McDonald Ridge Airport (65AK) Area Aviation Weather & Runway Winds
Aviation weather near McDonald Ridge Airport in Wasilla, AK, decoded from the nearest reporting station (PAWS) — conditions, runway crosswinds, and free Telegram airport alerts.
McDonald Ridge Airport (65AK) is a general aviation airport serving pilots in and around Wasilla, AK at 285 ft. 65AK has no weather station of its own — conditions here are decoded from PAWS, about 5 nm away, the nearest reporting station, and local conditions can differ. Its 2 runways (06, 24) — longest 2,700 ft — are checked against the current wind in the crosswind table below. The nearest TAF is issued for PAAQ. Track it in the ATIS Alerts Telegram bot to get alerts read from PAWS, the station this page is based on.
No weather station at this airport — showing the nearest station PAWS, 5 nm away.
Wind variable at 3 kt, visibility 10+ statute miles, scattered clouds at 4,900 ft, broken clouds at 7,000 ft, temperature 16°C (61°F), altimeter 29.82 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR), ceiling 7,000 ft.
METAR PAWS 290356Z AUTO VRB03KT 10SM SCT049 BKN070 16/11 A2982 RMK AO2 SLP069 T01610106 $
Current pilot readout for 65AK
Based on the nearest station (PAWS), 65AK is currently VFR with variable winds at 3 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and a 7,000 ft ceiling. Density altitude is approximately 600 ft (field elevation 285 ft). 65AK does not publish a TAF — the nearest TAF station is PAAQ, about 8 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 →
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Track 65AK 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 65AK. This is intended as a planning aid only and should not replace official performance calculations or pilot judgment.
Current wind is variable at 3 kt — light and variable wind like this is generally not a factor for runway selection, and with no steady direction 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06 | 2,700 ft | TURF | — | — |
| 24 | 2,700 ft | TURF | — | — |
Open the crosswind calculator — try your own wind and runway numbers →
65AK weather radar
Live NEXRAD + lightning, with a 4-hour future-radar forecast — drag to pan, tap ⚡ to toggle lightning.
Live weather radar around McDonald Ridge Airport in Wasilla, 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 65AK 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 65AK
Reported by pilots in flight over the past 6 hours — via aviationweather.gov.
Show raw report
ANC UA /OV TED330008/TM 2312/FL021/TP B777/SK FEW 024/RM DURD
ANC UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV TED330008Location — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2312Reported at 23:12 UTC.FL021Altitude: 2,100 ft MSL.TP B777Aircraft type reporting.SK FEW 024Sky condition — cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.RM DURDRemarks.⚠️ PIREPs are unverified pilot reports. Not for operational use — conditions change between reports.
Recent aviation weather trends at 65AK
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
History is still being collected — check back in a few days.
Most recent change: MVFR → VFR
- 06/24
- 100%
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Airport facts
Reference data from the OurAirports dataset.
- Type
- General aviation airport
- FAA LID
- 65AK
- City
- Wasilla
- State
- Alaska
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 285 ft
- Coordinates
- 61.5604, -149.3673
- Runways
- 2
- Longest runway
- 2,700 ft
- Weather reporting
- Nearest station PAWS
- TAF
- Nearest PAAQ
- Time zone
- America/Anchorage
- Sunset in
- 2h 7m
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Nearby airports
Compare nearby METAR/TAF stations within 25, 50 and 100 NM before departure or arrival.
Within 25 NM
11 airports+5 more within 25 NM
25–50 NM
7 airports+1 more within 50 NM
50–100 NM
6 airportsRC flying fields nearby
AMA model-aircraft club fields around this airport — live wind, crosswind & flyability on each page.
- Mack Dr. - City of Wasilla — Wasilla, AK · 5 mi
- Frontier Fun Flyers - Tidewater Field — Glenn Hwy, AK · 7 mi
- Alaska Drone Racing League, Alaska Fairgrounds — Palmer, AK · 8 mi
65AK weather — frequently asked
What runways are available at 65AK?+
65AK has 2 runways — 06, 24; the longest is 2,700 ft. This page computes the live crosswind for each runway end from the current wind.
Where does the weather shown for 65AK come from?+
McDonald Ridge Airport does not have its own weather station. Conditions shown here come from the nearest reporting station, PAWS, about 5 nm away — close enough for situational awareness, but local conditions at 65AK can differ.
Does 65AK have a TAF?+
No — 65AK does not publish its own TAF. The nearest TAF station is PAAQ, about 8 nm away.
Does 65AK broadcast D-ATIS?+
No — 65AK does not broadcast D-ATIS. Alerts for 65AK from the ATIS Alerts bot (@atisalerts_bot) are based on its METAR (via the nearest reporting station) instead.
Pilot PIREPs for McDonald Ridge Airport (65AK)
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 McDonald Ridge 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 65AK 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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