Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field)

KNUW / NUW

Oak Harbor, US

Last Updated
Apr 22, 21:53Z

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
Fresh 15 min ago
21:53Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
12°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 8°C
7 kt
260°
10 SM
Visibility
6,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1015 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KNUW 222153Z 26007KT 10SM FEW015 SCT036 BKN060 BKN150 12/08 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP157 T01220083

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 47 ft
FEW 1,500 ft AGL
SCT 3,600 ft AGL
BKN 6,000 ft AGL
BKN 15,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
1,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,547 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
3,600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,647 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
6,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
6,047 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
15,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
15,047 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field) is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 6,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west (260°) at 7 knots. Runway 25 is favored with a 7-knot headwind and 1-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 6000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 12°C (54°F) with a dewpoint of 8°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 fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions.

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
1015 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1013 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (47 ft)
Pressure Alt
-6 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -355 ft
ISA Deviation: -2.9°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KNUW 221500Z 2215/2315 32008KT 9999 VCSH SCT010 BKN025 OVC040 620709 QNH2985INS BECMG 2219/2221 24007KT 9999 SCT035 BKN060 BKN110 BKN200 620709 QNH2988INS FM230500 14010KT 9999 BKN035 BKN060 BKN200 600000 QNH3000INS TX13/2223Z TN09/2313Z FS30028
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
22:07Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 320° 8 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 2,500 ft
05:00Z FM230500
+7h
VFR 140° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 3,500 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
NUW
07
25 ✈️
14
32

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 07/25
Active: 25
8,000 ft 200 ft CON 87°
6.9 kt 1.2 kt
10° angle
14/32 8,001 ft 200 ft CONC 155°
1.8 kt 6.8 kt
105° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KNUW

9,193 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
69%
MVFR
24.7%
IFR
3.6%
LIFR
2.7%

Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field) typically experiences VFR conditions 69% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 6.3% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SE averaging 9.4 knots, with gusts recorded up to 46 knots. Calm conditions occur 12.7% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -5°C to 30°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are October, April, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SE (135°)
Average Speed: 9.4 kt
Maximum Recorded: 46 kt
Calm Winds: 12.7%
Direction Distribution:
N
3.1%
NE
1.1%
E
21.9%
SE
30.7%
S
5.8%
SW
6.2%
W
13.3%
NW
5.2%

Temperature Range

Average: 7.9°C
Range: -5°C to 30°C
-5°C 30°C

Visibility

Average: 9.3 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.3%
Fog Frequency: 8%

Best Months for VFR

October April September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 07/25
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.5 kt
Runway 14/32
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.1 kt

Statistics computed from 9,193 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field) - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KNUW
IATA Code: NUW
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 47 ft MSL

Location

City: Oak Harbor
Country: US
Latitude: 48.351799°
Longitude: -122.655998°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+8

Runway Information

Runway 07/25
Length: 8,000 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 14/32
Length: 8,001 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: CONC
ILS: No

About Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field)

Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault 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

Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field) is a medium-sized military airport located in Oak Harbor, Washington, serving naval aviation operations. Situated at an elevation of 47 feet MSL, the station provides critical infrastructure for maritime aviation activities in the Pacific Northwest region.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at KNUW are predominantly VFR, with 66.5% of observations showing clear conditions and only 8% of time experiencing low IFR or LIFR conditions. Prevailing winds are from the southeast at an average of 9.2 knots, with temperatures ranging from -3°C to 30°C. Visibility averages 9.1 statute miles, with fog present 10.3% of the time.

Notable Features

The airport features two substantial concrete runways: Runway 07/25 at 8,000 feet and Runway 14/32 at 8,001 feet. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind coverage, with minimal average crosswind conditions of 6.5 knots for 07/25 and 3.9 knots for 14/32. The coastal location provides unique geographical positioning for naval aviation operations.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect consistently favorable wind conditions for both primary runways. September, October, and January offer the best VFR conditions, with wind patterns predominantly from the southeast. Maximum recorded wind speeds reach 46 knots, suggesting potential for challenging wind conditions during specific weather events.

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.