Nairobi Wilson Airport

HKNW / WIL

Nairobi, KE

Last Updated
Apr 22, 22:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Aging 1 hour ago
22:00Z

🌙 Night
MVFR
Flight Rules
18°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 16°C
5 kt
170°
10+ km
Visibility
2,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR HKNW 222200Z 17005KT 9999 BKN020 18/16 Q1023

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 5,536 ft
BKN 2,000 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
2,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
7,536 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Nairobi Wilson Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with broken clouds at 2,000 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility. Note: This observation is 1.1 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (170°) at 5 knots. Runway 14/32 is favored with a 4-knot headwind and 3-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 2000 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 18°C (64°F) with a dewpoint of 16°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

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
KNW
07
25
14 ✈️
32

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
07/25 4,798 ft 72 ft ASP 70°
0.9 kt 4.9 kt
100° angle
✈️ 14/32
Active: 14
5,052 ft 76 ft ASP 134°
4.3 kt 2.5 kt
30° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - HKNW

3,760 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
40.4%
MVFR
59.6%
IFR
0%
LIFR
0%

Nairobi Wilson Airport is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 40.4% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 0% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NE averaging 9.7 knots, with gusts recorded up to 105 knots. Calm conditions occur 28.8% of the time. Temperatures typically range between 11°C and 31°C with an average of 21.3°C. The best months for VFR flying are January, February, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NE (45°)
Average Speed: 9.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 105 kt
Calm Winds: 28.8%
Direction Distribution:
N
6.3%
NE
34.2%
E
22.6%
SE
4%
S
1.8%
SW
0.6%
W
0.8%
NW
0.9%

Temperature Range

Average: 21.3°C
Range: 11°C to 31°C
11°C 31°C

Visibility

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

Best Months for VFR

January February October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 07/25
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.7 kt
Runway 14/32
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 8.3 kt

Statistics computed from 3,760 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Nairobi Wilson Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: HKNW
IATA Code: WIL
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 5,536 ft MSL

Location

City: Nairobi
Country: KE
Latitude: -1.321720°
Longitude: 36.814800°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-2

Runway Information

Runway 07/25
Length: 4,798 ft
Width: 72 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 14/32
Length: 5,052 ft
Width: 76 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Nairobi Wilson Airport

Overview

Nairobi Wilson Airport serves as a medium-sized airport located in Nairobi, Kenya, situated at an elevation of 5,536 feet mean sea level. The airport features two asphalt runways: 07/25 measuring 4,798 feet and 14/32 extending 5,052 feet. Its strategic location in the capital city makes it an important facility for regional aviation operations.

Flying Conditions

Meteorological data indicates predominantly MVFR conditions, with 62.4% of observations showing marginal visual flight rules. The prevailing winds from the northeast at an average of 9.7 knots create generally stable flying conditions, with calm periods occurring in 26.8% of observations. Temperature variations are moderate, ranging from 11°C to 29°C with an average of 21.2°C, supporting consistent flight operations throughout the year.

Notable Features

The airport's high elevation at 5,536 feet presents performance considerations for aircraft operations, particularly during warmer periods. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignments, with Runway 14/32 experiencing slightly higher average crosswinds at 8.2 knots compared to Runway 07/25's 3.8 knots. Visibility consistently remains excellent, with an average of 10 statute miles and no reported instances of fog or significant visibility restrictions.

Approach Considerations

January, September, and October represent the best months for visual flight conditions based on historical weather patterns. Pilots should anticipate northeast winds when planning approaches, with a low probability of significant wind-related challenges. The consistent wind characteristics and excellent visibility support predictable approach and departure procedures for both runways.

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.