Philip Billard Municipal Airport

KTOP / TOP

Topeka, US

Last Updated
Jun 10, 18:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 28 min ago
18:53Z

🌇 Dusk
VFR
Flight Rules
32°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 23°C
13 kt
190° G29 kt
10 SM
Visibility
5,500 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1004 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KTOP 101853Z 19013G29KT 10SM SCT047 BKN055 32/23 A2966 RMK AO2 PK WND 21030/1843 SLP034 T03220233

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 881 ft
SCT 4,700 ft AGL
BKN 5,500 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
4,700 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,581 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
5,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
6,381 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Philip Billard Municipal Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 5,500 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (190°) at 13 knots with gusts to 29 knots. The significant gust spread of 16 knots may cause challenging turbulence on approach. Runway 18/36 is favored with a 13-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component (gusting to 5 knots crosswind). Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 5500 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 32°C (90°F) with a dewpoint of 23°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions. High temperatures at this elevation may result in significant density altitude effects. Pilots should calculate density altitude and adjust performance expectations accordingly.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Thunderstorm Rain, Mist. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Thunderstorm Rain, Mist between 23:00Z and 02:00Z.

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
1004 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
975 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (881 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,159 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 3,410 ft (High - Reduced Performance)
ISA Deviation: +18.8°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KTOP 101720Z 1018/1118 19015G27KT P6SM FEW040 FM102300 20012G20KT P6SM VCTS SCT040 BKN150CB TEMPO 1023/1102 4SM TSRA BR BKN030CB FM110300 19007KT P6SM SCT200 FM110900 19012G24KT P6SM FEW080
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
19:21Z BASE
+0h
VFR 190° 15 kt
Visibility: >6SM
23:00Z FM102300
+4h
MVFR 200° 12 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 15,000 ft
23:00Z TEMPO
+4h
MVFR
Visibility: 4SM
Ceiling: 3,000 ft
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
03:00Z FM110300
+8h
VFR 190° 7 kt
Visibility: >6SM

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
TOP
04
22
13
31
18 ✈️
36

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
04/22 3,002 ft 100 ft ASP 49°
10.1 kt 8.2 kt
141° angle
13/31 5,099 ft 100 ft ASP 134°
7.3 kt 10.8 kt
56° angle
✈️ 18/36
Active: 18
4,331 ft 75 ft ASP 181°
12.8 kt 2.3 kt
10° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KTOP

7,992 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
76.3%
MVFR
14%
IFR
6.9%
LIFR
2.8%

Philip Billard Municipal Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 76.3% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 9.7% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 8.1 knots, with gusts recorded up to 32 knots. Calm conditions occur 22.7% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -21°C to 35°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are February, September, May.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 8.1 kt
Maximum Recorded: 32 kt
Calm Winds: 22.7%
Direction Distribution:
N
10.5%
NE
7%
E
12.4%
SE
8.4%
S
16.1%
SW
5.2%
W
8.4%
NW
9.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 10.6°C
Range: -21°C to 35°C
-21°C 35°C

Visibility

Average: 9.2 SM
Below 3 SM: 2.9%
Fog Frequency: 4.6%

Best Months for VFR

February September May

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 04/22
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.5 kt
Runway 13/31
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.8 kt
Runway 18/36
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.5 kt

Statistics computed from 7,992 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Philip Billard Municipal Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KTOP
IATA Code: TOP
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 881 ft MSL

Location

City: Topeka
Country: US
Latitude: 39.069899°
Longitude: -95.622606°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 04/22
Length: 3,002 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 13/31
Length: 5,099 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 18/36
Length: 4,331 ft
Width: 75 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Philip Billard Municipal Airport

Overview

Philip Billard Municipal Airport serves Topeka, Kansas, as a medium-sized airport situated at 881 feet mean sea level. Located at coordinates 39.069899, -95.622606, the airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for the region with three asphalt runways ranging from 3,002 to 5,099 feet in length.

Flying Conditions

Meteorological data indicates predominantly favorable Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions, with 77.3% of observations supporting VFR flight. Temperature variations are significant, ranging from -16°C to 33°C, with an average of 8.8°C. Winds primarily originate from the south at an average of 7.2 knots, with calm conditions occurring 29.6% of the time.

Notable Features

The airport features three asphalt runways with consistent wind coverage: 04/22 (3,002 ft), 13/31 (5,099 ft), and 18/36 (4,331 ft). Visibility averages 9.1 statute miles, with occasional reduced conditions including 3.5% of observations below 3 statute miles and 8.2% experiencing fog conditions.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect highly favorable wind conditions across all runways, with 100% wind coverage and minimal average crosswinds between 4.1 and 5 knots. September, January, and October represent the most consistent VFR months, offering the most predictable flying conditions for approach and departure planning.

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.