Svolvær Airport, Helle

ENSH / SVJ

Svolvær, NO

Last Updated
Aug 11, 15:20Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 21 min ago
15:20Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
11°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 9°C
7 kt
250°
10+ km
Visibility
2,600 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1009 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR ENSH 111520Z 25007KT 9999 4500N -SHRA FEW012 BKN026 11/09 Q1009 RMK WIND 0150FT 23011KT

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 27 ft
FEW 1,200 ft AGL
BKN 2,600 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
1,200 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,227 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
2,600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,627 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Svolvær Airport, Helle is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with broken clouds at 2,600 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west-southwest (250°) at 7 knots. Runway 18 is favored with a 2-knot headwind and 7-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 2600 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 11°C (52°F) with a dewpoint of 9°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 6 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast between 15:00Z and 21:00Z.

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
1009 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1008 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (27 ft)
Pressure Alt
155 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -319 ft
ISA Deviation: -3.9°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF ENSH 111400Z 1115/1121 22008KT 9999 FEW015 SCT025 BKN045 TEMPO 1115/1121 FEW015TCU BKN025 BECMG 1119/1121 35010KT
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
15:40Z BASE
+0h
VFR 220° 8 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 4,500 ft
19:00Z BECMG
+4h
VFR 350° 10 kt

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
NSH
36
18 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 36/18
Active: 18
3,104 ft 98 ft ASP
2.4 kt 6.6 kt
70° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - ENSH

13,889 observations | Sep 2025 - Aug 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
76.6%
MVFR
16.1%
IFR
5.9%
LIFR
1.3%

Svolvær Airport, Helle typically experiences VFR conditions 76.6% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 7.2% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the N averaging 9.7 knots, with gusts recorded up to 45 knots. Temperature extremes range from -8°C to 24°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are August, January, April.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: N (0°)
Average Speed: 9.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 45 kt
Calm Winds: 3.5%
Direction Distribution:
E
15.1%
N
22.1%
S
11%
W
6.2%
NE
12.1%
NW
5.2%
SE
4.7%
SW
20.2%

Temperature Range

Average: 5.7°C
Range: -8°C to 24°C
-8°C 24°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.3%

Best Months for VFR

August January April

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 36/18
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.8 kt

Statistics computed from 13,889 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Aug 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Svolvær Airport, Helle - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: ENSH
IATA Code: SVJ
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 27 ft MSL

Location

City: Svolvær
Country: NO
Latitude: 68.243301°
Longitude: 14.669200°
Time Zone: Europe/Brussels

Runway Information

Runway 36/18
Length: 3,104 ft
Width: 98 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Svolvær Airport, Helle

Overview

Svolvær Airport, Helle serves the Lofoten archipelago in northern Norway, located at 68.243301, 14.669200 near the town of Svolvær. As a medium-sized airport with a single 3104ft asphalted runway, it provides critical transportation infrastructure for this remote maritime region. The airport operates at a low elevation of 27 ft above mean sea level.

Flying Conditions

Meteorological data indicates predominantly favorable Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions, with 78.7% of observations supporting VFR flight. Pilots can expect winds predominantly from the North at an average of 9.8 knots, with occasional gusts up to 42 knots. Temperature variations are significant, ranging from -8°C to 21°C, with an average of 4°C, suggesting potential for changing weather conditions.

Notable Features

The airport's geographic location in the Lofoten Islands presents unique challenges and considerations for pilots. Surrounded by maritime terrain, the airport experiences consistent wind patterns and potential rapid weather changes typical of Norway's coastal regions. The single runway (36/18) demonstrates 100% favorable wind alignment, with an average crosswind component of 6.2 knots.

Approach Considerations

Statistically, January, September, and October offer the most consistent VFR conditions for operations. With minimal instances of low IFR (1.2%) and excellent average visibility of 10 statute miles, pilots can generally expect reliable approach conditions. The runway's orientation and wind characteristics suggest minimal wind-related approach complications for most operations.

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.