Watertown Regional Airport

KATY / ATY

Watertown, US

Last Updated
Jun 24, 14:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 21 min ago
14:53Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
18°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 11°C
10 kt
300°
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1018 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KATY 241453Z AUTO 30010KT 10SM FEW026 18/11 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP175 T01830111 58001

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,749 ft
FEW 2,600 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
2,600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,349 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Watertown Regional Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with few clouds at 2,600 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west-northwest (300°) at 10 knots. Runway 30 is favored with a 10-knot headwind and 0-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 2,600 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 18°C (64°F) with a dewpoint of 11°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

QNH
1018 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
960 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,749 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,607 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 2,387 ft
ISA Deviation: +6.5°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KATY 241120Z 2412/2512 30009KT P6SM SKC FM241500 30013G21KT P6SM SCT100 FM250200 32006KT P6SM FEW120
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
15:14Z BASE
+0h
VFR 300° 9 kt
Visibility: >6SM
02:00Z FM250200
+11h
VFR 320° 6 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
ATY
12
30 ✈️
17
35

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 12/30
Active: 30
6,900 ft 150 ft ASP 124°
10.0 kt 0.0 kt
0° angle
17/35 6,895 ft 150 ft ASP 180°
5.0 kt 8.7 kt
120° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KATY

8,628 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
64.8%
MVFR
20.7%
IFR
9.9%
LIFR
4.5%

Watertown Regional Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 64.8% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 14.4% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NW averaging 10.9 knots, with gusts recorded up to 38 knots. Temperature extremes range from -29°C to 33°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are June, October, May.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NW (315°)
Average Speed: 10.9 kt
Maximum Recorded: 38 kt
Calm Winds: 7.8%
Direction Distribution:
E
6.6%
N
13.9%
S
17.8%
W
10%
NE
5.5%
NW
20.7%
SE
12.1%
SW
5.6%

Temperature Range

Average: 2.8°C
Range: -29°C to 33°C
-29°C 33°C

Visibility

Average: 9 SM
Below 3 SM: 3.9%
Fog Frequency: 2.5%

Best Months for VFR

June October May

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 12/30
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.2 kt
Runway 17/35
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.3 kt

Statistics computed from 8,628 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Watertown Regional Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KATY
IATA Code: ATY
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,749 ft MSL

Location

City: Watertown
Country: US
Latitude: 44.914001°
Longitude: -97.154701°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 12/30
Length: 6,900 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 17/35
Length: 6,895 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Watertown Regional Airport

Overview

Watertown Regional Airport serves the northeastern South Dakota region as a medium-sized airport located at an elevation of 1,749 feet MSL. Situated at coordinates 44.914001, -97.154701, the airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for Watertown and surrounding communities. Its two parallel asphalt runways offer robust capabilities for various aircraft operations.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect predominantly favorable Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions, with 60.8% of observations showing clear weather and an additional 24.5% in Marginal VFR conditions. Temperature variability is significant, ranging from -29°C to 31°C, with an average of 0.9°C. Visibility typically remains excellent, averaging 8.8 statute miles, though pilots should be prepared for occasional reduced visibility periods.

Notable Features

The airport features two nearly identical asphalt runways: 12/30 at 6,900 feet and 17/35 at 6,895 feet. Prevailing winds consistently blow from the northwest at 315 degrees, with an average speed of 10.9 knots and occasional gusts up to 38 knots. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with modest average crosswind components of 5.8 and 5.2 knots respectively.

Approach Considerations

September through November represent the most consistently favorable flying months, with optimal VFR conditions. Wind patterns suggest minimal runway selection challenges, as both runways have identical favorable wind characteristics. Pilots should anticipate potential wind variability, with calm conditions occurring in 8.1% of observations and be prepared for occasional low visibility scenarios, which occur in approximately 4.8% of recorded observations.

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.