Vardø Airport, Svartnes

ENSS / VAW

Vardø, NO

Last Updated
Apr 23, 00:20Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 10 min ago
00:20Z

🌙 Night
IFR
Flight Rules
1°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 0°C
24 kt
340° G35 kt
2 km
Visibility
2,600 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1004 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR ENSS 230020Z AUTO 34024G35KT 2000 -RASN SCT004/// BKN026/// OVC048/// 01/M00 Q1004 RMK WIND 0500FT 36030KT

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 42 ft
SCT 400 ft AGL
BKN 2,600 ft AGL
OVC 4,800 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
400 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
442 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
2,600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,642 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
4,800 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,842 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

IFR

Vardø Airport, Svartnes is currently reporting instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions with overcast skies at 4,800 feet and 2 km visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the north-northwest (340°) at 24 knots with gusts to 35 knots. Runway 33 is favored with a 24-knot headwind and 4-knot crosswind component (gusting to 6 knots crosswind). These are strong winds that may exceed crosswind limits for light aircraft.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is reduced to 2 km. IFR conditions prevail and an instrument clearance is required for operations in controlled airspace. The ceiling is 2600 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 1°C (34°F) with a dewpoint of 0°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

Pilot Recommendations

An instrument rating and IFR flight plan are required. Verify that destination and alternate approach minimums are above current and forecast conditions. Gusty conditions may exceed demonstrated crosswind components for many general aviation aircraft. Check your aircraft's limitations. 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
1004 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1003 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (42 ft)
Pressure Alt
320 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -1,350 ft
ISA Deviation: -13.9°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
NSS
15
33 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 15/33
Active: 33
3,707 ft 98 ft ASP 163°
23.6 kt 4.2 kt
10° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - ENSS

9,855 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
63.3%
MVFR
19.9%
IFR
10.3%
LIFR
6.5%

Vardø Airport, Svartnes typically experiences VFR conditions 63.3% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 16.8% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SW averaging 14.7 knots, with gusts recorded up to 42 knots. Temperature extremes range from -18°C to 18°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are April, September, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SW (225°)
Average Speed: 14.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 42 kt
Calm Winds: 0.7%
Direction Distribution:
N
7.9%
NE
3.4%
E
3.6%
SE
5.7%
S
13.3%
SW
35.3%
W
21.5%
NW
8.6%

Temperature Range

Average: -0.2°C
Range: -18°C to 18°C
-18°C 18°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.5%

Best Months for VFR

April September October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 15/33
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 10.4 kt

Statistics computed from 9,855 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Vardø Airport, Svartnes - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: ENSS
IATA Code: VAW
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 42 ft MSL

Location

City: Vardø
Country: NO
Latitude: 70.355400°
Longitude: 31.044901°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-2

Runway Information

Runway 15/33
Length: 3,707 ft
Width: 98 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Vardø Airport, Svartnes

Overview

Vardø Airport, Svartnes serves the easternmost municipality in Norway, located in the Finnmark region near the Russian border. Situated at an elevation of 42 feet MSL, this medium-sized airport provides critical transportation infrastructure for the remote northeastern coastal area. The airport plays a key role in connecting this isolated region with larger Norwegian transportation networks.

Flying Conditions

Weather at Vardø Airport demonstrates significant variability, with visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailing 64.7% of the time. Pilots can expect southwest winds averaging 14.3 knots, with occasional gusts up to 42 knots. Temperature ranges from -15°C to 18°C, with an average of 1.1°C, presenting potential challenges for winter operations.

Notable Features

The airport's single runway 15/33 is 3,707 feet long with an asphalt surface, positioned to maximize wind alignment. Its high-latitude location (70.355400, 31.044901) means extreme seasonal variations in daylight and potential rapid weather changes. Prevailing winds from 225° provide consistent wind conditions for most operations.

Approach Considerations

Runway 15/33 offers favorable wind conditions 100% of the time, with an average crosswind component of 10.2 knots. Pilots should note the best VFR months are September, October, and January, which provide the most consistent flying conditions. Visibility averages 10 statute miles, with minimal instances of restricted visibility or fog.

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.