Bowers Field (KELN) Aviation Weather: METAR
As of 12:53 AM PDT, Oct 28, KELN is currently VFR with winds from 210° at 3 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and no ceiling reported.
Live aviation weather for Bowers Field in Ellensburg, WA, including METAR, flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling, altimeter and runway crosswinds.
Bowers Field (KELN) is a general aviation airport serving pilots in and around Ellensburg, WA at a field elevation of 1,763 ft. KELN reports its own METAR, decoded live on this page as flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling and altimeter. It has one runway (11/29), the longest 4,300 ft. Automated weather is broadcast on 118.375.
Wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 kt, visibility 10+ statute miles, no cloud data, temperature 2°C (35°F), altimeter 29.87 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
METAR KELN 280753Z AUTO 21003KT 10SM CLR 02/M01 A2987 RMK AO2 SLP122 T00171006 401331017
What changed at KELN?
Since the 0653Z (11:53 PM PDT) report, compared automatically against the latest METAR.
- Pressure falling: altimeter 29.89 → 29.87 inHg.
Current pilot readout for KELN
KELN is currently VFR with winds from 210° at 3 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and no ceiling reported. the wind favors southeast-facing runway ends (11). Density altitude is approximately 650 ft (field elevation 1,763 ft). KELN does not publish a TAF. The nearest TAF station is KEAT, about 26 nm away.
KELN by the numbers
What the long-run records say about flying here, computed for this airport alone.
KELN reported VFR in 89% of daylight observations over 20 years, about 292 flyable days a year. July is the most reliable month and January the least, with IFR or worse 29% of the time. When conditions drop it is usually a mix of low ceilings (under 1,000 ft 4% of hours) and low visibility (under 3 miles 5%).
Over 20 years of hourly winds, runway 29 had the best headwind 71% of the time, runway 11 29%, and winds were calm 27% of hours. Winds most often blow from the northwest. Crosswind on the best available runway topped 15 kt in under 1% of hours.
Snow fell on about 40 days a year and freezing rain or drizzle on 4. From December to February KELN was IFR or worse 21% of the time, against under 1% from June to August.
Fog was reported on about 43 days a year, and fog or mist on 81. January and December are the foggiest months, with fog in 24% of hours, against 0% in July.
Field elevation is 1,763 ft, but on a median summer afternoon the air performs like 3,648 ft, 1,885 ft higher. Plan for a longer takeoff roll and a weaker climb from June to August.
Gusts showed up in 19% of hours, typically 8 kt above the steady wind, and the strongest credible gust on record was 86 kt. June is the windiest month (mean 12 kt) and December the calmest.
Sources: hourly observations 2006 to 2025 and the per-runway wind climatology 2006 to 2025. Historical summaries, not a forecast: check the current METAR, TAF and a briefing before flight.
New to aviation weather? How to read a METAR → · What VFR/MVFR/IFR mean → · Decode any METAR/TAF → · Density altitude calculator →
Runway wind check
Estimated head/tailwind and crosswind for each runway end from the current reported wind.
| Runway | Length | Surface | Head / Tail | Crosswind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11FAV | 4,300 ft | CON | 1 kt head | 3 kt right |
| 29 | 4,300 ft | CON | 1 kt tail | 3 kt left |
Open the crosswind calculator to try your own wind and runway numbers →
KELN runways
1 physical runway · 2 runway ends. Each card opens the runway's intelligence page: equipment and lighting, LAHSO, frequencies, today's configuration, predicted use, history and approaches.
- Status not monitoredRunway 11/294,300 × 150 ft · CONCurrent useno stated-runway source at KELNWind
- 11
- 1 kt headwind · 3 kt crosswind from right
- 29
- 1 kt tailwind · 3 kt crosswind from left
no active equipment NOTAM receivedView Runway Intelligence →
“Current use” is what the facilitystates; wind components are arithmetic on the current METAR against TRUE headings; status reflects NOTAMs received through SWIM, the tower's TFDM record and the D-ATIS — a runway reads “Open” only with a complete NOTAM picture.
24-hour trend
Wind, ceiling and flight category over the last 24 hours.
Over the last 23 h: wind 0→3 kt, ceiling unlimited → unlimited.
KELN weather radar
Live NEXRAD + lightning, with a 4-hour future-radar forecast. Drag to pan, tap ⚡ to toggle lightning.
Radar: NOAA/NWS via IEM · Forecast: NOAA HRRR · Lightning: NOAA · Map © Stadia Maps © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
NOAA NEXRAD composite and lightning, updated about every five minutes; amber frames are HRRR model guidance, not observed radar. Not for navigation.
Pilot reports (PIREPs) within 100 NM of KELN
Reported by pilots in flight over the past 6 hours, via aviationweather.gov.
Show raw report
PAE UA /OV PAE025035/TM 0705/FL230/TP GL7T/SK TOP230/RM ZSE
PAE UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV PAE025035Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0705Reported at 07:05 UTC.FL230Altitude: 23,000 ft MSL.TP GL7TAircraft type reporting.SK TOP230Sky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.RM ZSERemarks.Show raw report
SEA UA /OV SEA070035/TM 0632/FL200/TP A21N/TA M03/TB NEG/IC LGT RIME 070-180/RM DURC-ZSE
SEA UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV SEA070035Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0632Reported at 06:32 UTC.FL200Altitude: 20,000 ft MSL.TP A21NAircraft type reporting.TA M03Outside air temperature, °C.TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.IC LGT RIME 070-180Icing: light rime 7,000–18,000 ft.RM DURC-ZSERemarks.Show raw report
PDX UA /OV BTG005030/TM 0625/FL140/TP E75L/TB LGT-MOD CHOP 190-140/RM ZSE
PDX UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV BTG005030Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0625Reported at 06:25 UTC.FL140Altitude: 14,000 ft MSL.TP E75LAircraft type reporting.TB LGT-MOD CHOP 190-140Turbulence: light to moderate chop 19,000–14,000 ft.RM ZSERemarks.Show raw report
SEA UA /OV SEA210008/TM 0619/FL90/TP E75L/SK BASES 50 TOPS 100/TB LT RIME
SEA UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV SEA210008Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0619Reported at 06:19 UTC.FL90Altitude: hundreds of feet MSL. UNKN = unknown; DURC/DURD = during climb/descent.TP E75LAircraft type reporting.SK BASES 50 TOPS 100Sky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.TB LT RIMETurbulence: lt rime.Show raw report
SEA UA /OV SEA198011/TM 0522/FL110/TP B738/TA M9/IC MOD RIME 170-080/RM DURD HAWKZ
SEA UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV SEA198011Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0522Reported at 05:22 UTC.FL110Altitude: 11,000 ft MSL.TP B738Aircraft type reporting.TA M9Outside air temperature, °C.IC MOD RIME 170-080Icing: moderate rime 17,000–8,000 ft.RM DURD HAWKZRemarks.Show raw report
SEA UA /OV SEA110007/TM 0520/FL110/TP B38M/TA M1/IC LGT RIME 160-090/RM DURD CHINS
SEA UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV SEA110007Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0520Reported at 05:20 UTC.FL110Altitude: 11,000 ft MSL.TP B38MAircraft type reporting.TA M1Outside air temperature, °C.IC LGT RIME 160-090Icing: light rime 16,000–9,000 ft.RM DURD CHINSRemarks.Show raw report
SEA UA /OV SEA161005/TM 0505/FL032/TP B738/SK BKN 032 CLR 060/RM BASES 032 TOPS 060
SEA UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV SEA161005Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0505Reported at 05:05 UTC.FL032Altitude: 3,200 ft MSL.TP B738Aircraft type reporting.SK BKN 032 CLR 060Sky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.RM BASES 032 TOPS 060Remarks.Show raw report
SEA UA /OV SEA201038/TM 0432/FL100/TP PC12/TA -05/TB LGT TURB/IC LGT RIME /RM DURD OLM 100-075
SEA UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV SEA201038Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0432Reported at 04:32 UTC.FL100Altitude: 10,000 ft MSL.TP PC12Aircraft type reporting.TA -05Outside air temperature, °C.TB LGT TURBTurbulence: light turb.IC LGT RIMEIcing: light rime.RM DURD OLM 100-075Remarks.⚠️ PIREPs are unverified pilot reports. Not for operational use: conditions change between reports.
Recent aviation weather trends at KELN
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, KELN reported a mix of conditions, most often VFR across 53 observations, with 14 flight-category changes. The strongest gust reached 26 kt, the lowest ceiling was 100 ft. Wind most often came from the NW.
Most recent change: LIFR → VFR
Most recent change: IFR → VFR
Share of hours each runway had the most headwind. From wind reports, not ATC assignments.
- 29
- 73%
- 11
- 27%
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Live crosswind meter
Measured by KELN's own weather station.
Wind is 77° off runway 11, the end with the most headwind right now.
Concrete · 4,300 ft. Headings from FAA runway data. Not for navigation.
Field aerial
North up
Runway 11/29 drawn from FAA threshold coordinates.
Imagery: USGS The National Map (public domain). Something off? ✏️ Suggest an edit
Airport info
From the FAA airport record (cycle 2026-10-01) and OurAirports.
Services
- Fuel
- 100LL · Jet A
- Attended
- Mon-Fri 0700-1600 local
- Repairs
- Airframe & engine, major
- Transient parking
- Tie-downs
- Landing fee
- No
- Other services
- Charter · Flight instruction
- Pattern altitude
- 2,597 ft MSL (834 AGL)
- Control tower
- None
- Wind indicator
- Lighted
Airport
- Type
- General aviation airport
- ICAO
- KELN
- IATA
- ELN
- FAA LID
- ELN
- City
- Ellensburg
- State
- Washington
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 1,763 ft
- Coordinates
- 47.0330, -120.5310
- Runways
- 1 physical runway · 2 runway ends
- Longest runway
- 4,300 ft
- Weather reporting
- Reports METAR
- TAF
- Nearest KEAT
- AWOS/ASOS
- 118.375 MHz
- Time zone
- America/Los_Angeles
- Next sunset
- 16h 29m
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed KELN'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
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.
- Ellensburg R/C Flyers - Bowers Field , Ellensburg, WA · 1 mi
- Ellensburg R/C Flyers - Berry Rd , Ellensburg, WA · 5 mi
Historical Flying Weather at KELN
2006–2025 · ATIS Alerts Flying Weather Index
Based on historical observations from 2006–2025, KELN reported VFR conditions during about 88.5% of valid daylight observations, with an estimated 292 VFR flying days a year. July had the most VFR weather; January had the most instrument conditions. Surface winds averaged 7.9 kt, calm 21.1% of the time.
Full historical breakdown
Flight category by month
| Month | VFR % | MVFR % | IFR % | LIFR % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52.3 | 18.3 | 11.3 | 18.1 |
| Feb | 78.1 | 11.6 | 4.9 | 5.4 |
| Mar | 91.3 | 5.1 | 1.5 | 2.1 |
| Apr | 97.3 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| May | 98.9 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Jun | 99.3 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Jul | 99.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 97.1 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 95.3 | 2.7 | 1.4 | 0.5 |
| Oct | 92.1 | 5.1 | 1.2 | 1.7 |
| Nov | 75.2 | 12.9 | 5.0 | 6.9 |
| Dec | 55.6 | 19.6 | 9.3 | 15.5 |
Average wind by month
| Month | Mean wind (kt) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 3.9 kt |
| Feb | 5.8 kt |
| Mar | 7.3 kt |
| Apr | 9.9 kt |
| May | 10.8 kt |
| Jun | 12.2 kt |
| Jul | 12.0 kt |
| Aug | 10.4 kt |
| Sep | 7.9 kt |
| Oct | 6.0 kt |
| Nov | 4.7 kt |
| Dec | 3.8 kt |
Historical summary of past observations: not a forecast or safety rating. Always check the current METAR, TAF, and a weather briefing before flight.
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ELN's real runway layout on the back, elevation and tower frequency on the front. Add your tail number on the sleeve.
Pilot PIREPs for Bowers Field (KELN)
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 Bowers 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 KELN 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.
⚠️ Not for operational use. Always verify with official FAA-approved preflight weather sources before flight.
No D-ATIS at this airport, showing METAR.
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