Cotton Strip (17FA) Area Aviation Weather & Runway Winds
Aviation weather near Cotton Strip in La Belle, FL, decoded from the nearest reporting station (KRSW): conditions, runway crosswinds, and free Telegram airport alerts.
Cotton Strip (17FA) is a general aviation airport serving pilots in and around La Belle, FL at 18 ft. 17FA has no weather station of its own. Conditions here are decoded from KRSW, about 16 nm away, the nearest reporting station, and local conditions can differ. Its 6 runways (03W, 09W, 18, 21W), longest 6,000 ft, are checked against the current wind in the crosswind table below. The nearest TAF is issued for KRSW. Track it in the ATIS Alerts Telegram bot to get alerts read from KRSW, the station this page is based on.
No weather station at this airport: showing the nearest station KRSW, 15.9 nm away.
Wind from the east (090°) at 4 kt, visibility 10+ statute miles, broken clouds at 2,600 ft, broken clouds at 3,800 ft, temperature 27°C (80°F), altimeter 30.03 inHg. Conditions are Marginal VFR (MVFR), ceiling 2,600 ft.
SPECI KRSW 122309Z 09004KT 10SM BKN026 BKN038 27/24 A3003 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT NW-NE T02670239
What changed at KRSW (nearest station)?
Since the 2253Z (6:53 PM EDT) report, compared automatically against the latest METAR.
- Flight category dropped from VFR to MVFR.
- A ceiling formed at 2,600 ft.
- Wind speed down from 9 to 4 kt.
The latest report is an off-schedule special (SPECI), issued because conditions changed significantly. What is a SPECI? →
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Current pilot readout for 17FA
Based on the nearest station (KRSW), 17FA is currently MVFR with winds from 090° at 4 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and a 2,600 ft ceiling. The strongest crosswind component is currently on runway 03W, about 4 knots. Density altitude is approximately 1,300 ft (field elevation 18 ft). Review the latest TAF below for forecast changes before departure.
⚠️ Not for operational use. Always verify with official FAA-approved preflight weather sources before flight.
New to aviation weather? How to read a METAR → · What VFR/MVFR/IFR mean → · Decode any METAR/TAF → · Density altitude calculator →
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Track 17FA free on TelegramRunway wind check
Estimated head/tailwind and crosswind for each runway end from the current reported wind.
Use this section to quickly compare current wind alignment across available runways at 17FA. This is intended as a planning aid only and should not replace official performance calculations or pilot judgment.
| Runway | Length | Surface | Head / Tail | Crosswind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03WFAV | 5,000 ft | WATER | 0 kt head | 4 kt right |
| 09W | 6,000 ft | WATER | 0 kt head | 4 kt right |
| 18 | 2,500 ft | TURF | 0 kt head | 4 kt right |
| 21W | 5,000 ft | WATER | 0 kt head | 4 kt right |
| 27W | 6,000 ft | WATER | 0 kt head | 4 kt right |
| 36 | 2,500 ft | TURF | 2 kt tail | 3 kt right |
Open the crosswind calculator to try your own wind and runway numbers →
24-hour trend
Wind, ceiling and flight category over the last 24 hours.
Over the last 23 h: wind 4→4 kt, ceiling unlimited → 2,600 ft.
17FA weather radar
Live NEXRAD + lightning, with a 4-hour future-radar forecast. Drag to pan, tap ⚡ to toggle lightning.
Live weather radar around Cotton Strip in La Belle, FL: the NOAA/NWS NEXRAD composite updates about every five minutes, with NOAA lightning strike density overlaid. The loop plays the past 50 minutes, then continues into a future-radar forecast (+1 to +4 hours, NOAA HRRR model) so you can see where precipitation around 17FA is headed.
Radar: NOAA/NWS via IEM · Forecast: NOAA HRRR · Lightning: NOAA · Map © Stadia Maps © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Forecast frames (amber label) are HRRR model guidance, not observed radar. Lightning strike density appears as a blue-white glow when strikes are detected in view. Radar and lightning coverage are limited in parts of Alaska, Hawaii, and offshore areas. Not for navigation.
Pilot reports (PIREPs) within 100 NM of 17FA
Reported by pilots in flight over the past 6 hours, via aviationweather.gov.
Show raw report
RSW UA /OV RSW127038/TM 2324/FL130/TP A321/TB CONS LGT/RM DURD
RSW UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV RSW127038Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2324Reported at 23:24 UTC.FL130Altitude: 13,000 ft MSL.TP A321Aircraft type reporting.TB CONS LGTTurbulence: continuous light.RM DURDRemarks.Show raw report
OPF UA /OV OPF273010/TM 2321/FL016/TP E545/TB SMOOTH
OPF UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV OPF273010Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2321Reported at 23:21 UTC.FL016Altitude: 1,600 ft MSL.TP E545Aircraft type reporting.TB SMOOTHTurbulence: smooth.Show raw report
LAL UA /OV LAL160020/TM 2311/FL300/TP E170/SK IMC/TB LGT CHOP
LAL UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV LAL160020Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2311Reported at 23:11 UTC.FL300Altitude: 30,000 ft MSL.TP E170Aircraft type reporting.SK IMCSky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.TB LGT CHOPTurbulence: light chop.Show raw report
OPF UA /OV OPF/TM 2232/FL005/TP CL35/SK CLR/TB SMOOTH
OPF UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV OPFLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2232Reported at 22:32 UTC.FL005Altitude: 500 ft MSL.TP CL35Aircraft type reporting.SK CLRSky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.TB SMOOTHTurbulence: smooth.Show raw report
MIA UA /OV FLL060015/TM 2225/FL040/TP C68A/RM SMOOTH
MIA UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV FLL060015Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2225Reported at 22:25 UTC.FL040Altitude: 4,000 ft MSL.TP C68AAircraft type reporting.RM SMOOTHRemarks.Show raw report
MIA UA /OV FLL340006/TM 2225/FL080/TP B738/TB LGT CHOP
MIA UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV FLL340006Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2225Reported at 22:25 UTC.FL080Altitude: 8,000 ft MSL.TP B738Aircraft type reporting.TB LGT CHOPTurbulence: light chop.Show raw report
PBI UA /OV PBI320060/TM 2215/FL300/TP A21N/TB LGT CHOP
PBI UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV PBI320060Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2215Reported at 22:15 UTC.FL300Altitude: 30,000 ft MSL.TP A21NAircraft type reporting.TB LGT CHOPTurbulence: light chop.Show raw report
FLL UA /OV FLL090005/TM 2214/FL015/TP BCS3/RM SMOOTH
FLL UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV FLL090005Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2214Reported at 22:14 UTC.FL015Altitude: 1,500 ft MSL.TP BCS3Aircraft type reporting.RM SMOOTHRemarks.⚠️ PIREPs are unverified pilot reports. Not for operational use: conditions change between reports.
Recent aviation weather trends at 17FA
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, the nearest station KRSW reported mostly VFR across 31 observations, with 1 flight-category change. The strongest gust reached 17 kt, the lowest ceiling was 2,600 ft. Wind most often came from the E.
Most recent change: VFR → MVFR
Most recent change: MVFR → VFR
- 03W/09W/18/21W/27W
- 58%
- 36
- 42%
TAF | Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
Issued 2331Z (7:31 PM EDT)
TAF KRSW 122331Z 1300/1324 09005KT P6SM SCT030 BKN070 OVC250 TEMPO 1300/1301 5SM -SHRA BKN030 FM130200 VRB03KT P6SM FEW025 SCT130 BKN250 FM131700 31006KT P6SM VCTS SCT035CB BKN070 TEMPO 1317/1321 VRB15G25KT 3SM TSRA BKN025CB FM132200 28007KT P6SM SCT040 SCT100 BKN250
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Airport facts
Reference data from the OurAirports dataset.
- Type
- General aviation airport
- FAA LID
- 17FA
- City
- La Belle
- State
- Florida
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 18 ft
- Coordinates
- 26.7134, -81.5354
- Runways
- 6
- Longest runway
- 6,000 ft
- Weather reporting
- Nearest station KRSW
- TAF
- Nearest KRSW
- Time zone
- America/New_York
- Next sunset
- 23h 54m
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed 17FA's live status on your website, free →
Nearby airports
Compare nearby METAR/TAF stations within 25, 50 and 100 NM before departure or arrival.
Within 25 NM
9 airports+3 more within 25 NM
25–50 NM
7 airports+1 more within 50 NM
50–100 NM
8 airports+2 more within 100 NM
RC flying fields nearby
AMA model-aircraft club fields around this airport: live wind, crosswind & flyability on each page.
- Clewiston Flyers - FL 78 , Moore Haven, FL · 16 mi
- Charlotte RC Society - Shell Creek R/C Field , Punta Gorda, FL · 20 mi
- Seahawks Air Park , Cape Coral, FL · 28 mi
17FA weather: frequently asked
What runways are available at 17FA?+
17FA has 6 runways: 03W, 09W, 18, 21W, 27W, 36; the longest is 6,000 ft. This page computes the live crosswind for each runway end from the current wind.
Where does the weather shown for 17FA come from?+
Cotton Strip does not have its own weather station. Conditions shown here come from the nearest reporting station, KRSW, about 16 nm away, close enough for situational awareness, but local conditions at 17FA can differ.
Does 17FA have a TAF?+
Yes. The KRSW TAF is shown on this page below the current conditions.
Does 17FA broadcast D-ATIS?+
No. 17FA does not broadcast D-ATIS. Alerts for 17FA from the ATIS Alerts bot (@atisalerts_bot) are based on its METAR (via the nearest reporting station) instead.
Pilot PIREPs for Cotton Strip (17FA)
Community-submittedCommunity-submitted airport notes from pilots about runway conditions, wildlife, FBOs, fuel, turbulence, ramp access, and local tips.
Read recent community-submitted pilot notes for Cotton Strip, including runway conditions, wildlife activity, FBO/fuel notes, turbulence, ramp access, and local airport tips.
⚠️ Pilot PIREPs on ATIS Alerts are community-submitted airport notes for situational awareness only. They are not official FAA PIREPs, NOTAMs, weather briefings, airport advisories, or flight-planning guidance. Always verify with official FAA/NWS sources, airport management, ATC, and current publications.
No Pilot PIREPs have been submitted for 17FA yet. Recently flew here? Help the next pilot by leaving a quick airport note.
Pilot PIREPs are community pilot notes for situational awareness only, not official FAA PIREPs or advisories. Verify with official sources. Notes are moderated before they appear; helpful marks and reports help us keep them useful.
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