Hickory Regional Airport

KHKY / HKY

Hickory, US

Last Updated
Jun 10, 13:26Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 13 min ago
13:26Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
24°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 22°C
5 kt
Variable
10 SM
Visibility
11,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1020 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

SPECI KHKY 101326Z VRB05KT 10SM SCT008 BKN110 24/22 A3011 RMK AO2 T02390217

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,190 ft
SCT 800 ft AGL
BKN 11,000 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
800 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,990 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
11,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
12,190 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Hickory Regional Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 11,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the variable directions at 5 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 11000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 24°C (75°F) with a dewpoint of 22°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 24 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: Mist, Thunderstorm Rain, Mist. Temporary LIFR conditions are forecast with Mist between 12:00Z and 14:00Z. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Thunderstorm Rain, Mist between 17:00Z and 22:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours. 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
1020 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
980 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,190 ft)
Pressure Alt
988 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 2,354 ft
ISA Deviation: +11.4°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KHKY 101142Z 1012/1112 00000KT 3SM BR OVC005 TEMPO 1012/1014 1SM BR OVC004 FM101400 22006KT P6SM SCT050 BKN250 PROB30 1017/1022 4SM TSRA BR BKN025CB FM110200 VRB02KT P6SM BKN250 FM110900 00000KT 4SM BR BKN007
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
13:39Z BASE
+0h
IFR
Visibility: 3SM
Ceiling: 500 ft
Mist
14:00Z FM101400
+1h
VFR 220° 6 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 25,000 ft
17:00Z PROB30
+4h
MVFR
Visibility: 4SM
Ceiling: 2,500 ft
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist

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
HKY
01
19
06
24

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
01/19 4,400 ft 150 ft ASP No wind data
06/24 6,400 ft 150 ft ASP 55° No wind data
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KHKY

7,613 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
77%
MVFR
9.6%
IFR
7.3%
LIFR
6%

Hickory Regional Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 77% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 13.3% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 6.2 knots. Calm conditions occur 32.8% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -12°C to 33°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are June, October, April.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 6.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 24 kt
Calm Winds: 32.8%
Direction Distribution:
E
4.6%
N
9%
S
14.3%
W
8%
NE
11.6%
NW
11.5%
SE
0.1%
SW
8.1%

Temperature Range

Average: 12.5°C
Range: -12°C to 33°C
-12°C 33°C

Visibility

Average: 9 SM
Below 3 SM: 4.1%
Fog Frequency: 5.2%

Best Months for VFR

June October April

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 01/19
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.3 kt
Runway 06/24
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.7 kt

Statistics computed from 7,613 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Hickory Regional Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KHKY
IATA Code: HKY
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,190 ft MSL

Location

City: Hickory
Country: US
Latitude: 35.741100°
Longitude: -81.389503°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 01/19
Length: 4,400 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 06/24
Length: 6,400 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Hickory Regional Airport

Overview

Hickory Regional Airport serves the greater Hickory metropolitan area in western North Carolina, providing critical aviation infrastructure for the region. As a medium-sized airport situated at an elevation of 1,190 feet MSL, the airport supports various general aviation, commercial, and potential charter operations. Its strategic location and dual runway configuration offer flexibility for different aircraft types and operational requirements.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly VFR conditions, with 75.6% of observations indicating favorable visual flight rules. Temperature ranges from -10°C to 31°C create diverse flying environments throughout the year, with October, November, and January typically offering the most stable VFR conditions. Wind patterns are predominantly northwest at an average of 5.8 knots, with calm conditions occurring 37.4% of the time and maximum gusts reaching 20 knots.

Notable Features

Hickory Regional Airport features two asphalt runways with substantial length variations: Runway 01/19 at 4,400 feet and Runway 06/24 at 6,400 feet. Both runways demonstrate excellent wind alignment, with 100% favorable wind coverage and minimal average crosswind components of 3.4 and 3.5 knots respectively. The airport's moderate elevation and geographical positioning suggest potential terrain interactions that pilots should consider during planning.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect consistent wind conditions that generally support both runways without significant crosswind challenges. Visibility averages 8.9 statute miles, with only 4.8% of observations showing conditions below 3 statute miles and 7% experiencing fog. When planning approaches, consider the prevailing northwest winds and be prepared for potential reduced visibility during the 8.2% of IFR and 6.9% of LIFR conditions observed in historical data.

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.