Watertown Regional Airport

KATY / ATY

Watertown, US

Last Updated
Apr 29, 04:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 58 min ago
04:53Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
5°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: -1°C
4 kt
280°
10 SM
Visibility
9,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1019 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KATY 290453Z AUTO 28004KT 10SM SCT060 OVC090 05/M01 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP198 T00501006

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,749 ft
SCT 6,000 ft AGL
OVC 9,000 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
6,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
7,749 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
9,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
10,749 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Watertown Regional Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with overcast skies at 9,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west (280°) at 4 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 9000 feet AGL (overcast), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 5°C (41°F) with a dewpoint of -1°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period.

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
1019 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
961 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,749 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,577 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 797 ft
ISA Deviation: -6.5°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KATY 282325Z 2900/2924 31006KT P6SM OVC060 FM290500 VRB03KT P6SM SCT090 FM291700 32010G17KT P6SM BKN060
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
05:50Z BASE
+0h
VFR 310° 6 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 6,000 ft
17:00Z FM291700
+12h
VFR 320° 10 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 6,000 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
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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
ATY
12
30 ✈️
17
35

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 12/30
Active: 30
6,900 ft 150 ft ASP 124°
3.8 kt 1.4 kt
20° angle
17/35 6,895 ft 150 ft ASP 180°
0.7 kt 3.9 kt
100° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KATY

7,108 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
61.1%
MVFR
23.6%
IFR
10.8%
LIFR
4.5%

Watertown Regional Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 61.1% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 15.3% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NW averaging 11.1 knots, with gusts recorded up to 38 knots. Temperature extremes range from -29°C to 31°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are October, September, March.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NW (315°)
Average Speed: 11.1 kt
Maximum Recorded: 38 kt
Calm Winds: 7.9%
Direction Distribution:
E
6.5%
N
14.3%
S
18.2%
W
9.7%
NE
6%
NW
20.8%
SE
11.2%
SW
5.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 0.1°C
Range: -29°C to 31°C
-29°C 31°C

Visibility

Average: 8.9 SM
Below 3 SM: 4.6%
Fog Frequency: 3.1%

Best Months for VFR

October September March

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 12/30
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.4 kt
Runway 17/35
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.3 kt

Statistics computed from 7,108 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Watertown Regional Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KATY
IATA Code: ATY
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,749 ft MSL

Location

City: Watertown
Country: US
Latitude: 44.914001°
Longitude: -97.154701°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 12/30
Length: 6,900 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 17/35
Length: 6,895 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Watertown Regional Airport

Overview

Watertown Regional Airport serves the northeastern South Dakota region as a medium-sized airport located at an elevation of 1,749 feet MSL. Situated at coordinates 44.914001, -97.154701, the airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for Watertown and surrounding communities. Its two parallel asphalt runways offer robust capabilities for various aircraft operations.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect predominantly favorable Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions, with 60.8% of observations showing clear weather and an additional 24.5% in Marginal VFR conditions. Temperature variability is significant, ranging from -29°C to 31°C, with an average of 0.9°C. Visibility typically remains excellent, averaging 8.8 statute miles, though pilots should be prepared for occasional reduced visibility periods.

Notable Features

The airport features two nearly identical asphalt runways: 12/30 at 6,900 feet and 17/35 at 6,895 feet. Prevailing winds consistently blow from the northwest at 315 degrees, with an average speed of 10.9 knots and occasional gusts up to 38 knots. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with modest average crosswind components of 5.8 and 5.2 knots respectively.

Approach Considerations

September through November represent the most consistently favorable flying months, with optimal VFR conditions. Wind patterns suggest minimal runway selection challenges, as both runways have identical favorable wind characteristics. Pilots should anticipate potential wind variability, with calm conditions occurring in 8.1% of observations and be prepared for occasional low visibility scenarios, which occur in approximately 4.8% of recorded observations.

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.