Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field)

KNUW / NUW

Oak Harbor, US

Last Updated
Jul 25, 01:53Z

Military Airport

Restricted

This is a U.S. military installation. Civil aircraft operations are generally prohibited without prior authorization.

Access Notes:

Most military airfields closed to civil traffic; some joint-use exceptions exist

Consult official AIP (FAA AIP GEN 3.3) for current access procedures and restrictions.

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 51 min ago
01:53Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
16°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 12°C
8 kt
230°
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1012 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KNUW 250153Z 23008KT 10SM FEW050 16/12 A2989 RMK AO2 SLP127 T01610122

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 47 ft
FEW 5,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
5,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,047 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field) is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with few clouds at 5,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the southwest (230°) at 8 knots. Runway 25 is favored with a 8-knot headwind and 3-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 5,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 16°C (61°F) with a dewpoint of 12°C. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread suggests high humidity and potential for visibility restrictions, especially during cooling periods.

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: Light Showers Rain, Mist. Temporary VFR conditions are forecast between 04:00Z and 08:00Z. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Light Showers Rain, Mist between 10:00Z and 16:00Z.

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
1012 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1010 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (47 ft)
Pressure Alt
85 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 216 ft
ISA Deviation: +1.1°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KNUW 242300Z 2423/2523 26010G20KT 9999 FEW040 FEW150 QNH2984INS TEMPO 2504/2508 25012G24KT FEW010 SCT020 BKN040 BECMG 2508/2510 16010KT 9999 VCSH SCT010 BKN020 OVC040 QNH2986INS TEMPO 2510/2516 VRB06KT 9000 -SHRA BR SCT005 BKN010 OVC020 BECMG 2518/2520 17010KT 9999 NSW SCT020 BKN040 BKN080 QNH2990INS TX20/2423Z TN13/2512Z FS30228
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
02:44Z BASE
+0h
VFR 260° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
04:00Z TEMPO
+2h
VFR 250° 12 kt
Ceiling: 4,000 ft
08:00Z BECMG
+6h
MVFR 160° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 2,000 ft
10:00Z TEMPO
+8h
IFR VRB 6 kt
Visibility: 9 km
Ceiling: 1,000 ft
Light Showers 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
NUW
07
25 ✈️
14
32

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 07/25
Active: 25
8,000 ft 200 ft CON 87°
7.5 kt 2.7 kt
20° angle
14/32 8,001 ft 200 ft CONC 155°
2.1 kt 7.7 kt
75° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KNUW

12,860 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
73%
MVFR
21.1%
IFR
3.3%
LIFR
2.5%

Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field) typically experiences VFR conditions 73% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 5.8% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SE averaging 8.8 knots, with gusts recorded up to 46 knots. Calm conditions occur 12.3% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -5°C to 30°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are June, October, May.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SE (135°)
Average Speed: 8.8 kt
Maximum Recorded: 46 kt
Calm Winds: 12.3%
Direction Distribution:
E
17.2%
N
2.4%
S
5.7%
W
18.7%
NE
0.9%
NW
5%
SE
24.2%
SW
13.6%

Temperature Range

Average: 9.3°C
Range: -5°C to 30°C
-5°C 30°C

Visibility

Average: 9.4 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.1%
Fog Frequency: 6.5%

Best Months for VFR

June October May

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 07/25
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.5 kt
Runway 14/32
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.5 kt

Statistics computed from 12,860 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field) - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KNUW
IATA Code: NUW
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 47 ft MSL

Location

City: Oak Harbor
Country: US
Latitude: 48.351799°
Longitude: -122.655998°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+8

Runway Information

Runway 07/25
Length: 8,000 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 14/32
Length: 8,001 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: CONC
ILS: No

About Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field)

Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field) is a military facility. Civilian access may be restricted or require Prior Permission (PPR). Pilots should consult the US AIP for current access procedures and restrictions.

Overview

Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field) is a medium-sized military airport located in Oak Harbor, Washington, serving naval aviation operations. Situated at an elevation of 47 feet MSL, the station provides critical infrastructure for maritime aviation activities in the Pacific Northwest region.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at KNUW are predominantly VFR, with 66.5% of observations showing clear conditions and only 8% of time experiencing low IFR or LIFR conditions. Prevailing winds are from the southeast at an average of 9.2 knots, with temperatures ranging from -3°C to 30°C. Visibility averages 9.1 statute miles, with fog present 10.3% of the time.

Notable Features

The airport features two substantial concrete runways: Runway 07/25 at 8,000 feet and Runway 14/32 at 8,001 feet. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind coverage, with minimal average crosswind conditions of 6.5 knots for 07/25 and 3.9 knots for 14/32. The coastal location provides unique geographical positioning for naval aviation operations.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect consistently favorable wind conditions for both primary runways. September, October, and January offer the best VFR conditions, with wind patterns predominantly from the southeast. Maximum recorded wind speeds reach 46 knots, suggesting potential for challenging wind conditions during specific weather events.

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.