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.
No weather station at this airport: showing the nearest station KCQF, 3.6 nm away.
Wind calm, visibility 10+ statute miles, no cloud data, temperature 24°C (75°F), altimeter 30.02 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
METAR KCQF 130155Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 24/23 A3002 RMK AO2
What changed at KCQF (nearest station)?
Since the 0135Z (8:35 PM CDT) report, compared automatically against the latest METAR.
No significant changes since the 0135Z 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 calm winds, visibility 10+ statute miles, and no ceiling reported. Density altitude is approximately 950 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 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 5AL. This is intended as a planning aid only and should not replace official performance calculations or pilot judgment.
Current wind is calm: calm wind is not a factor for runway selection, and with no wind there is no head/tail or crosswind component to compute. Live numbers return automatically once a report includes a wind direction.
| Runway | Length | Surface | Head / Tail | Crosswind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16W | 4,395 ft | WATER | - | - |
| 34W | 4,395 ft | WATER | - | - |
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 0→0 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.
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 5AL
Reported by pilots in flight over the past 6 hours, via aviationweather.gov.
Show raw report
PIB UA /OV LBY089014/TM 0109/FL370/TP A20N/SK TOP 400/RM ZHU
PIB UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV LBY089014Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0109Reported at 01:09 UTC.FL370Altitude: 37,000 ft MSL.TP A20NAircraft type reporting.SK TOP 400Sky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.RM ZHURemarks.Show raw report
MOB UA /OV SJI301018/TM 0107/FL360/TP B739/TB NEG/RM SMOOTH ZHU
MOB UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV SJI301018Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0107Reported at 01:07 UTC.FL360Altitude: 36,000 ft MSL.TP B739Aircraft type reporting.TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.RM SMOOTH ZHURemarks.Show raw report
PNS UA /OV KPNS350005/TM 2356/FLDURD/TP E170/TB SMOOTH
PNS UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV KPNS350005Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2356Reported at 23:56 UTC.FLDURDReported during descent.TP E170Aircraft type reporting.TB SMOOTHTurbulence: smooth.Show raw report
PNS UA /OV PNS150020/TM 2337/FL100/TP DA40/SK SKC
PNS UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV PNS150020Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2337Reported at 23:37 UTC.FL100Altitude: 10,000 ft MSL.TP DA40Aircraft type reporting.SK SKCSky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.Show raw report
PNS UA /OV PNS/TM 2313/FL017/TP C172/SK SKC
PNS UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV PNSLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2313Reported at 23:13 UTC.FL017Altitude: 1,700 ft MSL.TP C172Aircraft type reporting.SK SKCSky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.Show raw report
MOB UA /OV SJI070014/TM 2247/FL170/TP CRJ9/SK TOP 190/RM ZHU
MOB UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV SJI070014Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2247Reported at 22:47 UTC.FL170Altitude: 17,000 ft MSL.TP CRJ9Aircraft type reporting.SK TOP 190Sky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.RM ZHURemarks.Show raw report
PNS UA /OV PNS2000005/TM 2210/FL026/TP E545/SK SKC
PNS UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV PNS2000005Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2210Reported at 22:10 UTC.FL026Altitude: 2,600 ft MSL.TP E545Aircraft type reporting.SK SKCSky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.Show raw report
PNS UA /OV KPNS200003/TM 2210/FL0200/TP E545/SK SKC/RM DURC RWY17
PNS UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV KPNS200003Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2210Reported at 22:10 UTC.FL0200Altitude: 2,000 ft MSL.TP E545Aircraft type reporting.SK SKCSky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.RM DURC RWY17Remarks.⚠️ 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 14 flight-category changes. The lowest ceiling was 1,900 ft. Wind most often came from the SW.
Most recent change: MVFR → VFR
Most recent change: MVFR → VFR
- 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 TelegramFree • 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
- 21h 42m
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.
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.
- Bay Area RC Society BARCS - Magnolia Landfill , Summerdale, AL · 3 mi
- South Alabama RC Modelers - S Cedar St , Foley, AL · 8 mi
- Fly Boyz RC Club - Horak Field , Elberta, AL · 16 mi
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-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 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.
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.
⚠️ Not for operational use. Always verify with official FAA-approved preflight weather sources before flight.
Spotted incorrect airport info? ✏️ Suggest an edit