Tacoma Narrows Airport

KTIW / TIW

Tacoma, US

Last Updated
Apr 22, 22:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 29 min ago
22:53Z

🌙 Night
MVFR
Flight Rules
11°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 8°C
12 kt
200° G18 kt
10 SM
Visibility
2,200 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1017 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KTIW 222253Z 20012G18KT 10SM OVC022 11/08 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP165 T01110078

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 294 ft
OVC 2,200 ft AGL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
2,200 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,494 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Tacoma Narrows Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with overcast skies at 2,200 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south-southwest (200°) at 12 knots with gusts to 18 knots. Runway 17/35 is favored with a 10-knot headwind and 6-knot crosswind component (gusting to 9 knots crosswind).

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 2200 feet AGL (overcast), 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
1017 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1007 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (294 ft)
Pressure Alt
182 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -227 ft
ISA Deviation: -3.4°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
TIW
17 ✈️
35

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 17/35
Active: 17
5,002 ft 150 ft ASP 187°
10.4 kt 6.0 kt
30° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KTIW

7,252 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
60.4%
MVFR
24%
IFR
8.4%
LIFR
7.2%

Tacoma Narrows Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 60.4% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 15.6% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 7 knots. Calm conditions occur 27.6% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -3°C to 32°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are September, October, April.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 30 kt
Calm Winds: 27.6%
Direction Distribution:
N
10.2%
NE
7.6%
E
1.1%
SE
1.7%
S
25.9%
SW
21.1%
W
3.5%
NW
1.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 8.6°C
Range: -3°C to 32°C
-3°C 32°C

Visibility

Average: 9 SM
Below 3 SM: 3.5%
Fog Frequency: 5.9%

Best Months for VFR

September October April

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 17/35
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.9 kt

Statistics computed from 7,252 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Tacoma Narrows Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KTIW
IATA Code: TIW
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 294 ft MSL

Location

City: Tacoma
Country: US
Latitude: 47.267407°
Longitude: -122.577295°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+8

Runway Information

Runway 17/35
Length: 5,002 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Tacoma Narrows Airport

Overview

Tacoma Narrows Airport serves the Tacoma metropolitan area in Washington state, situated at 294 feet above mean sea level. The airport provides a critical general aviation infrastructure for the Puget Sound region, with a single paved runway (17/35) measuring 5,002 feet in length.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect predominantly visual flight conditions, with 58.9% of observations reporting VFR conditions. Seasonal variations show significant temperature range from -1°C to 32°C, with September through November offering the most consistent VFR weather. Wind patterns are predominantly from the south at an average of 7.1 knots, with calm conditions occurring 28.4% of the time.

Notable Features

The airport's geographical position near Tacoma creates unique local wind dynamics, with a prevailing southerly wind direction. Terrain surrounding the airport likely influences wind patterns and approach conditions. Visibility typically remains excellent, averaging 9 statute miles, with only 3.4% of observations reporting visibility below 3 miles.

Approach Considerations

Runway 17/35 demonstrates favorable wind alignment, with 100% wind compatibility and an average crosswind of just 3.8 knots. Pilots should anticipate potential instrument meteorological conditions during 17.0% of observations (combined IFR and LIFR), with fog present in 5.6% of reported conditions. Careful preflight planning and weather briefing are recommended.

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.