Sky Ranch At Carefree Airport (18AZ) Area Aviation Weather & Runway Winds
Aviation weather near Sky Ranch At Carefree Airport in Carefree, AZ, decoded from the nearest reporting station (KSDL) — conditions, runway crosswinds, and free Telegram airport alerts.
Sky Ranch At Carefree Airport (18AZ) is a general aviation airport serving pilots in and around Carefree, AZ at 2,568 ft. 18AZ has no weather station of its own — conditions here are decoded from KSDL, about 12 nm away, the nearest reporting station, and local conditions can differ. Its 2 runways (06, 24) — longest 4,029 ft — are checked against the current wind in the crosswind table below. The nearest TAF is issued for KSDL. Track it in the ATIS Alerts Telegram bot to get alerts read from KSDL, the station this page is based on.
No weather station at this airport — showing the nearest station KSDL, 11.8 nm away.
Wind from the southwest (230°) at 6 kt, visibility 10+ statute miles, no cloud data, temperature 39°C (103°F), altimeter 29.76 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
METAR KSDL 290153Z 23006KT 10SM CLR 39/16 A2976 RMK AO2 SLP045 T03940156
What changed at KSDL (nearest station)?
Since the 0053Z (5:53 PM MST) report — compared automatically against the latest METAR.
- Wind direction moved from 270° to 230°.
This is exactly what ATIS Alerts watches for you — get a Telegram message when 18AZ's weather changes, free →
Current pilot readout for 18AZ
Based on the nearest station (KSDL), 18AZ is currently VFR with winds from 230° at 6 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and no ceiling reported. The strongest crosswind component is currently on runway 24, about 5 knots. Density altitude is approximately 6,300 ft (field elevation 2,568 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 →
Get 18AZ weather alerts in Telegram
Stop refreshing aviation weather manually. Track 18AZ in ATIS Alerts and get notified when a new METAR changes the picture — a category drop, or wind and ceiling moving toward your minimums.
Track 18AZ 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 18AZ. This is intended as a planning aid only and should not replace official performance calculations or pilot judgment.
| Runway | Length | Surface | Head / Tail | Crosswind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24FAV | 4,029 ft | ASPH | 4 kt tail | 5 kt left |
| 06 | 4,029 ft | ASPH | 6 kt tail | 2 kt right |
Open the crosswind calculator — 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 6→6 kt, ceiling unlimited → unlimited.
18AZ weather radar
Live NEXRAD + lightning, with a 4-hour future-radar forecast — drag to pan, tap ⚡ to toggle lightning.
Live weather radar around Sky Ranch At Carefree Airport in Carefree, AZ: 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 18AZ is headed.
Radar: NOAA/NWS via IEM · Forecast: NOAA HRRR · Lightning: NOAA · Map © OpenStreetMap © CARTO
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.
Recent aviation weather trends at 18AZ
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, the nearest station KSDL reported mostly VFR across 29 observations, with 0 flight-category changes. The strongest gust reached 23 kt, the lowest ceiling was 9,500 ft. Wind most often came from the W.
- 24
- 58%
- 06
- 42%
TAF — Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
Issued 2320Z (4:20 PM MST)
TAF KSDL 282320Z 2900/2924 24009KT P6SM FEW100 FEW250 FM290600 VRB04KT P6SM FEW120 SCT250 FM291800 24008KT P6SM FEW100 FEW250
New to TAFs? How to read one →
Want forecast changes pushed to you? Start free on Telegram → TAF heads-ups are part of Premium · see what Premium includes
Get free ATIS alerts for 18AZ
We'll message you on Telegram when a new report moves the picture near 18AZ (Sky Ranch At Carefree Airport) — alerts read from KSDL, the station this page uses.
Track 18AZ on TelegramFree • no app to install • unsubscribe anytime
Airport facts
Reference data from the OurAirports dataset.
- Type
- General aviation airport
- FAA LID
- 18AZ
- City
- Carefree
- State
- Arizona
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 2,568 ft
- Coordinates
- 33.8185, -111.8983
- Runways
- 2
- Longest runway
- 4,029 ft
- Weather reporting
- Nearest station KSDL
- TAF
- Nearest KSDL
- Time zone
- America/Phoenix
- Next sunset
- 23h 40m
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed 18AZ'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
5 airports25–50 NM
8 airports+2 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.
- Sun Valley Fliers 1 — Cave Creek, AZ · 9 mi
- Sun Valley Fliers 2 — Phoenix, AZ · 10 mi
- Arizona Model Pilots Society Amps 2 — Glendale, AZ · 17 mi
18AZ weather — frequently asked
What runways are available at 18AZ?+
18AZ has 2 runways — 06, 24; the longest is 4,029 ft. This page computes the live crosswind for each runway end from the current wind.
Where does the weather shown for 18AZ come from?+
Sky Ranch At Carefree Airport does not have its own weather station. Conditions shown here come from the nearest reporting station, KSDL, about 12 nm away — close enough for situational awareness, but local conditions at 18AZ can differ.
Does 18AZ have a TAF?+
Yes — the KSDL TAF is shown on this page below the current conditions.
Does 18AZ broadcast D-ATIS?+
No — 18AZ does not broadcast D-ATIS. Alerts for 18AZ from the ATIS Alerts bot (@atisalerts_bot) are based on its METAR (via the nearest reporting station) instead.
Pilot PIREPs for Sky Ranch At Carefree Airport (18AZ)
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 Sky Ranch At Carefree Airport, 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 18AZ 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.
Why pilots use ATIS Alerts
Free aviation weather and ATIS change alerts for GA pilots, delivered on Telegram — so a change catches your eye before it catches you off guard.
- Get pinged the moment 18AZ drops below VFR or a new report moves your numbers.
- Live METAR, TAF, crosswinds, and FAA delays — one link, always current.
- Free, no app to install, and you can track any US airport. Unsubscribe anytime.
⚠️ Not for operational use. Always verify with official FAA-approved preflight weather sources before flight.
Spotted incorrect airport info? ✏️ Suggest an edit