Whiteman Air Force Base

KSZL / SZL

Knob Noster, US

Last Updated
Jun 10, 16:55Z

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
Stale 3 hours ago
16:55Z

🌇 Dusk
VFR
Flight Rules
29°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 23°C
18 kt
210° G25 kt
10 SM
Visibility
16,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1009 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KSZL 101655Z 21018G25KT 10SM SCT090 BKN160 29/23 A2979 RMK AO2A PK WND 21032/27 LTG DSNT N-NE AND S SLP081 T02870226

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 870 ft
SCT 9,000 ft AGL
BKN 16,000 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
9,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
9,870 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
16,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
16,870 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Whiteman Air Force Base is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 16,000 feet and 10 SM visibility. Note: This observation is 2.5 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south-southwest (210°) at 18 knots with gusts to 25 knots. Runway 19 is favored with a 17-knot headwind and 6-knot crosswind component (gusting to 9 knots crosswind). Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 16000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 29°C (84°F) with a dewpoint of 23°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 30 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain, Thunderstorm Rain. Winds are forecast to reach up to 30 knots during the period. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 12 to 30 knots. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Light Showers Rain between 16:00Z and 18:00Z.

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
1009 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
980 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (870 ft)
Pressure Alt
998 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 2,887 ft (High - Reduced Performance)
ISA Deviation: +15.7°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KSZL 100300Z 1003/1109 20012KT 9999 SKC QNH2982INS BECMG 1013/1014 22020G30KT 9999 SCT030 BKN100 510003 QNH2970INS TEMPO 1016/1018 8000 -SHRA BKN020 BECMG 1022/1023 22030G40KT 4800 TSRA OVC050CB QNH2970INS BECMG 1101/1102 22020G25KT 4800 -SHRA OVC050 QNH2971INS BECMG 1103/1104 20012KT 9999 NSW SCT050 WS020/22040KT QNH2972INS TX33/1021Z TN24/1011Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
19:24Z BASE
+0h
VFR 200° 12 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
22:00Z BECMG
+3h
IFR 220° 30 kt
Visibility: 4.8 km
Ceiling: 5,000 ft
Thunderstorm Rain
01:00Z BECMG
+6h
IFR 220° 20 kt
Visibility: 4.8 km
Ceiling: 5,000 ft
Light Showers Rain
03:00Z BECMG
+8h
VFR 200° 12 kt
Visibility: 10+ km

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
  • • Hover for exact values and timestamps
  • • Click legend items to toggle data series
  • • Zoom and pan for detailed analysis
  • • Units automatically converted to preferences
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°
16.9 kt 6.2 kt
20° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KSZL

7,863 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
75.5%
MVFR
10.8%
IFR
7.8%
LIFR
5.9%

Whiteman Air Force Base typically experiences VFR conditions 75.5% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 13.7% 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: 8.8%
Direction Distribution:
N
12.9%
NE
7.8%
E
9.4%
SE
9%
S
20.9%
SW
13.9%
W
6.9%
NW
10.5%

Temperature Range

Average: 11.5°C
Range: -20°C to 37°C
-20°C 37°C

Visibility

Average: 9.5 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.3%
Fog Frequency: 2.4%

Best Months for VFR

February September October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 01/19
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.5 kt

Statistics computed from 7,863 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 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.