Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field)

KNUW / NUW

Oak Harbor, US

Last Updated
Apr 23, 08:53Z

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 4 min ago
08:53Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
10°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 7°C
9 kt
140°
10 SM
Visibility
2,600 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1021 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KNUW 230853Z 14009KT 10SM FEW012 OVC026 10/07 A3015 RMK AO2 SLP212 T01000067 53014

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 47 ft
FEW 1,200 ft AGL
OVC 2,600 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
1,200 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,247 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
2,600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,647 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field) is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with overcast skies at 2,600 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the southeast (140°) at 9 knots. Runway 14/32 is favored with a 9-knot headwind and 0-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 2600 feet AGL (overcast), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 10°C (50°F) with a dewpoint of 7°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: Light Drizzle, Mist. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Light Drizzle, Mist between 12:00Z and 18:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further. 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
1021 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1019 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (47 ft)
Pressure Alt
-186 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -775 ft
ISA Deviation: -4.9°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KNUW 230700Z 2307/2407 16010KT 9999 SCT020 BKN045 BKN200 QNH3000INS FM230900 15011KT 9999 SCT009 BKN035 OVC060 QNH3005INS TEMPO 2312/2318 15014G20KT 9000 -DZ BR BKN009 OVC015 BECMG 2318/2319 25008KT 9999 FEW020 SCT035 SCT250 QNH3016INS BECMG 2323/2400 31008KT 9999 VCSH FEW025 SCT045 SCT250 QNH3012INS TX14/2323Z TN08/2313Z FS30226
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
08:57Z BASE
+0h
VFR 160° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 4,500 ft
09:00Z FM230900
+1h
VFR 150° 11 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 3,500 ft
12:00Z TEMPO
+4h
IFR 150° 14 kt
Visibility: 9 km
Ceiling: 900 ft
Light Drizzle, Mist
18:00Z BECMG
+10h
VFR 250° 8 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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  • • Click legend items to toggle data series
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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
NUW
07
25
14 ✈️
32

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
07/25 8,000 ft 200 ft CON 87°
5.4 kt 7.2 kt
53° angle
✈️ 14/32
Active: 14
8,001 ft 200 ft CONC 155°
9.0 kt 0.0 kt
0° 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.