El Capitan Lodge Seaplane Base (5C5) Area Aviation Weather & Runway Winds
Aviation weather near El Capitan Lodge Seaplane Base in Craig, AK, decoded from the nearest reporting station (PAKW) — conditions, runway crosswinds, and free Telegram airport alerts.
El Capitan Lodge Seaplane Base (5C5) is a seaplane base in Craig, AK. 5C5 has no weather station of its own — conditions here are decoded from PAKW, about 24 nm away, the nearest reporting station, and local conditions can differ. Its 2 runways (13, 31) — longest 8,000 ft — are checked against the current wind in the crosswind table below. The nearest TAF is issued for PAKW. Track it in the ATIS Alerts Telegram bot to get alerts read from PAKW, the station this page is based on.
No weather station at this airport — showing the nearest station PAKW, 23.6 nm away.
Wind from the southwest (220°) at 4 kt, visibility 2 statute miles, a few clouds at 700 ft, broken clouds at 3,900 ft, overcast at 5,000 ft, temperature 15°C (59°F), altimeter 29.81 inHg. Conditions are Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), ceiling 3,900 ft.
SPECI PAKW 290427Z AUTO 22004KT 2SM RA FEW007 BKN039 OVC050 15/12 A2981 RMK AO2 RAB06 P0003 T01500122 TSNO $
What changed at PAKW (nearest station)?
Since the 0418Z (8:18 PM AKDT) report — compared automatically against the latest METAR.
- Rain began (RA).
- Rain ended (-RA).
The latest report is an off-schedule special (SPECI) — issued because conditions changed significantly. What is a SPECI? →
This is exactly what ATIS Alerts watches for you — get a Telegram message when 5C5's weather changes, free →
Current pilot readout for 5C5
Based on the nearest station (PAKW), 5C5 is currently IFR with winds from 220° at 4 knots, visibility 2 statute miles, and a 3,900 ft ceiling. The strongest crosswind component is currently on runway 13, about 3 knots. Density altitude is approximately 150 ft (field elevation 0 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 5C5 weather alerts in Telegram
Stop refreshing aviation weather manually. Track 5C5 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 5C5 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 5C5. This is intended as a planning aid only and should not replace official performance calculations or pilot judgment.
| Runway | Length | Surface | Head / Tail | Crosswind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13FAV | 8,000 ft | WATER | 3 kt tail | 3 kt left |
| 31 | 8,000 ft | WATER | 3 kt tail | 3 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.
Over the last 24 h: wind 0→4 kt, ceiling 5,500 ft → 3,900 ft.
5C5 weather radar
Live NEXRAD + lightning, with a 4-hour future-radar forecast — drag to pan, tap ⚡ to toggle lightning.
Live weather radar around El Capitan Lodge Seaplane Base in Craig, AK: 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 5C5 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.
Pilot reports (PIREPs) within 100 NM of 5C5
Reported by pilots in flight over the past 6 hours — via aviationweather.gov.
Show raw report
KTN UA /OV ANN/TM 0116/FL025/TP PC12/SK BKN025/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURC, ZAN
KTN UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV ANNLocation — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0116Reported at 01:16 UTC.FL025Altitude: 2,500 ft MSL.TP PC12Aircraft type reporting.SK BKN025Sky condition — cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.IC NEGIcing: none reported.RM DURC, ZANRemarks.Show raw report
KTN UA /OV KTN/TM 0015/FL025/TP B737/SK BKN025-TOP080/WX HZ/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURC /ZAN/
KTN UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV KTNLocation — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0015Reported at 00:15 UTC.FL025Altitude: 2,500 ft MSL.TP B737Aircraft type reporting.SK BKN025-TOP080Sky condition — cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.WX HZWeather and flight visibility observed.TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.IC NEGIcing: none reported.RM DURC /ZAN/Remarks.⚠️ PIREPs are unverified pilot reports. Not for operational use — conditions change between reports.
Recent aviation weather trends at 5C5
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, the nearest station PAKW reported a mix of conditions, most often VFR across 37 observations, with 21 flight-category changes. The lowest ceiling was 1,100 ft. Wind most often came from the SW.
Most recent change: MVFR → IFR
Most recent change: VFR → MVFR
- 13/31
- 100%
TAF — Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
Issued 0431Z (8:31 PM AKDT)
TAF PAKW 290431Z 2905/2924 20003KT 6SM -SHRA BKN025 OVC035 TEMPO 2905/2908 2SM -SHRA BR FM291200 18004KT 4SM -RA BKN015 OVC020 FM292100 18005G12KT P6SM SCT030 BKN040 PROB30 2921/2924 3SM -SHRA BKN020
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 5C5
We'll message you on Telegram when a new report moves the picture near 5C5 (El Capitan Lodge Seaplane Base) — alerts read from PAKW, the station this page uses.
Track 5C5 on TelegramFree • no app to install • unsubscribe anytime
Airport facts
Reference data from the OurAirports dataset.
- Type
- Seaplane base
- FAA LID
- 5C5
- City
- Craig
- State
- Alaska
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 0 ft
- Coordinates
- 55.9586, -133.2530
- Runways
- 2
- Longest runway
- 8,000 ft
- Weather reporting
- Nearest station PAKW
- TAF
- Nearest PAKW
- Time zone
- America/Sitka
- Sunset in
- 27m
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed 5C5'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
7 airports+1 more within 50 NM
50–100 NM
8 airports+2 more within 100 NM
5C5 weather — frequently asked
What runways are available at 5C5?+
5C5 has 2 runways — 13, 31; the longest is 8,000 ft. This page computes the live crosswind for each runway end from the current wind.
Where does the weather shown for 5C5 come from?+
El Capitan Lodge Seaplane Base does not have its own weather station. Conditions shown here come from the nearest reporting station, PAKW, about 24 nm away — close enough for situational awareness, but local conditions at 5C5 can differ.
Does 5C5 have a TAF?+
Yes — the PAKW TAF is shown on this page below the current conditions.
Does 5C5 broadcast D-ATIS?+
No — 5C5 does not broadcast D-ATIS. Alerts for 5C5 from the ATIS Alerts bot (@atisalerts_bot) are based on its METAR (via the nearest reporting station) instead.
Pilot PIREPs for El Capitan Lodge Seaplane Base (5C5)
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 El Capitan Lodge 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 5C5 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 5C5 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