Estherville Municipal Airport (KEST) Aviation Weather, METAR, TAF & ATIS Alerts
Live aviation weather for Estherville Municipal Airport in Estherville, IA, including METAR, TAF, flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling, altimeter, runway crosswinds, and Telegram airport alerts.
Estherville Municipal Airport (KEST) is a general aviation airport serving pilots in and around Estherville, IA at 1,319 ft. KEST reports its own METAR, decoded live on this page as flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling and altimeter. Its 4 runways (06, 16, 24, 34), longest 4,797 ft, are checked against the current wind in the crosswind table below. Automated weather is broadcast on 121.425. Track KEST in the ATIS Alerts Telegram bot to get a message when a new METAR changes the picture: flight category, wind, or ceiling past your selected minimums.
Wind from the west-northwest (290°) at 6 kt, visibility 10+ statute miles, no cloud data, temperature 9°C (49°F), altimeter 30.09 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
METAR KEST 130849Z AUTO 29006KT 10SM CLR 09/08 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP189 T00940078 53003
What changed at KEST?
Since the 0749Z (2:49 AM CDT) report, compared automatically against the latest METAR.
- Wind direction moved from 330° to 290°.
This is exactly what ATIS Alerts watches for you: get a Telegram message when KEST's weather changes, free →
Current pilot readout for KEST
KEST is currently VFR with winds from 290° at 6 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and no ceiling reported. The strongest crosswind component is currently on runway 16, about 5 knots. Density altitude is approximately 750 ft (field elevation 1,319 ft). KEST does not publish a TAF. The nearest TAF station is KFOD, about 57 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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Stop refreshing aviation weather manually. Track KEST in ATIS Alerts and get notified when a new METAR changes the picture: a category drop, or wind and ceiling moving toward your minimums.
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For pilots and crews overnighting at Estherville Municipal Airport (KEST).
Nearby Pilot Hotel Deals
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Runway 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 KEST. This is intended as a planning aid only and should not replace official performance calculations or pilot judgment.
| Runway | Length | Surface | Head / Tail | Crosswind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24FAV | 2,989 ft | GRE | 5 kt head | 4 kt right |
| 34 | 4,797 ft | CON | 3 kt head | 5 kt left |
| 16 | 4,797 ft | CON | 3 kt tail | 5 kt right |
| 06 | 2,989 ft | GRE | 5 kt tail | 4 kt left |
Open the crosswind calculator to 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 7→6 kt, ceiling unlimited → unlimited.
KEST weather radar
Live NEXRAD + lightning, with a 4-hour future-radar forecast. Drag to pan, tap ⚡ to toggle lightning.
Live weather radar around Estherville Municipal Airport in Estherville, IA: 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 KEST is headed.
Radar: NOAA/NWS via IEM · Forecast: NOAA HRRR · Lightning: NOAA · Map © Stadia Maps © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
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.
Recent aviation weather trends at KEST
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, KEST reported mostly VFR across 24 observations, with 0 flight-category changes. The strongest gust reached 24 kt, the lowest ceiling was 10,000 ft. Wind most often came from the N.
Most recent change: MVFR → VFR
- 16
- 48%
- 34
- 23%
- 24
- 17%
- 06
- 12%
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Airport facts
Reference data from the OurAirports dataset.
- Type
- General aviation airport
- ICAO
- KEST
- IATA
- EST
- FAA LID
- EST
- City
- Estherville
- State
- Iowa
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 1,319 ft
- Coordinates
- 43.4074, -94.7464
- Runways
- 4
- Longest runway
- 4,797 ft
- Weather reporting
- Reports METAR
- TAF
- Nearest KFOD
- AWOS/ASOS
- 121.425 MHz
- Time zone
- America/Chicago
- Next sunset
- 14h 51m
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed KEST'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
9 airports+3 more within 50 NM
50–100 NM
7 airports+1 more within 100 NM
RC flying fields nearby
AMA model-aircraft club fields around this airport: live wind, crosswind & flyability on each page.
- RC Skyhawks - Oneota Park , Spencer, IA · 26 mi
- RC Skyhawks 1 , Spencer, IA · 27 mi
Historical Flying Weather at KEST
2006–2025 · ATIS Alerts Flying Weather Index
Based on historical observations from 2006–2025, KEST reported VFR conditions during about 76.8% of valid daylight observations, with an estimated 250 VFR flying days a year. July had the most VFR weather; December had the most instrument conditions. Surface winds averaged 10.1 kt, calm 4.1% of the time.
Full historical breakdown
Flight category by month
| Month | VFR % | MVFR % | IFR % | LIFR % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62.5 | 16.4 | 11.8 | 9.4 |
| Feb | 68.7 | 15.0 | 9.5 | 6.8 |
| Mar | 68.1 | 15.8 | 9.1 | 7.1 |
| Apr | 75.5 | 13.4 | 8.0 | 3.1 |
| May | 80.4 | 11.5 | 5.9 | 2.2 |
| Jun | 87.7 | 7.5 | 3.3 | 1.5 |
| Jul | 89.1 | 6.9 | 2.5 | 1.5 |
| Aug | 83.6 | 8.8 | 3.8 | 3.7 |
| Sep | 85.2 | 8.6 | 3.6 | 2.5 |
| Oct | 80.7 | 10.8 | 5.7 | 2.9 |
| Nov | 74.2 | 15.2 | 6.2 | 4.4 |
| Dec | 59.9 | 16.3 | 12.1 | 11.8 |
Average wind by month
| Month | Mean wind (kt) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 11.5 kt |
| Feb | 11.4 kt |
| Mar | 11.6 kt |
| Apr | 12.6 kt |
| May | 11.2 kt |
| Jun | 9.3 kt |
| Jul | 7.0 kt |
| Aug | 6.6 kt |
| Sep | 7.8 kt |
| Oct | 9.7 kt |
| Nov | 11.0 kt |
| Dec | 11.0 kt |
Historical summary of past observations: not a forecast or safety rating. Always check the current METAR, TAF, and a weather briefing before flight.
KEST weather: frequently asked
What runways are available at KEST?+
KEST has 4 runways: 06, 16, 24, 34; the longest is 4,797 ft. This page computes the live crosswind for each runway end from the current wind.
Does KEST report its own weather?+
Yes. Estherville Municipal Airport has its own weather station and publishes METAR observations, which this page decodes live.
Does KEST have a TAF?+
No. KEST does not publish its own TAF. The nearest TAF station is KFOD, about 57 nm away.
Does KEST broadcast D-ATIS?+
No. KEST does not broadcast D-ATIS. Alerts for KEST from the ATIS Alerts bot (@atisalerts_bot) are based on its METAR instead.
Pilot PIREPs for Estherville Municipal Airport (KEST)
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 Estherville Municipal 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 KEST 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
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- Get pinged the moment KEST drops below VFR or a new report moves your numbers.
- Live METAR, TAF, crosswinds, and FAA delays: one link, always current.
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⚠️ 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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