Phoenix Airfield

NZFX

McMurdo Station, AQ

Last Updated
Apr 9, 06:57Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Stale 41 hours ago
06:57Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
-22°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: -26°C
11 kt
320°
10+ km
Visibility
7,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
993 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

SPECI NZFX 090657Z 32011KT 9999 BKN070 M22/M26 A2932 RMK AO2A GRID12011KT SDN/HDN LAST

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 18 ft
BKN 7,000 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
7,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
7,018 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Phoenix Airfield is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 7,000 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility. Note: This observation is 40.9 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the northwest (320°) at 11 knots. Runway 33 is favored with a 11-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 7000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is -22°C (-8°F) with a dewpoint of -26°C. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread suggests high humidity and potential for visibility restrictions, especially during cooling periods. Temperatures are at or below freezing. Check for icing conditions and ensure aircraft anti-ice/de-ice systems are operational if required.

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
993 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
992 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (18 ft)
Pressure Alt
626 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -3,810 ft
ISA Deviation: -37.0°C

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
ZFX
15 ✈️
33

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 15/33
Active: 15
10,000 ft 200 ft SNOW
10.8 kt 1.9 kt
170° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - NZFX

2,104 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
84.1%
MVFR
9.6%
IFR
2.5%
LIFR
3.8%

Phoenix Airfield enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 84.1% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the E averaging 8.9 knots, with gusts recorded up to 50 knots. Temperature extremes range from -42°C to 0°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are November, October, February.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: E (90°)
Average Speed: 8.9 kt
Maximum Recorded: 50 kt
Calm Winds: 6.7%
Direction Distribution:
N
5.4%
NE
17.3%
E
35.9%
SE
8.9%
S
7.1%
SW
2.2%
W
3.5%
NW
13%

Temperature Range

Average: -13°C
Range: -42°C to 0°C
-42°C 0°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 5.1%

Best Months for VFR

November October February

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 15/33
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.8 kt

Statistics computed from 2,104 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Phoenix Airfield - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: NZFX
Type: small airport
Status: active
Elevation: 18 ft MSL

Location

City: McMurdo Station
Country: AQ
Latitude: -77.956389°
Longitude: 166.766667°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-11

Runway Information

Runway 15/33
Length: 10,000 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: SNOW
ILS: No

Nearby Airports

VFR MVFR IFR LIFR No Data

About Phoenix Airfield

Phoenix Airfield (NZFX) is located in McMurdo Station, AQ at an elevation of 18 feet MSL. The airport has 1 runway (15/33), with the longest at 10,000 feet.

Weather Profile

Analysis of 2,104 weather observations shows NZFX maintains VFR conditions 84.1% of the time, with marginal VFR accounting for 9.6% and IFR/LIFR conditions present in 6.3% of reports. Fog affects the airport in approximately 5.1% of observations, with visibility dropping below 3 statute miles 0% of the time.

Wind Patterns & Runway Selection

Prevailing winds at NZFX come from the E (90°) with an average speed of 8.9 knots and recorded gusts up to 50 knots. Runway 15/33 offers the lowest average crosswind component at 5.8 knots, making it the preferred choice in typical wind conditions.

Seasonal Considerations

The best months for VFR operations are November, October, February, when clear skies are most prevalent. Temperatures at the field range from -42°C (-44°F) to 0°C (32°F), averaging -13°C (9°F). Cold weather operations require attention to aircraft preheating, de-icing, and cold-soaked fuel management. Altimeter settings typically range from 28.53 to 29.97 inHg (966-1015 hPa).

Data Sources: Airport data from OurAirports.com. Weather statistics derived from 2,104 official METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Pilots should always verify current conditions through official channels before flight.

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.