McGhee Tyson Airport

KTYS / TYS

Alcoa, US

Last Updated
Mar 4, 16:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 50 min ago
16:53Z

🌇 Dusk
VFR
Flight Rules
19°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 12°C
11 kt
220°
10 SM
Visibility
25,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1025 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KTYS 041653Z 22011KT 10SM FEW042 FEW075 OVC250 19/12 A3027 RMK AO2 SLP246 T01940122

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 981 ft
FEW 4,200 ft AGL
FEW 7,500 ft AGL
OVC 25,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
4,200 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,181 ft AMSL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
7,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
8,481 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
25,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
25,981 ft AMSL
QNH
1025 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
992 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (981 ft)
Pressure Alt
629 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,344 ft
ISA Deviation: +6.0°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KTYS 041120Z 0412/0512 24007KT P6SM BKN025 FM041400 24007KT P6SM BKN035 FM041800 24007KT P6SM SCT050 FM050900 24005KT P6SM BKN035
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
17:43Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 240° 7 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 2,500 ft
18:00Z FM041800
+1h
VFR 240° 7 kt
Visibility: >6SM

24-Hour Weather Evolution

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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
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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
TYS
05L
23R ✈️
05R
23L ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 05L/23R
Active: 23R
9,005 ft 150 ft CON 44°
10.8 kt 1.9 kt
10° angle
✈️ 05R/23L
Active: 23L
9,000 ft 150 ft ASP 44°
10.8 kt 1.9 kt
10° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KTYS

5,925 observations | Sep 2025 - Mar 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
77.1%
MVFR
13.2%
IFR
6%
LIFR
3.6%

McGhee Tyson Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 77.1% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 9.6% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SW averaging 7.3 knots, with gusts recorded up to 36 knots. Calm conditions occur 20.2% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -13°C to 32°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are March, October, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SW (225°)
Average Speed: 7.3 kt
Maximum Recorded: 36 kt
Calm Winds: 20.2%
Direction Distribution:
N
17%
NE
14.6%
E
3.6%
SE
0.9%
S
4.4%
SW
20.6%
W
13.5%
NW
5.2%

Temperature Range

Average: 9.8°C
Range: -13°C to 32°C
-13°C 32°C

Visibility

Average: 9.2 SM
Below 3 SM: 3.1%
Fog Frequency: 2.5%

Best Months for VFR

March October September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 05L/23R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.2 kt
Runway 05R/23L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.2 kt

Statistics computed from 5,925 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Mar 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

McGhee Tyson Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KTYS
IATA Code: TYS
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 981 ft MSL

Location

City: Alcoa
Country: US
Latitude: 35.811001°
Longitude: -83.994003°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 05L/23R
Length: 9,005 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 05R/23L
Length: 9,000 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About McGhee Tyson Airport

Overview

McGhee Tyson Airport serves the Knoxville metropolitan area in eastern Tennessee, situated in Alcoa near the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. As a medium-sized airport with two substantial runways each exceeding 9,000 feet, it supports diverse aviation activities including commercial, general, and potentially military operations. The airport's elevation of 981 feet MSL places it in a transitional terrain environment.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at McGhee Tyson are predominantly VFR, with 80.3% of observations showing clear flying conditions. Prevailing winds from the southwest at an average of 7.1 knots provide consistent and manageable wind conditions for most operations. Temperature variations range from -10°C to 32°C, with seasonal fluctuations that pilots should anticipate during flight planning.

Notable Features

The airport features two parallel runways (05L/23R and 05R/23L) with nearly identical lengths around 9,000 feet, constructed of concrete and asphalt respectively. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with minimal average crosswind of 3 knots. The geographic location near the Smoky Mountains suggests potential for complex local wind and terrain-induced meteorological patterns.

Approach Considerations

Approach planning should consider the statistical visibility average of 9.4 statute miles, with only 2.6% of observations showing visibility below 3 miles. Pilots can expect optimal VFR conditions particularly in October, September, and January. The consistent southwest wind pattern suggests runway 23 might be preferable for most arrivals and departures.

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.