
Pressure Alt
2,772 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 3,815 ft
ISA Deviation: +8.7°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KXWA 141731Z 1418/1518 26035G50KT 1SM BLDU FEW100 FM150000 28036G52KT 3SM BLDU SCT150 FM150300 27026G40KT 6SM BLDU FEW200 FM150800 27021G33KT P6SM FEW250
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
22:54Z BASE
+0h
IFR 260° 35 kt
Visibility: 1SM
Blowing Dust
00:00Z FM150000
+2h
MVFR 280° 36 kt
Visibility: 3SM
Blowing Dust
03:00Z FM150300
+5h
VFR 270° 26 kt
Visibility: 6SM
Blowing Dust
08:00Z FM150800
+10h
VFR 270° 21 kt
Visibility: >6SM

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
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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
XWA
14
32 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 14/32
Active: 32
7,501 ft 150 ft CON 148°
29.1 kt 24.4 kt
40° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KXWA

7,556 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
66.8%
MVFR
17.3%
IFR
8.9%
LIFR
7.1%

Williston Basin International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 66.8% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 16% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NW averaging 11.8 knots, with gusts recorded up to 47 knots. Temperature extremes range from -34°C to 30°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are May, October, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NW (315°)
Average Speed: 11.8 kt
Maximum Recorded: 47 kt
Calm Winds: 2.6%
Direction Distribution:
N
15.9%
NE
7.7%
E
9.9%
SE
8.9%
S
13.5%
SW
9%
W
15.1%
NW
17.4%

Temperature Range

Average: -1°C
Range: -34°C to 30°C
-34°C 30°C

Visibility

Average: 8.9 SM
Below 3 SM: 4.5%
Fog Frequency: 4.8%

Best Months for VFR

May October September

Runway Wind Analysis

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

Statistics computed from 7,556 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Williston Basin International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KXWA
IATA Code: XWA
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 2,344 ft MSL

Location

City: Williston
Country: US
Latitude: 48.258387°
Longitude: -103.748797°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+7

Runway Information

Runway 14/32
Length: 7,501 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About Williston Basin International Airport

Overview

Williston Basin International Airport serves the energy-rich region of western North Dakota, located in Williston at an elevation of 2,344 feet MSL. The airport supports regional commercial, cargo, and general aviation operations in an area significantly impacted by oil and gas industry transportation needs. Its international designation reflects the airport's strategic importance to the region's transportation infrastructure.

Flying Conditions

Weather at Williston Basin demonstrates significant variability, with Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions predominating at 65.6% of observations. Winter conditions are challenging, with temperatures ranging from -34°C to 30°C and an average of -1.3°C. Pilots should anticipate northwest winds averaging 11.7 knots, with occasional gusts up to 47 knots and calm periods accounting for 3.2% of observations.

Notable Features

The airport features a single concrete runway (14/32) extending 7,501 feet, capable of supporting a wide range of aircraft operations. The prevailing northwest wind direction provides consistent runway alignment, with wind favorable to runway orientation 100% of the time. Visibility averages 8.6 statute miles, with reduced visibility (below 3SM) occurring in 6.1% of observations and fog present in 7% of reports.

Approach Considerations

September through November offer the most consistently favorable flying conditions, with optimal Visual Flight Rules (VFR) weather. The runway experiences an average crosswind of 6.1 knots, which pilots should factor into their approach and landing calculations. Instrument meteorological conditions (IFR and LIFR) combine for approximately 18.1% of observations, indicating the potential need for alternate planning during certain periods.

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.