Garys Airport (38IA) Area Aviation Weather & Runway Winds
As of 2:36 PM CDT, Oct 28, based on the nearest station (KEST), 38IA is currently VFR with winds from 200° at 11 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and a 3,100 ft ceiling.
Aviation weather near Garys Airport in Estherville, IA, decoded from the nearest reporting station (KEST): conditions and runway crosswinds.
Garys Airport (38IA) is a general aviation airport serving pilots in and around Estherville, IA at a field elevation of 1,289 ft. 38IA has no weather station of its own. Conditions here are decoded from KEST, about 4 nm away, the nearest reporting station, and local conditions can differ. It has one runway (18/36), the longest 3,286 ft. The nearest TAF is issued for KFOD.
No weather station at this airport: showing the nearest station KEST, 4 nm away.
Wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 11 kt, visibility 10+ statute miles, overcast at 3,100 ft, temperature 21°C (69°F), altimeter 29.87 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR), ceiling 3,100 ft.
SPECI KEST 281936Z AUTO 20011KT 10SM OVC031 21/15 A2987 RMK AO2 T02060150
What changed at KEST (nearest station)?
Since the 1852Z (1:52 PM CDT) report, compared automatically against the latest METAR.
- Flight category improved from MVFR to VFR.
- Gusts are no longer reported.
- Ceiling lifted from 2,700 ft to 3,100 ft.
- Pressure falling: altimeter 29.89 → 29.87 inHg.
The latest report is an off-schedule special (SPECI), issued because conditions changed significantly. What is a SPECI? →
Current pilot readout for 38IA
Based on the nearest station (KEST), 38IA is currently VFR with winds from 200° at 11 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and a 3,100 ft ceiling. the wind favors south-facing runway ends (18). Density altitude is approximately 2,350 ft (field elevation 1,289 ft). 38IA does not publish a TAF. The nearest TAF station is KFOD, about 56 nm away.
New to aviation weather? How to read a METAR → · What VFR/MVFR/IFR mean → · Decode any METAR/TAF → · Density altitude calculator →
Runway wind check
Estimated head/tailwind and crosswind for each runway end from the current reported wind.
| Runway | Length | Surface | Head / Tail | Crosswind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18FAV | 3,286 ft | Turf | 10 kt head | 3 kt right |
| 36 | 3,286 ft | Turf | 10 kt tail | 3 kt left |
Open the crosswind calculator to try your own wind and runway numbers →
38IA runways
1 physical runway · 2 runway ends. Each card opens the runway's intelligence page: equipment and lighting, LAHSO, frequencies, today's configuration, predicted use, history and approaches.
- Status not monitoredRunway 18/363,286 × 80 ft · TurfCurrent useno stated-runway source at 38IAWind
- 18
- 10 kt headwind · 3 kt crosswind from right
- 36
- 10 kt tailwind · 3 kt crosswind from left
no active equipment NOTAM receivedView Runway Intelligence →
“Current use” is what the facilitystates; wind components are arithmetic on the current METAR against TRUE headings; status reflects NOTAMs received through SWIM, the tower's TFDM record and the D-ATIS — a runway reads “Open” only with a complete NOTAM picture.
24-hour trend
Wind, ceiling and flight category over the last 24 hours.
Over the last 24 h: wind 12→11 kt, ceiling 800 ft → 3,100 ft.
38IA weather radar
Live NEXRAD + lightning, with a 4-hour future-radar forecast. Drag to pan, tap ⚡ to toggle lightning.
Radar: NOAA/NWS via IEM · Forecast: NOAA HRRR · Lightning: NOAA · Map © Stadia Maps © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
NOAA NEXRAD composite and lightning, updated about every five minutes; amber frames are HRRR model guidance, not observed radar. Not for navigation.
Recent aviation weather trends at 38IA
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, the nearest station KEST reported a mix of conditions, most often marginal VFR across 46 observations, with 14 flight-category changes. The strongest gust reached 23 kt, the lowest ceiling was 200 ft. Wind most often came from the S.
Most recent change: MVFR → VFR
Most recent change: VFR → MVFR
Share of hours each runway had the most headwind. From wind reports, not ATC assignments.
- 18
- 60%
- 36
- 40%
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Live crosswind meter
38IA has no weather feed online, so the wind comes from KEST, 4 nm away.
Wind is 19° off runway 18, the end with the most headwind right now.
Have a weather station at 38IA? Help us make your field's weather available to every pilot, free. Add your field's wx station →Turf · 3,286 ft. Headings from FAA runway data. Not for navigation.
Field aerial
North up
Runway 18/36 drawn from FAA threshold coordinates.
Imagery: USGS The National Map (public domain). Something off? ✏️ Suggest an edit
Airport info
From the FAA airport record (cycle 2026-10-01) and OurAirports.
Services
- Control tower
- None
Airport
- Type
- General aviation airport
- FAA LID
- 38IA
- City
- Estherville
- State
- Iowa
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 1,289 ft
- Coordinates
- 43.4257, -94.6587
- Runways
- 1 physical runway · 2 runway ends
- Longest runway
- 3,286 ft
- Weather reporting
- Nearest station KEST
- TAF
- Nearest KFOD
- Time zone
- America/Chicago
- Sunset in
- 3h 35m
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed 38IA'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
8 airports+2 more within 25 NM
25–50 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.
- RC Skyhawks - Oneota Park , Spencer, IA · 30 mi
Customize your 38IA shirt or mug
38IA's real runway layout on the back, elevation and tower frequency on the front. Add your tail number on the sleeve.
Pilot PIREPs for Garys Airport (38IA)
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 Garys 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 38IA 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.
⚠️ Not for operational use. Always verify with official FAA-approved preflight weather sources before flight.
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