ATIS Alerts

Fish River Seaplane Base (5AL) Area Aviation Weather & Runway Winds

Aviation weather near Fish River Seaplane Base in Fairhope, AL, decoded from the nearest reporting station (KCQF) — conditions, runway crosswinds, and free Telegram airport alerts.

Fish River Seaplane Base (5AL) is a seaplane base in Fairhope, AL. 5AL has no weather station of its own — conditions here are decoded from KCQF, about 4 nm away, the nearest reporting station, and local conditions can differ. Its 2 runways (16W, 34W) — longest 4,395 ft — are checked against the current wind in the crosswind table below. The nearest TAF is issued for KJKA. Track it in the ATIS Alerts Telegram bot to get alerts read from KCQF, the station this page is based on.

VFR
Observed 0335Z (10:35 PM CDT)live · refreshes every 60s

No weather station at this airport — showing the nearest station KCQF, 3.6 nm away.

Wind
270° 3 kt
Visibility
10+ sm
Ceiling
Unlimited
Altimeter
29.85"
Temp / Dew
29°C / 84°F
dew 25°C

Wind from the west (270°) at 3 kt, visibility 10+ statute miles, no cloud data, temperature 29°C (84°F), altimeter 29.85 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR).

Raw METAR
METAR KCQF 290335Z AUTO 27003KT 10SM CLR 29/25 A2985 RMK AO2

What changed at KCQF (nearest station)?

Since the 0315Z (10:15 PM CDT) report — compared automatically against the latest METAR.

No significant changes since the 0315Z report — conditions are holding steady.

This is exactly what ATIS Alerts watches for you — get a Telegram message when 5AL's weather changes, free →

Current pilot readout for 5AL

Based on the nearest station (KCQF), 5AL is currently VFR with winds from 270° at 3 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and no ceiling reported. The strongest crosswind component is currently on runway 16W, about 3 knots. Density altitude is approximately 1,750 ft (field elevation 3 ft). 5AL does not publish a TAF — the nearest TAF station is KJKA, about 12 nm away.

⚠️ 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 5AL weather alerts in Telegram

Stop refreshing aviation weather manually. Track 5AL 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 5AL free on Telegram

Runway 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 5AL. This is intended as a planning aid only and should not replace official performance calculations or pilot judgment.

RunwayHead / TailCrosswind
16WFAV0 kt head3 kt left
34W0 kt head3 kt left

Open the crosswind calculator — try your own wind and runway numbers →

24-hour trend

Wind, ceiling and flight category over the last 24 hours.

Wind (kt)Gusts (kt)Bottom strip — flight category:VFRMVFRIFRLIFRNo report
061204Z15Z03Z

Over the last 23 h: wind 0→3 kt, ceiling unlimited → unlimited.

5AL weather radar

Live NEXRAD + lightning, with a 4-hour future-radar forecast — drag to pan, tap ⚡ to toggle lightning.

Live weather radar around Fish River Seaplane Base in Fairhope, AL: 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 5AL is headed.

Loading…
Loading radar…

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.

Pilot reports (PIREPs) within 100 NM of 5AL

Reported by pilots in flight over the past 6 hours — via aviationweather.gov.

PIREP0222Z (9:22 PM CDT) · 100 NM E of 5AL · 37,000 ft MSL · B738
continuous light turbulence
Show raw report
CEW UA /OV CEW090040/TM 0222/FL370/TP B738/TB CONS LGT
CEW UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.
OV CEW090040Location — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.
TM 0222Reported at 02:22 UTC.
FL370Altitude: 37,000 ft MSL.
TP B738Aircraft type reporting.
TB CONS LGTTurbulence: continuous light.
PIREP0123Z (8:23 PM CDT) · 41 NM NE of 5AL · 5,000 ft MSL · TEX2
Show raw report
PNS UA /OV PNS360025/TM 0123/FL050/TP TEX2/SK CLR
PNS UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.
OV PNS360025Location — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.
TM 0123Reported at 01:23 UTC.
FL050Altitude: 5,000 ft MSL.
TP TEX2Aircraft type reporting.
SK CLRSky condition — cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.
PIREP0048Z (7:48 PM CDT) · 53 NM NE of 5AL · 3,000 ft MSL · TEX2
Show raw report
PNS UA /OV 12J 100 010/TM 0048/FL030/TP TEX2/SK CLR/WX 5SM
PNS UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.
OV 12J 100 010Location — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.
TM 0048Reported at 00:48 UTC.
FL030Altitude: 3,000 ft MSL.
TP TEX2Aircraft type reporting.
SK CLRSky condition — cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.
WX 5SMWeather and flight visibility observed.
PIREP0038Z (7:38 PM CDT) · 12 NM SE of 5AL · 2,200 ft MSL · A119
Show raw report
PNS UA /OV JKA/TM 0038/FL022/TP A119/SK CLR/WX +10SM
PNS UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.
OV JKALocation — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.
TM 0038Reported at 00:38 UTC.
FL022Altitude: 2,200 ft MSL.
TP A119Aircraft type reporting.
SK CLRSky condition — cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.
WX +10SMWeather and flight visibility observed.
PIREP2341Z (6:41 PM CDT) · 32 NM E of 5AL · 1,500 ft MSL · E170
Show raw report
PNS UA /OV PNS/TM 2341/FL015/TP E170/SK CLR
PNS UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.
OV PNSLocation — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.
TM 2341Reported at 23:41 UTC.
FL015Altitude: 1,500 ft MSL.
TP E170Aircraft type reporting.
SK CLRSky condition — cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.
PIREP2318Z (6:18 PM CDT) · 93 NM NW of 5AL · 41,000 ft MSL · CL60
Show raw report
PIB UA /OV LBY180010/TM 2318/FL410/TP CL60/SK TOP FL410/RM ZHU
PIB UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.
OV LBY180010Location — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.
TM 2318Reported at 23:18 UTC.
FL410Altitude: 41,000 ft MSL.
TP CL60Aircraft type reporting.
SK TOP FL410Sky condition — cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.
RM ZHURemarks.
PIREP2258Z (5:58 PM CDT) · 32 NM NW of 5AL · during descent · E145
Show raw report
MOB UA /OV MOB/TM 2258/FLDURD/TP E145/SK CLR
MOB UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.
OV MOBLocation — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.
TM 2258Reported at 22:58 UTC.
FLDURDReported during descent.
TP E145Aircraft type reporting.
SK CLRSky condition — cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.
PIREP2241Z (5:41 PM CDT) · 31 NM E of 5AL · 4,200 ft MSL · SR22
Show raw report
PNS UA /OV NPA120005/TM 2241/FL042/TP SR22/SK CLR
PNS UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.
OV NPA120005Location — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.
TM 2241Reported at 22:41 UTC.
FL042Altitude: 4,200 ft MSL.
TP SR22Aircraft type reporting.
SK CLRSky condition — cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.

⚠️ PIREPs are unverified pilot reports. Not for operational use — conditions change between reports.

Recent aviation weather trends at 5AL

From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.

Over the past 24 hours, the nearest station KCQF reported mostly VFR across 71 observations, with 0 flight-category changes. The lowest ceiling was 5,500 ft. Wind most often came from the NW.

Last 24 hours
VFR 100%
Wind avg/max: 3/7 kt
Max gust: —
Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft
Lowest vis: —
Prevailing wind: NW
Category changes: 0
Last 7 days
VFR 82%MVFR 17%IFR 1%
Wind avg/max: 4/19 kt
Max gust: 25 kt
Lowest ceiling: 700 ft
Lowest vis: 2.5 sm
Prevailing wind: SW
Category changes: 19

Most recent change: MVFR → VFR

Active Runway - past 30 days
16W/34W
100%

Get free ATIS alerts for 5AL

We'll message you on Telegram when a new report moves the picture near 5AL (Fish River Seaplane Base) — alerts read from KCQF, the station this page uses.

Track 5AL on Telegram

Free • no app to install • unsubscribe anytime

Airport facts

Reference data from the OurAirports dataset.

Type
Seaplane base
FAA LID
5AL
City
Fairhope
State
Alabama
Country
United States
Elevation
3 ft
Coordinates
30.4500, -87.8078
Runways
2
Longest runway
4,395 ft
Weather reporting
Nearest station KCQF
TAF
Nearest KJKA
Time zone
America/Chicago
Next sunset
20h 53m

Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed 5AL's live status on your website — free →

Nearby airports

Compare nearby METAR/TAF stations within 25, 50 and 100 NM before departure or arrival.

VFRMVFRIFRLIFRNo report

RC flying fields nearby

AMA model-aircraft club fields around this airport — live wind, crosswind & flyability on each page.

All RC flying fields →

See all Alabama airports →

5AL weather — frequently asked

What runways are available at 5AL?+

5AL has 2 runways — 16W, 34W; the longest is 4,395 ft. This page computes the live crosswind for each runway end from the current wind.

Where does the weather shown for 5AL come from?+

Fish River Seaplane Base does not have its own weather station. Conditions shown here come from the nearest reporting station, KCQF, about 4 nm away — close enough for situational awareness, but local conditions at 5AL can differ.

Does 5AL have a TAF?+

No — 5AL does not publish its own TAF. The nearest TAF station is KJKA, about 12 nm away.

Does 5AL broadcast D-ATIS?+

No — 5AL does not broadcast D-ATIS. Alerts for 5AL from the ATIS Alerts bot (@atisalerts_bot) are based on its METAR (via the nearest reporting station) instead.

Pilot PIREPs for Fish River Seaplane Base (5AL)

Community-submitted

Community-submitted airport notes from pilots about runway conditions, wildlife, FBOs, fuel, turbulence, ramp access, and local tips.

Read recent community-submitted pilot notes for Fish River Seaplane Base, 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 5AL 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.

From the ATIS Alerts team

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 5AL 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.
Get free alerts for 5AL →

⚠️ Not for operational use. Always verify with official FAA-approved preflight weather sources before flight.

Spotted incorrect airport info? ✏️ Suggest an edit

How ATIS Alerts works · All US airports · Alabama airports

Get free alerts for 5AL