Parker Field (AL18) Area Aviation Weather & Runway Winds
Aviation weather near Parker Field in Gardendale, AL, decoded from the nearest reporting station (KBHM) — conditions, runway crosswinds, and free Telegram airport alerts.
Parker Field (AL18) is a general aviation airport serving pilots in and around Gardendale, AL at 590 ft. AL18 has no weather station of its own — conditions here are decoded from KBHM, about 9 nm away, the nearest reporting station, and local conditions can differ. Its 2 runways (13, 31) — longest 1,550 ft — are checked against the current wind in the crosswind table below. The nearest TAF is issued for KBHM. Track it in the ATIS Alerts Telegram bot to get alerts read from KBHM, the station this page is based on.
No weather station at this airport — showing the nearest station KBHM, 9 nm away.
Wind from the west (270°) at 6 kt, visibility 10+ statute miles, broken clouds at 25,000 ft, temperature 31°C (87°F), altimeter 29.84 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR), ceiling 25,000 ft.
METAR KBHM 290153Z 27006KT 10SM BKN250 31/24 A2984 RMK AO2 SLP093 T03060244
Current pilot readout for AL18
Based on the nearest station (KBHM), AL18 is currently VFR with winds from 270° at 6 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and a 25,000 ft ceiling. The strongest crosswind component is currently on runway 13, about 6 knots. Density altitude is approximately 2,700 ft (field elevation 590 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 AL18 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 AL18. 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 | 1,550 ft | TURF | 0 kt head | 6 kt left |
| 31 | 1,550 ft | TURF | 0 kt head | 6 kt left |
Open the crosswind calculator — try your own wind and runway numbers →
AL18 weather radar
Live NEXRAD + lightning, with a 4-hour future-radar forecast — drag to pan, tap ⚡ to toggle lightning.
Live weather radar around Parker Field in Gardendale, 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 AL18 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 AL18
Reported by pilots in flight over the past 6 hours — via aviationweather.gov.
Show raw report
MGM UA /OV MGM300030/TM 0016/FL350/TP A321/TB NEG/RM ZTLFD-08
MGM UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV MGM300030Location — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0016Reported at 00:16 UTC.FL350Altitude: 35,000 ft MSL.TP A321Aircraft type reporting.TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.RM ZTLFD-08Remarks.Show raw report
LGC UA /OV LGC230030/TM 2243/FL400/TP C560/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD /RM ZTLFD-08
LGC UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV LGC230030Location — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2243Reported at 22:43 UTC.FL400Altitude: 40,000 ft MSL.TP C560Aircraft type reporting.TB CONS LGT OCNL MODTurbulence: continuous light occasional moderate.RM ZTLFD-08Remarks.Show raw report
LGC UA /OV LGC/TM 2124/FL360/TP A320/TB OCNL MOD/RM ZTLFD 08
LGC UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV LGCLocation — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2124Reported at 21:24 UTC.FL360Altitude: 36,000 ft MSL.TP A320Aircraft type reporting.TB OCNL MODTurbulence: occasional moderate.RM ZTLFD 08Remarks.⚠️ PIREPs are unverified pilot reports. Not for operational use — conditions change between reports.
Recent aviation weather trends at AL18
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
History is still being collected — check back in a few days.
Most recent change: MVFR → VFR
- 13/31
- 100%
TAF — Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
Issued 2323Z (6:23 PM CDT)
TAF KBHM 282323Z 2900/2924 26007KT P6SM FEW050 BKN250 FM291600 33008KT P6SM BKN250 PROB30 2920/2924 4SM TSRA BKN035CB
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Airport facts
Reference data from the OurAirports dataset.
- Type
- General aviation airport
- FAA LID
- AL18
- City
- Gardendale
- State
- Alabama
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 590 ft
- Coordinates
- 33.6762, -86.8675
- Runways
- 2
- Longest runway
- 1,550 ft
- Weather reporting
- Nearest station KBHM
- TAF
- Nearest KBHM
- Time zone
- America/Chicago
- Next sunset
- 21h 59m
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed AL18'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
6 airports25–50 NM
8 airports+2 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.
- Sardis Rd. — Gardendale, AL · 6 mi
- Birmingham Helicopter Modelers - Dickey Springs Rd — Bessemer, AL · 25 mi
AL18 weather — frequently asked
What runways are available at AL18?+
AL18 has 2 runways — 13, 31; the longest is 1,550 ft. This page computes the live crosswind for each runway end from the current wind.
Where does the weather shown for AL18 come from?+
Parker Field does not have its own weather station. Conditions shown here come from the nearest reporting station, KBHM, about 9 nm away — close enough for situational awareness, but local conditions at AL18 can differ.
Does AL18 have a TAF?+
Yes — the KBHM TAF is shown on this page below the current conditions.
Does AL18 broadcast D-ATIS?+
No — AL18 does not broadcast D-ATIS. Alerts for AL18 from the ATIS Alerts bot (@atisalerts_bot) are based on its METAR (via the nearest reporting station) instead.
Pilot PIREPs for Parker Field (AL18)
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 Parker Field, 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 AL18 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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