Orcas Island Airport

KORS / ESD

Eastsound, US

Last Updated
Apr 22, 20:15Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 6 min ago
20:15Z

🌙 Night
MVFR
Flight Rules
11°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 8°C
0 kt
9 SM
Visibility
2,900 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1015 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KORS 222015Z AUTO 00000KT 9SM BKN029 OVC038 11/08 A2996 RMK AO2

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 31 ft
BKN 2,900 ft AGL
OVC 3,800 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
2,900 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,931 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
3,800 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,831 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Orcas Island Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with overcast skies at 3,800 feet and 9 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are calm, presenting no crosswind concerns for any runway.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 9 SM. The ceiling is 2900 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 11°C (52°F) with a dewpoint of 8°C. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread suggests high humidity and potential for visibility restrictions, especially during cooling periods.

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.

QNH
1015 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1014 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (31 ft)
Pressure Alt
-22 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -495 ft
ISA Deviation: -3.9°C

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
ORS
16
34

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
16/34 2,900 ft 60 ft ASPH-G
0.0 kt 0.0 kt
0° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KORS

14,504 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
73%
MVFR
19.6%
IFR
3.4%
LIFR
4%

Orcas Island Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 73% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 7.4% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 8 knots. Calm conditions occur 38% of the time. Temperatures typically range between -1°C and 21°C with an average of 9.2°C. The best months for VFR flying are April, October, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 8 kt
Maximum Recorded: 25 kt
Calm Winds: 38%
Direction Distribution:
N
7.6%
NE
2.1%
E
0.3%
SE
3.8%
S
40.2%
SW
2%
W
0.2%
NW
5.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 9.2°C
Range: -1°C to 21°C
-1°C 21°C

Visibility

Average: 9 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.1%
Fog Frequency: 1.2%

Best Months for VFR

April October September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 16/34
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2.2 kt

Statistics computed from 14,504 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Orcas Island Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KORS
IATA Code: ESD
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 31 ft MSL

Location

City: Eastsound
Country: US
Latitude: 48.708199°
Longitude: -122.910004°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+8

Runway Information

Runway 16/34
Length: 2,900 ft
Width: 60 ft
Surface: ASPH-G
ILS: No

About Orcas Island Airport

Overview

Orcas Island Airport serves the San Juan Islands region in Washington State, located in Eastsound at a modest elevation of 31 feet MSL. This medium-sized airport provides critical transportation infrastructure for the island community, supporting general aviation operations with its single 2,900-foot asphalt runway oriented 16/34.

Flying Conditions

Weather observations indicate predominantly favorable VFR conditions, with 68.9% of recorded METARs showing clear flying conditions. The airport experiences a moderate maritime climate, with temperatures ranging from 1°C to 21°C and an average of 10.5°C. Wind patterns are characterized by southerly flows at an average of 8.2 knots, with calm conditions occurring 39% of the time.

Notable Features

Situated at coordinates 48.708199, -122.910004, the airport is positioned in a coastal island environment with potential for challenging terrain and localized weather variations. The surrounding San Juan Islands landscape may introduce microclimatic effects that pilots should anticipate, particularly regarding visibility and wind conditions around the approach and departure paths.

Approach Considerations

Runway 16/34 demonstrates excellent wind alignment, with 100% favorable wind coverage and a minimal average crosswind of just 2.2 knots. Pilots can expect optimal VFR conditions during autumn months (September, October, November), with consistently good visibility averaging 8.8 statute miles and minimal fog interference.

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.