Tawau Airport

WBKW / TWU

Tawau, MY

Last Updated
Apr 23, 05:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 52 min ago
05:00Z

🌅 Dawn
VFR
Flight Rules
31°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 26°C
9 kt
140°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR WBKW 230500Z 14009KT 070V180 9999 SCT016 31/26 Q1008

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 57 ft
SCT 1,600 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
1,600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,657 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Tawau Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with scattered clouds at 1,600 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the southeast (140°) at 9 knots. Runway 06/24 is favored with a 2-knot headwind and 9-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: scattered at 1,600 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 31°C (88°F) with a dewpoint of 26°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions. High temperatures at this elevation may result in significant density altitude effects. Pilots should calculate density altitude and adjust performance expectations accordingly.

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. Expected weather includes: Thunderstorm Rain. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Thunderstorm Rain between 03:00Z and 07:00Z.

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.

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF WBKW 222300Z 2300/2400 14005KT 9999 FEW016 TEMPO 2303/2307 5000 TSRA FEW010 FEW015CB SCT030
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
05:51Z BASE
+0h
VFR 140° 5 kt
Visibility: 10+ km

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
BKW
06 ✈️
24

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 06/24
Active: 06
8,800 ft 155 ft ASP 58°
1.6 kt 8.9 kt
80° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - WBKW

5,086 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
97.4%
MVFR
1.9%
IFR
0.5%
LIFR
0.1%

Tawau Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 97.4% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 5 knots. Calm conditions occur 40.6% of the time. The climate is relatively stable with temperatures averaging 27°C (range: 22°C to 34°C). The best months for VFR flying are April, September, March.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 5 kt
Maximum Recorded: 13 kt
Calm Winds: 40.6%
Direction Distribution:
N
11%
NE
5.6%
E
2.6%
SE
13.2%
S
15.6%
SW
3.2%
W
2.9%
NW
5.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 27°C
Range: 22°C to 34°C
22°C 34°C

Visibility

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

Best Months for VFR

April September March

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 06/24
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4 kt

Statistics computed from 5,086 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Tawau Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: WBKW
IATA Code: TWU
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 57 ft MSL

Location

City: Tawau
Country: MY
Latitude: 4.313380°
Longitude: 118.121520°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-8

Runway Information

Runway 06/24
Length: 8,800 ft
Width: 155 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Tawau Airport

Overview

Tawau Airport serves the eastern region of Sabah, Malaysia, located at coordinates 4.313380, 118.121520 with an elevation of 57 feet MSL. As a medium-sized airport, it supports regional transportation needs for the Tawau municipality and surrounding areas. The airport features a single runway 06/24 measuring 8,800 feet with an asphalt surface.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Tawau Airport are predominantly excellent for visual flight, with 97.4% of observations supporting VFR operations. The airport experiences consistent wind patterns from the south (180°) at an average of 5.1 knots, with maximum gusts reaching 12 knots. Temperature remains stable, averaging 27°C with a range between 23°C and 34°C, providing predictable thermal conditions for pilots.

Notable Features

The airport's geographical position in eastern Sabah suggests a tropical maritime environment with potential localized terrain influences. Calm wind conditions occur 45% of the time, which provides flexibility in runway selection. High visibility is consistent, with an average of 10 statute miles and no recorded instances of significant fog disruption.

Approach Considerations

Runway 06/24 demonstrates highly favorable wind alignment, with 100% wind compatibility and an average crosswind of only 4.2 knots. September, December, and January represent the most consistently favorable months for VFR operations. Pilots can expect reliable visual meteorological conditions with minimal risk of low-visibility encounters.

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.