Ketchikan International Airport

PAKT / KTN

Ketchikan, US

Last Updated
May 15, 17:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Aging 1 hour ago
17:53Z

🌇 Dusk
VFR
Flight Rules
9°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 5°C
5 kt
90°
10 SM
Visibility
3,600 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1014 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR PAKT 151753Z 09005KT 10SM SCT025 BKN036 09/05 A2993 RMK HARBOR WIND 12005KT

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 89 ft
SCT 2,500 ft AGL
BKN 3,600 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
2,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,589 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
3,600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,689 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Ketchikan International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 3,600 feet and 10 SM visibility. Note: This observation is 1.7 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east (90°) at 5 knots. Runway 11/29 is favored with a 5-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 3600 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 9°C (48°F) with a dewpoint of 5°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. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions.

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
1014 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1011 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (89 ft)
Pressure Alt
67 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -632 ft
ISA Deviation: -5.8°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF PAKT 151743Z 1518/1618 10005KT P6SM BKN015 BKN040 FM160200 33005KT P6SM SCT015 BKN045 FM161200 33005KT P6SM BKN015 AMD LTD TO CLD VIS AND WIND 1606/1615
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
19:35Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 100° 5 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 1,500 ft
02:00Z FM160200
+7h
VFR 330° 5 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 4,500 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
AKT
11 ✈️
29
ESE
WNW

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 11/29
Active: 11
7,500 ft 150 ft ASPH-G 136°
4.7 kt 1.7 kt
20° angle
ESE/WNW 9,500 ft 1,500 ft WATER
0.0 kt 5.0 kt
90° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - PAKT

7,158 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
50%
MVFR
39.1%
IFR
8.9%
LIFR
2.1%

Ketchikan International Airport is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 50% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 11% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SE averaging 8.6 knots, with gusts recorded up to 110 knots. Calm conditions occur 11.7% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -11°C to 22°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are April, May, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SE (135°)
Average Speed: 8.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 110 kt
Calm Winds: 11.7%
Direction Distribution:
E
2%
N
3.7%
S
10.7%
W
3.6%
NE
0.1%
NW
20.2%
SE
47.2%
SW
0.8%

Temperature Range

Average: 4.6°C
Range: -11°C to 22°C
-11°C 22°C

Visibility

Average: 8.3 SM
Below 3 SM: 4.6%
Fog Frequency: 1.6%

Best Months for VFR

April May October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 11/29
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.9 kt

Statistics computed from 7,158 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Ketchikan International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: PAKT
IATA Code: KTN
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 89 ft MSL

Location

City: Ketchikan
Country: US
Latitude: 55.355598°
Longitude: -131.714005°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+9

Runway Information

Runway 11/29
Length: 7,500 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASPH-G
ILS: No
Runway ESE/WNW
Length: 9,500 ft
Width: 1,500 ft
Surface: WATER
ILS: No

About Ketchikan International Airport

Overview

Ketchikan International Airport serves the southeastern Alaskan city of Ketchikan, located in a challenging maritime environment. Situated at an elevation of 89 feet MSL, the airport provides critical transportation infrastructure for this coastal region, with both a paved land runway and a water runway supporting diverse aviation needs.

Flying Conditions

Weather at Ketchikan presents variable conditions, with Visual Flight Rules (VFR) prevailing in 49.1% of observations and Marginal VFR conditions occurring 38.8% of the time. Pilots should anticipate predominantly southeastern winds averaging 9.1 knots, with temperature ranges from -11°C to 22°C and average visibility of 8.2 statute miles.

Notable Features

The airport's dual runway configuration includes a 7,500-foot paved land runway (11/29) and a 9,500-foot water runway, offering operational flexibility in this coastal Alaskan environment. Its geographical position at coordinates 55.355598, -131.714005 places it in a region with complex terrain and maritime weather influences.

Approach Considerations

Runway 11/29 demonstrates favorable wind conditions, with 100% wind compatibility and an average crosswind of only 4 knots. October, January, and September statistically offer the best Visual Flight Rules conditions, providing more predictable approach and departure opportunities for pilots navigating this challenging Alaskan 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.