Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport

KRKS / RKS

Rock Springs, US

Last Updated
Jun 8, 07:54Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 35 min ago
07:54Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
10°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: -2°C
5 kt
300°
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1016 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KRKS 080754Z AUTO 30005KT 10SM CLR 10/M02 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP082 T01001017

Weather Briefing

VFR

Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with clear skies and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 knots. Runway 27 is favored with a 4-knot headwind and 3-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. Skies are clear with unlimited ceiling.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 10°C (50°F) with a dewpoint of -2°C, indicating relatively dry conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

QNH
1016 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
791 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (6,764 ft)
Pressure Alt
6,682 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 7,705 ft
ISA Deviation: +8.5°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KRKS 080520Z 0806/0906 30008KT P6SM FEW100 BKN140 FM081100 11008KT P6SM SCT140 FM081600 25008KT P6SM SCT120 FM081800 26015G25KT P6SM SCT120 BKN140 FM090200 27008KT P6SM SCT100 BKN120
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
08:28Z BASE
+0h
VFR 300° 8 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 14,000 ft
11:00Z FM081100
+3h
VFR 110° 8 kt
Visibility: >6SM
16:00Z FM081600
+8h
VFR 250° 8 kt
Visibility: >6SM
18:00Z FM081800
+10h
VFR 260° 15 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 14,000 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
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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
RKS
03
21
09
27 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
03/21 5,223 ft 75 ft ASP 45°
1.3 kt 4.8 kt
105° angle
✈️ 09/27
Active: 27
10,000 ft 150 ft ASP 103°
4.3 kt 2.5 kt
30° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KRKS

6,977 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
87.2%
MVFR
8.1%
IFR
3.7%
LIFR
1.1%

Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 87.2% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 12.1 knots, with gusts recorded up to 44 knots. Temperature extremes range from -18°C to 28°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are June, October, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 12.1 kt
Maximum Recorded: 44 kt
Calm Winds: 7.2%
Direction Distribution:
E
4%
N
2.5%
S
11.1%
W
39.3%
NE
6.1%
NW
3.7%
SE
4.4%
SW
21.5%

Temperature Range

Average: 5.1°C
Range: -18°C to 28°C
-18°C 28°C

Visibility

Average: 9.7 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.2%
Fog Frequency: 1.5%

Best Months for VFR

June October September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 03/21
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 7.8 kt
Runway 09/27
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.2 kt

Statistics computed from 6,977 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KRKS
IATA Code: RKS
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 6,764 ft MSL

Location

City: Rock Springs
Country: US
Latitude: 41.594200°
Longitude: -109.065001°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+7

Runway Information

Runway 03/21
Length: 5,223 ft
Width: 75 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 09/27
Length: 10,000 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport

Overview

Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport serves Rock Springs, Wyoming, as a medium-sized regional airport situated at a high elevation of 6,764 feet MSL. The airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for southwest Wyoming, strategically located in a region with significant energy and transportation infrastructure. Its two substantial runways support diverse aviation needs across commercial, cargo, and general aviation sectors.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at KRKS predominantly support visual flight rules (VFR), with 90.5% of observations showing VFR conditions. The airport experiences consistent westerly winds averaging 11.9 knots, with occasional strong gusts up to 43 knots. Temperature variations are significant, ranging from -16°C to 27°C, which pilots should anticipate when planning flights, particularly during seasonal transitions.

Notable Features

The airport's high elevation at 6,764 feet MSL requires careful performance calculations for aircraft, especially during warmer temperatures. Both runways are asphalt-surfaced and offer excellent length, with Runway 09/27 providing an extensive 10,000-foot surface. The airport's geographic location in southwest Wyoming presents potential challenges from mountain wave effects and rapid weather changes typical of intermountain western terrain.

Approach Considerations

Both primary runways offer favorable wind alignment, with 100% favorable wind coverage. Runway 03/21 demonstrates an average crosswind of 7.4 knots, while Runway 09/27 shows a slightly more favorable 5.3-knot average crosswind. September, October, and December statistically offer the most consistent VFR conditions, providing optimal flying windows for pilots navigating this high-elevation regional airport.

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.