Jacksonville Naval Air Station (Towers Field)

KNIP / NIP

Jacksonville, US

Last Updated
Jul 27, 09:53Z

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 53 min ago
09:53Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
27°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 24°C
6 kt
280°
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1012 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KNIP 270953Z 28006KT 10SM SCT250 27/24 A2987 RMK AO2 SLP111 T02720239

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 21 ft
SCT 25,000 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
25,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
25,021 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Jacksonville Naval Air Station (Towers Field) is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with scattered clouds at 25,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west (280°) at 6 knots. Runway 28 is favored with a 6-knot headwind and 0-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: scattered at 25,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 27°C (81°F) with a dewpoint of 24°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. 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: Thunderstorm Rain. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Thunderstorm Rain between 10:00Z and 12:00Z.

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. 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
1012 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1011 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (21 ft)
Pressure Alt
59 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,504 ft
ISA Deviation: +12.0°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KNIP 2707/2807 21013KT 9999 BKN130 OVC170 QNH2985INS FM271000 27008KT 9999 VCTS BKN050CB BKN080 QNH2983INS TEMPO 2710/2712 VRB15G25KT 4800 TSRA BKN050CB OVC080 FM271300 27010KT 9999 SCT050 QNH2985INS FM280000 16010KT 9999 FEW150 QNH2986INS TX33/2718Z TN26/2709Z FN00319
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
10:46Z BASE
+0h
VFR 210° 13 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 13,000 ft
13:00Z FM271300
+3h
VFR 270° 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
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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
NIP
10
28 ✈️
14
32 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 10/28
Active: 28
8,002 ft 200 ft ASPH 101°
6.0 kt 0.0 kt
0° angle
✈️ 14/32
Active: 32
5,984 ft 200 ft ASP 135°
4.6 kt 3.9 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 - KNIP

13,265 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
81.3%
MVFR
9.8%
IFR
5%
LIFR
3.9%

Jacksonville Naval Air Station (Towers Field) enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 81.3% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the N averaging 8.2 knots, with gusts recorded up to 33 knots. Temperature extremes range from -5°C to 37°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are July, November, June.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: N (0°)
Average Speed: 8.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 33 kt
Calm Winds: 7.5%
Direction Distribution:
E
9.4%
N
17.2%
S
11.8%
W
14.7%
NE
13.2%
NW
8.8%
SE
7.9%
SW
9.4%

Temperature Range

Average: 20.4°C
Range: -5°C to 37°C
-5°C 37°C

Visibility

Average: 9.5 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.3%
Fog Frequency: 1.2%

Best Months for VFR

July November June

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 10/28
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.6 kt
Runway 14/32
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.5 kt

Statistics computed from 13,265 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Jacksonville Naval Air Station (Towers Field) - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KNIP
IATA Code: NIP
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 21 ft MSL

Location

City: Jacksonville
Country: US
Latitude: 30.235800°
Longitude: -81.680603°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 10/28
Length: 8,002 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: ASPH
ILS: No
Runway 14/32
Length: 5,984 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Jacksonville Naval Air Station (Towers Field)

Jacksonville Naval Air Station (Towers Field) 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

Jacksonville Naval Air Station (Towers Field) serves as a critical naval aviation facility located in Jacksonville, Florida. Situated at 21 feet above mean sea level, the base supports military aviation operations with two substantial runways capable of accommodating various aircraft types. Its strategic coastal location provides significant operational flexibility for naval aviation training and support missions.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at KNIP demonstrate highly favorable VFR flying environments, with 80.4% of observations reporting visual flight rules. Temperatures range from -1°C to 34°C, creating relatively stable aviation conditions throughout the year. Wind patterns predominantly originate from the north at an average of 7.8 knots, with calm conditions occurring 11.6% of the time and maximum gusts reaching 23 knots.

Notable Features

The airport features two paved runways: a longer 8,002-foot runway (10/28) and a 5,984-foot runway (14/32). Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with minimal average crosswind conditions (5.7kt and 5.1kt respectively). The low elevation and coastal positioning suggest minimal terrain-related operational challenges for approaching aircraft.

Approach Considerations

Pilots should note September, October, and November represent the most consistently favorable VFR months for operations. Visibility averages 9.4 statute miles, with only 1.9% of observations showing visibility below 3 statute miles. Fog occurs in just 1.5% of observations, indicating generally clear approach conditions throughout the year.

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.