John Wayne Orange County International Airport

KSNA / SNA

Santa Ana, US

Last Updated
Apr 21, 12:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 27 min ago
12:53Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
14°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 9°C
3 kt
100°
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1016 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KSNA 211253Z 10003KT 10SM SCT019 SCT250 14/09 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP162 T01390094 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 56 ft
SCT 1,900 ft AGL
SCT 25,000 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
1,900 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,956 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
25,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
25,056 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

John Wayne Orange County International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with scattered clouds at 1,900 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east (100°) at 3 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: scattered at 1,900 ft, scattered at 25,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 14°C (57°F) with a dewpoint of 9°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast between 12:00Z and 16:00Z. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Light Showers Rain between 00:00Z and 04:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. 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
1016 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1014 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (56 ft)
Pressure Alt
-27 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -134 ft
ISA Deviation: -0.9°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KSNA 211124Z 2112/2212 VRB04KT P6SM SCT020 TEMPO 2112/2116 BKN018 FM211800 21012G20KT P6SM SCT025 BKN050 FM212300 22008G16KT P6SM VCSH SCT020 BKN035 TEMPO 2200/2204 -SHRA BKN018 FM220500 VRB04KT P6SM SCT025 BKN035
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
13:19Z BASE
+0h
VFR VRB 4 kt
Visibility: >6SM
18:00Z FM211800
+5h
VFR 210° 12 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 5,000 ft
23:00Z FM212300
+10h
VFR 220° 8 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 3,500 ft
00:00Z TEMPO
+11h
MVFR
Ceiling: 1,800 ft
Light Showers Rain

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
SNA
02L ✈️
20R
02R ✈️
20L

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 02L/20R
Active: 02L
5,700 ft 150 ft ASP 27°
0.5 kt 3.0 kt
80° angle
✈️ 02R/20L
Active: 02R
2,887 ft 75 ft ASP 27°
0.5 kt 3.0 kt
80° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KSNA

6,041 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
73.1%
MVFR
17%
IFR
6.3%
LIFR
3.7%

John Wayne Orange County International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 73.1% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 10% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SW averaging 5.8 knots, with gusts recorded up to 45 knots. Calm conditions occur 36% of the time. Temperatures typically range between 6°C and 34°C with an average of 17.5°C. The best months for VFR flying are February, April, March.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SW (225°)
Average Speed: 5.8 kt
Maximum Recorded: 45 kt
Calm Winds: 36%
Direction Distribution:
N
4.2%
NE
4.8%
E
7.2%
SE
6.6%
S
14.4%
SW
19.8%
W
5.9%
NW
1.1%

Temperature Range

Average: 17.5°C
Range: 6°C to 34°C
6°C 34°C

Visibility

Average: 9 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.7%
Fog Frequency: 2.4%

Best Months for VFR

February April March

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 02L/20R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2.7 kt
Runway 02R/20L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2.7 kt

Statistics computed from 6,041 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

John Wayne Orange County International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KSNA
IATA Code: SNA
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 56 ft MSL

Location

City: Santa Ana
Country: US
Latitude: 33.675701°
Longitude: -117.867996°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+8

Runway Information

Runway 02L/20R
Length: 5,700 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 02R/20L
Length: 2,887 ft
Width: 75 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About John Wayne Orange County International Airport

Overview

John Wayne Orange County International Airport serves the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area, strategically located in Santa Ana, California. As a large airport situated at 56 feet mean sea level, it provides critical commercial and general aviation services for Orange County and surrounding regions. The airport features two paved runways capable of handling diverse aircraft operations.

Flying Conditions

Southern California's coastal climate presents generally stable flying conditions with mild temperature variations throughout the year. The airport's low elevation at 56 feet MSL provides consistent atmospheric pressure and predictable wind patterns. Pilots can expect relatively stable weather conditions with minimal extreme meteorological challenges.

Notable Features

The airport's geographic positioning near the Pacific coastline creates unique aeronautical considerations for pilots. Two asymmetrical runways (02L/20R at 5700ft and 02R/20L at 2887ft) offer flexible approach and departure options depending on current wind conditions. The surrounding terrain is predominantly flat, with coastal influences that can generate localized wind shifts.

Approach Considerations

Runway orientation suggests potential preference for approaches aligned with 02/20 headings based on the airport's geometric layout. The longer runway (02L/20R) provides more flexibility for larger aircraft and complex approach scenarios. Pilots should anticipate potential wind variations typical of coastal Southern California environments when planning arrivals and departures.

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.