Whiteman Air Force Base

KSZL / SZL

Knob Noster, US

Last Updated
Apr 22, 01:55Z

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 46 min ago
01:55Z

🌙 Night
MVFR
Flight Rules
20°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 14°C
13 kt
230° G23 kt
10 SM
Visibility
2,800 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1017 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KSZL 220155Z 23013G23KT 10SM OVC028 20/14 A3003 RMK AO2A PK WND 21027/07 SLP168 T02040141 CHINO RWY01 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 870 ft
OVC 2,800 ft AGL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
2,800 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,670 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Whiteman Air Force Base is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with overcast skies at 2,800 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the southwest (230°) at 13 knots with gusts to 23 knots. Runway 19 is favored with a 10-knot headwind and 8-knot crosswind component (gusting to 15 knots crosswind).

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 2800 feet AGL (overcast), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 20°C (68°F) with a dewpoint of 14°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 30 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

QNH
1017 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
988 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (870 ft)
Pressure Alt
758 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,567 ft
ISA Deviation: +6.7°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KSZL 211900Z 2119/2301 21015G25KT 9999 SCT250 QNH2997INS BECMG 2200/2201 22012KT 9999 SKC QNH2999INS BECMG 2207/2208 22012KT 9999 BKN020 QNH3001INS BECMG 2213/2214 22010G15KT 9999 OVC020 QNH2991INS TX26/2122Z TN13/2211Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
02:40Z BASE
+0h
VFR 210° 15 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
07:00Z BECMG
+5h
MVFR 220° 12 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 2,000 ft
13:00Z BECMG
+11h
MVFR 220° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 2,000 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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  • • Click legend items to toggle data series
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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
SZL
01
19 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 01/19
Active: 19
12,400 ft 200 ft CON 11°
10.0 kt 8.4 kt
40° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KSZL

6,332 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
74.4%
MVFR
10%
IFR
8.4%
LIFR
7.1%

Whiteman Air Force Base typically experiences VFR conditions 74.4% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 15.5% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 8.8 knots, with gusts recorded up to 33 knots. Temperature extremes range from -20°C to 37°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are February, September, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 8.8 kt
Maximum Recorded: 33 kt
Calm Winds: 8%
Direction Distribution:
N
13.1%
NE
7.8%
E
8.9%
SE
8.3%
S
20.5%
SW
13.8%
W
7.4%
NW
12.2%

Temperature Range

Average: 9.6°C
Range: -20°C to 37°C
-20°C 37°C

Visibility

Average: 9.5 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.3%
Fog Frequency: 2.6%

Best Months for VFR

February September October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 01/19
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.6 kt

Statistics computed from 6,332 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Whiteman Air Force Base - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KSZL
IATA Code: SZL
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 870 ft MSL

Location

City: Knob Noster
Country: US
Latitude: 38.730301°
Longitude: -93.547897°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 01/19
Length: 12,400 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About Whiteman Air Force Base

Whiteman Air Force Base 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

Whiteman Air Force Base is located near Knob Noster, Missouri, serving as a strategic military aviation facility at 870 feet mean sea level. The base hosts a substantial 12,400-foot concrete runway (01/19), capable of supporting complex military aircraft operations. Its central US location provides critical infrastructure for strategic air mobility and defense missions.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Whiteman AFB demonstrate significant variability, with Visual Flight Rules (VFR) predominating 74% of observations. Temperature ranges from -16°C to 37°C, presenting diverse operational challenges throughout the year. Winds predominantly originate from the south at an average of 8.1 knots, with occasional gusts up to 29 knots, and calm conditions occurring 10.1% of the time.

Notable Features

The airport's single runway (01/19) demonstrates favorable wind alignment, with crosswinds averaging only 4.4 knots. Visibility typically remains excellent, averaging 9.5 statute miles, with restricted visibility (below 3SM) occurring in just 1.4% of observations. Fog events are relatively infrequent, affecting only 3.9% of recorded periods.

Approach Considerations

September, October, and January represent the most consistent VFR months for aviation operations. The runway's extensive 12,400-foot length provides substantial margin for diverse aircraft types and operational requirements. Pilots should anticipate predominantly southern wind patterns and prepare for potential marginal conditions during the roughly 25% of time when flight rules are not strictly VFR.

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.