Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base (5KE) Area Aviation Weather & Runway Winds
Aviation weather near Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base in Ketchikan, AK, decoded from the nearest reporting station (PAKT) — conditions, runway crosswinds, and free Telegram airport alerts.
Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base (5KE) is a seaplane base in Ketchikan, AK. 5KE has no weather station of its own — conditions here are decoded from PAKT, about 1 nm away, the nearest reporting station, and local conditions can differ. Its 2 runways (E, W) — longest 3,893 ft — are checked against the current wind in the crosswind table below. The nearest TAF is issued for PAKT. Track it in the ATIS Alerts Telegram bot to get alerts read from PAKT, the station this page is based on.
No weather station at this airport — showing the nearest station PAKT, 1.3 nm away.
Wind from the southeast (140°) at 10 kt, visibility 10+ statute miles, scattered clouds at 2,100 ft, broken clouds at 3,200 ft, broken clouds at 5,000 ft, temperature 15°C (59°F), altimeter 29.82 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR), ceiling 3,200 ft.
METAR PAKT 290153Z 14010KT 10SM SCT021 BKN032 BKN050 15/12 A2982 RMK AO2 SLP098 HARBOR WIND 14005KT T01500122 $
What changed at PAKT (nearest station)?
Since the 0053Z (4:53 PM AKDT) report — compared automatically against the latest METAR.
No significant changes since the 0053Z report — conditions are holding steady.
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Current pilot readout for 5KE
Based on the nearest station (PAKT), 5KE is currently VFR with winds from 140° at 10 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and a 3,200 ft ceiling. The strongest crosswind component is currently on runway E, about 6 knots. Density altitude is approximately 100 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 →
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Track 5KE 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 5KE. This is intended as a planning aid only and should not replace official performance calculations or pilot judgment.
| Runway | Length | Surface | Head / Tail | Crosswind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EFAV | 3,893 ft | WATER | 8 kt tail | 6 kt right |
| W | 3,893 ft | WATER | 8 kt tail | 6 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 0→10 kt, ceiling 5,500 ft → 3,200 ft.
5KE weather radar
Live NEXRAD + lightning, with a 4-hour future-radar forecast — drag to pan, tap ⚡ to toggle lightning.
Live weather radar around Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base in Ketchikan, 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 5KE 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 5KE
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.Show raw report
KTN UA /OV ANN039015/TM 2232/FL360/TP B789/TB LGT CHOP/RM ZAN
KTN UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV ANN039015Location — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2232Reported at 22:32 UTC.FL360Altitude: 36,000 ft MSL.TP B789Aircraft type reporting.TB LGT CHOPTurbulence: light chop.RM ZANRemarks.Show raw report
AFE UA /OV BKA121090/TM 2117/FL090/TP C208/TA M03/IC LGT RIME/RM DURD /ZAN/
AFE UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV BKA121090Location — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2117Reported at 21:17 UTC.FL090Altitude: 9,000 ft MSL.TP C208Aircraft type reporting.TA M03Outside air temperature, °C.IC LGT RIMEIcing: light rime.RM DURD /ZAN/Remarks.⚠️ PIREPs are unverified pilot reports. Not for operational use — conditions change between reports.
Recent aviation weather trends at 5KE
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, the nearest station PAKT reported a mix of conditions, most often VFR across 31 observations, with 8 flight-category changes. The strongest gust reached 21 kt, the lowest ceiling was 1,300 ft. Wind most often came from the SE.
Most recent change: MVFR → VFR
Most recent change: MVFR → VFR
- E/W
- 100%
TAF — Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
Issued 2337Z (3:37 PM AKDT)
TAF PAKT 282337Z 2900/2924 14008G15KT P6SM SCT010 BKN020 BKN035 TEMPO 2900/2904 4SM -RA SCT008 BKN015 FM290400 14009KT 6SM -SHRA BKN025 OVC035 FM290700 15006KT 6SM -RA BKN008 OVC015 FM291500 15015KT 6SM -RA BKN015 OVC030 AMD LTD TO CLD VIS AND WIND 2906/2915
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We'll message you on Telegram when a new report moves the picture near 5KE (Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base) — alerts read from PAKT, the station this page uses.
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Airport facts
Reference data from the OurAirports dataset.
- Type
- Seaplane base
- IATA
- WFB
- FAA LID
- 5KE
- City
- Ketchikan
- State
- Alaska
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 0 ft
- Coordinates
- 55.3499, -131.6770
- Runways
- 2
- Longest runway
- 3,893 ft
- Weather reporting
- Nearest station PAKT
- TAF
- Nearest PAKT
- Time zone
- America/Sitka
- Sunset in
- 2h 54m
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Nearby airports
Compare nearby METAR/TAF stations within 25, 50 and 100 NM before departure or arrival.
Within 25 NM
7 airports+1 more within 25 NM
25–50 NM
8 airports+2 more within 50 NM
50–100 NM
8 airports+2 more within 100 NM
5KE weather — frequently asked
What runways are available at 5KE?+
5KE has 2 runways — E, W; the longest is 3,893 ft. This page computes the live crosswind for each runway end from the current wind.
Where does the weather shown for 5KE come from?+
Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base does not have its own weather station. Conditions shown here come from the nearest reporting station, PAKT, about 1 nm away — close enough for situational awareness, but local conditions at 5KE can differ.
Does 5KE have a TAF?+
Yes — the PAKT TAF is shown on this page below the current conditions.
Does 5KE broadcast D-ATIS?+
No — 5KE does not broadcast D-ATIS. Alerts for 5KE from the ATIS Alerts bot (@atisalerts_bot) are based on its METAR (via the nearest reporting station) instead.
Pilot PIREPs for Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base (5KE)
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 Ketchikan Harbor 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 5KE 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.
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⚠️ Not for operational use. Always verify with official FAA-approved preflight weather sources before flight.
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