Seattle–Tacoma International Airport

KSEA / SEA

Seattle, US

Last Updated
Jun 8, 17:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 15 min ago
17:53Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
15°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 7°C
5 kt
290°
10 SM
Visibility
8,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1006 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KSEA 081753Z 29005KT 10SM FEW060 BKN080 15/07 A2971 RMK AO2 RAE1654 SLP065 P0000 60000 T01500072 10150 20106 56017

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 433 ft
FEW 6,000 ft AGL
BKN 8,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
6,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
6,433 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
8,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
8,433 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Seattle–Tacoma International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 8,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 knots. Runway 34 is favored with a 3-knot headwind and 4-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 8000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 15°C (59°F) with a dewpoint of 7°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 30 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 Rain, Light Rain, Mist, Light Showers Rain, Mist. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 4 to 15 knots.

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
1006 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
992 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (433 ft)
Pressure Alt
651 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 755 ft
ISA Deviation: +0.9°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KSEA 081720Z 0818/0924 28004KT P6SM VCSH SCT040 BKN060 OVC100 FM082000 26008KT P6SM -RA SCT035 BKN050 OVC070 FM082300 05007KT 5SM -RA BR OVC040 FM090300 12010KT 5SM -RA BR OVC022 FM090700 19012KT 6SM -RA BR OVC012 FM091200 21015G25KT 5SM -SHRA BR OVC015 FM092000 22014G22KT P6SM VCSH BKN025 OVC050
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
18:07Z BASE
+0h
VFR 280° 4 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 6,000 ft
20:00Z FM082000
+2h
VFR 260° 8 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 5,000 ft
Light Rain
23:00Z FM082300
+5h
MVFR 50° 7 kt
Visibility: 5SM
Ceiling: 4,000 ft
Light Rain, Mist
03:00Z FM090300
+9h
MVFR 120° 10 kt
Visibility: 5SM
Ceiling: 2,200 ft
Light Rain, Mist

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
SEA
16L
34R ✈️
16C
34C ✈️
16R
34L ✈️
lower
high

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 16C/34C
Active: 34C
9,426 ft 150 ft CONC-F 180°
3.2 kt 3.8 kt
50° angle
✈️ 16L/34R
Active: 34R
11,900 ft 150 ft ASP 180°
3.2 kt 3.8 kt
50° angle
✈️ 16R/34L
Active: 34L
9,426 ft 150 ft CON 180°
3.2 kt 3.8 kt
50° angle
lower/high 0 ft 0 ft
1.7 kt 4.7 kt
70° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KSEA

7,704 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
64.9%
MVFR
25.2%
IFR
6%
LIFR
3.9%

Seattle–Tacoma International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 64.9% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 9.9% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 7.8 knots. Temperature extremes range from -3°C to 32°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are June, September, April.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 7.8 kt
Maximum Recorded: 30 kt
Calm Winds: 8.5%
Direction Distribution:
N
16.7%
NE
5.4%
E
4.3%
SE
11%
S
32.7%
SW
13.2%
W
4.7%
NW
3.5%

Temperature Range

Average: 9.6°C
Range: -3°C to 32°C
-3°C 32°C

Visibility

Average: 9.1 SM
Below 3 SM: 2.7%
Fog Frequency: 3.8%

Best Months for VFR

June September April

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 16C/34C
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.1 kt
Runway 16L/34R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.1 kt
Runway 16R/34L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.1 kt

Statistics computed from 7,704 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Seattle–Tacoma International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KSEA
IATA Code: SEA
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 433 ft MSL

Location

City: Seattle
Country: US
Latitude: 47.447943°
Longitude: -122.310276°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+8

Runway Information

Runway 16C/34C
Length: 9,426 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CONC-F
ILS: No
Runway 16L/34R
Length: 11,900 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 16R/34L
Length: 9,426 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway lower/high
Length: 0 ft
Width: 0 ft
Surface:
ILS: No

About Seattle–Tacoma International Airport

Overview

Seattle–Tacoma International Airport serves as a major aviation hub in the Pacific Northwest, located near Seattle, Washington. The airport operates with three substantial runways, including a primary 11,900-foot runway capable of handling large commercial and cargo aircraft. Situated at an elevation of 433 feet above mean sea level, the airport provides critical connectivity for the Puget Sound metropolitan region.

Flying Conditions

The airport's coastal location introduces variable weather conditions influenced by Pacific maritime systems, with significant seasonal variations in visibility and precipitation. Pilots should anticipate potential low cloud layers, especially during fall and winter months, which can impact approach and departure procedures. The airport's elevation and proximity to mountainous terrain can generate localized wind patterns that require careful navigation.

Notable Features

The airport features three parallel runways with varying lengths and surface compositions, offering multiple approach and departure options for different aircraft types. The primary runway (16L/34R) at 11,900 feet provides extensive operational flexibility for heavy aircraft and long-haul operations. Surrounding terrain includes coastal mountains and water bodies, which can create complex local meteorological conditions.

Approach Considerations

Runway selection typically depends on prevailing wind directions, with the parallel configuration allowing for efficient traffic management during different meteorological conditions. Pilots should carefully review current wind and weather reports, considering the potential for crosswind components and terrain-induced turbulence. The substantial runway lengths provide significant margins for various aircraft performance envelopes.

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.