Appleton International Airport

KATW / ATW

Appleton, US

Last Updated
Jun 10, 13:45Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 24 min ago
13:45Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
23°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 21°C
6 kt
130°
10 SM
Visibility
4,500 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KATW 101345Z 13006KT 10SM SCT030 BKN045 23/21 A2975

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 918 ft
SCT 3,000 ft AGL
BKN 4,500 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
3,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,918 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
4,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,418 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Appleton International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 4,500 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the southeast (130°) at 6 knots. Runway 11/29 is favored with a 6-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 4500 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 23°C (73°F) with a dewpoint of 21°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 22 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Expected weather includes: Light Thunderstorm Rain, Thunderstorm Rain, Mist. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Thunderstorm Rain, Mist between 21:00Z and 01:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours. 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 KATW 101404Z 1014/1112 13006KT P6SM SCT030 BKN045 FM101700 17011G22KT P6SM BKN050 FM102000 18012G23KT 6SM -TSRA BKN035CB TEMPO 1021/1101 1 1/2SM TSRA BR BKN025CB FM110300 19008KT P6SM BKN020 FM110500 24009G16KT P6SM SCT035
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
14:08Z BASE
+0h
VFR 130° 6 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 4,500 ft
17:00Z FM101700
+3h
VFR 170° 11 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 5,000 ft
20:00Z FM102000
+6h
MVFR 180° 12 kt
Visibility: 6SM
Ceiling: 3,500 ft
Light Thunderstorm Rain
21:00Z TEMPO
+7h
IFR
Visibility: 1/2SM
Ceiling: 2,500 ft
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist

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
ATW
03
21
11 ✈️
29

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
03/21 8,002 ft 150 ft CON 26°
1.5 kt 5.8 kt
104° angle
✈️ 11/29
Active: 11
6,501 ft 150 ft CON 116°
5.6 kt 2.1 kt
20° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KATW

10,133 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
75.4%
MVFR
14.7%
IFR
6.5%
LIFR
3.4%

Appleton International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 75.4% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 9.9% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 8.6 knots, with gusts recorded up to 188 knots. Calm conditions occur 10.4% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -28°C to 33°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are May, June, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 8.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 188 kt
Calm Winds: 10.4%
Direction Distribution:
N
8.8%
NE
7.9%
E
7.9%
SE
6.4%
S
11.6%
SW
13.2%
W
21.2%
NW
12.6%

Temperature Range

Average: 4.6°C
Range: -28°C to 33°C
-28°C 33°C

Visibility

Average: 9.3 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.8%
Fog Frequency: 1.9%

Best Months for VFR

May June October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 03/21
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.7 kt
Runway 11/29
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5 kt

Statistics computed from 10,133 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Appleton International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KATW
IATA Code: ATW
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 918 ft MSL

Location

City: Appleton
Country: US
Latitude: 44.258099°
Longitude: -88.519096°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 03/21
Length: 8,002 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 11/29
Length: 6,501 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About Appleton International Airport

Overview

Appleton International Airport serves the Fox Cities region in northeastern Wisconsin, providing medium-airport infrastructure for commercial, general aviation, and regional transportation needs. Located at 44.258099, -88.519096 with an elevation of 918 feet MSL, the airport offers two concrete runways supporting diverse aviation operations in central Wisconsin.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at KATW demonstrate generally favorable flying environments, with Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions prevailing approximately 70.9% of the time. Temperature variations are significant, ranging from -28°C to 31°C, with an average of 3.6°C, which can impact aircraft performance and pilot planning. Westerly winds at an average of 8.7 knots and maximum gusts to 30 knots characterize the airport's wind profile, with calm conditions occurring 12.4% of the time.

Notable Features

The airport features two runways: Runway 03/21 at 8,002 feet and Runway 11/29 at 6,501 feet, both constructed of concrete. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with minimal average crosswind components of 6 knots and 4.7 knots respectively. Visibility averages 9.2 statute miles, with limited periods of reduced visibility below 3 miles and occasional fog.

Approach Considerations

Optimal visual meteorological conditions occur during autumn months (September, October, November), providing the most consistent flying environments. Pilots should anticipate westerly wind patterns and be prepared for potential temperature-related performance considerations. The balanced runway configuration allows flexibility in approach and departure planning based on prevailing wind conditions.

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.