Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field)

KNUW / NUW

Oak Harbor, US

Last Updated
Apr 22, 13:53Z

Military Airport

Restricted

This is a U.S. military installation. Civil aircraft operations are generally prohibited without prior authorization.

Access Notes:

Most military airfields closed to civil traffic; some joint-use exceptions exist

Consult official AIP (FAA AIP GEN 3.3) for current access procedures and restrictions.

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 37 min ago
13:53Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
10°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 8°C
13 kt
280°
10 SM
Visibility
1,500 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1010 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KNUW 221353Z 28013KT 10SM BKN015 OVC021 10/08 A2984 RMK AO2 RAE1256 SLP108 P0000 T01000083

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 47 ft
BKN 1,500 ft AGL
OVC 2,100 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
1,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,547 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
2,100 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,147 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field) is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with overcast skies at 2,100 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west (280°) at 13 knots. Runway 25 is favored with a 11-knot headwind and 7-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 1500 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 10°C (50°F) with a dewpoint of 8°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. IFR conditions are expected to persist or develop. An instrument rating and IFR flight plan are recommended. Expected weather includes: Showers Rain, Mist. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Showers Rain, Mist between 09:00Z and 12:00Z.

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. 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
1010 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1008 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (47 ft)
Pressure Alt
145 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -444 ft
ISA Deviation: -4.9°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF AMD KNUW 2209/2307 26009KT 9999 VCSH SCT009 BKN020 OVC035 640709 641605 530006 QNH2978INS TEMPO 2209/2212 28010G20KT 3200 SHRA BR BKN008 OVC020 BECMG 2212/2214 26008KT 9999 VCSH SCT010 BKN025 OVC040 620709 500000 QNH2985INS FM221900 24007KT 9999 SCT035 BKN060 BKN110 BKN200 620709 QNH2988INS TX13/2223Z TN09/2213Z AMD 0920 FS30216
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
14:30Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 260° 9 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 2,000 ft
19:00Z FM221900
+5h
LIFR 240° 7 kt
Visibility: 0.92 km
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
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
NUW
07
25 ✈️
14
32

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 07/25
Active: 25
8,000 ft 200 ft CON 87°
11.3 kt 6.5 kt
30° angle
14/32 8,001 ft 200 ft CONC 155°
7.5 kt 10.6 kt
125° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KNUW

9,151 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
69.1%
MVFR
24.5%
IFR
3.6%
LIFR
2.8%

Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field) typically experiences VFR conditions 69.1% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 6.4% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SE averaging 9.4 knots, with gusts recorded up to 46 knots. Calm conditions occur 12.7% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -5°C to 30°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are October, April, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SE (135°)
Average Speed: 9.4 kt
Maximum Recorded: 46 kt
Calm Winds: 12.7%
Direction Distribution:
N
3.1%
NE
1.1%
E
22%
SE
30.8%
S
5.9%
SW
6%
W
13.2%
NW
5.2%

Temperature Range

Average: 7.9°C
Range: -5°C to 30°C
-5°C 30°C

Visibility

Average: 9.3 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.3%
Fog Frequency: 8%

Best Months for VFR

October April September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 07/25
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.5 kt
Runway 14/32
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4 kt

Statistics computed from 9,151 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field) - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KNUW
IATA Code: NUW
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 47 ft MSL

Location

City: Oak Harbor
Country: US
Latitude: 48.351799°
Longitude: -122.655998°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+8

Runway Information

Runway 07/25
Length: 8,000 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 14/32
Length: 8,001 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: CONC
ILS: No

About Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field)

Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field) is a military facility. Civilian access may be restricted or require Prior Permission (PPR). Pilots should consult the US AIP for current access procedures and restrictions.

Overview

Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field) is a medium-sized military airport located in Oak Harbor, Washington, serving naval aviation operations. Situated at an elevation of 47 feet MSL, the station provides critical infrastructure for maritime aviation activities in the Pacific Northwest region.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at KNUW are predominantly VFR, with 66.5% of observations showing clear conditions and only 8% of time experiencing low IFR or LIFR conditions. Prevailing winds are from the southeast at an average of 9.2 knots, with temperatures ranging from -3°C to 30°C. Visibility averages 9.1 statute miles, with fog present 10.3% of the time.

Notable Features

The airport features two substantial concrete runways: Runway 07/25 at 8,000 feet and Runway 14/32 at 8,001 feet. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind coverage, with minimal average crosswind conditions of 6.5 knots for 07/25 and 3.9 knots for 14/32. The coastal location provides unique geographical positioning for naval aviation operations.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect consistently favorable wind conditions for both primary runways. September, October, and January offer the best VFR conditions, with wind patterns predominantly from the southeast. Maximum recorded wind speeds reach 46 knots, suggesting potential for challenging wind conditions during specific weather events.

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.