Albert J Ellis Airport (KOAJ) Aviation Weather: METAR & TAF
As of 3:56 PM ET, Oct 28, KOAJ is currently VFR with winds from 020° at 6 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and a 3,400 ft ceiling.
Live aviation weather for Albert J Ellis Airport in Richlands, NC, including METAR, TAF, flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling, altimeter and runway crosswinds.
Albert J Ellis Airport (KOAJ) is a regional airport serving Richlands, NC at a field elevation of 93 ft. KOAJ reports its own METAR and publishes a TAF, decoded live on this page as flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling and altimeter. It has one runway (05/23), the longest 7,100 ft. The official FAA airport diagram is at the bottom of the page.
Wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 6 kt, visibility 10+ statute miles, broken clouds at 3,400 ft, broken clouds at 4,000 ft, broken clouds at 5,000 ft, temperature 21°C (70°F), altimeter 30.27 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR), ceiling 3,400 ft.
METAR KOAJ 281956Z 02006KT 10SM BKN034 BKN040 BKN050 21/17 A3027 RMK AO2 RAB06E20 SLP253 P0000 T02110167 $
What changed at KOAJ?
Since the 1915Z (3:15 PM EDT) report, compared automatically against the latest METAR.
- Rain ended (-RA).
Current pilot readout for KOAJ
KOAJ is currently VFR with winds from 020° at 6 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and a 3,400 ft ceiling. the wind favors northeast-facing runway ends (05). Density altitude is approximately 400 ft (field elevation 93 ft). Review the latest TAF below for forecast changes before departure.
KOAJ by the numbers
What the long-run records say about flying here, computed for this airport alone.
The FAA issued no ground stop or ground delay program for OAJ in the 12 months to October 2026. Delays here come from the airlines or from programs at other airports rather than from OAJ's own airspace.
KOAJ reported VFR in 81% of daylight observations over 20 years, about 270 flyable days a year. April is the most reliable month and September the least, with IFR or worse 11% of the time. When conditions drop it is usually low ceilings rather than fog (ceilings under 1,000 ft 8% of hours, visibility under 3 miles 4%).
Over 20 years of hourly winds, runway 23 had the best headwind 58% of the time, runway 05 42%, and winds were calm 30% of hours. Winds most often blow from the south-southwest. Crosswind on the best available runway topped 15 kt in under 1% of hours.
Thunderstorms were reported on about 53 days a year. 67% of storm hours fall in June, July and August, peaking in July when storms were in the air 3% of the time.
Fog was reported on about 30 days a year, and fog or mist on 97. August and September are the foggiest months, with fog in 6% of hours, against 3% in April.
Field elevation is 93 ft, but on a median summer afternoon the air performs like 1,805 ft, 1,712 ft higher. Plan for a longer takeoff roll and a weaker climb from June to August.
Sources: FAA ATCSCC advisories, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05FAV | 7,100 ft | ASP | 5 kt head | 2 kt left |
| 23 | 7,100 ft | ASP | 5 kt tail | 2 kt right |
Open the crosswind calculator to try your own wind and runway numbers →
KOAJ 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.
- Restricted (NOTAM)Runway 05/237,100 × 150 ft · ASPCurrent useno stated-runway source at KOAJWind
- 05
- 5 kt headwind · 2 kt crosswind from left
- 23
- 5 kt tailwind · 2 kt crosswind from right
1 active equipment NOTAMView 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 6→6 kt, ceiling unlimited → 3,400 ft.
KOAJ 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 KOAJ
Reported by pilots in flight over the past 6 hours, via aviationweather.gov.
Show raw report
EWN UA /OV EWN/TM 1607/FL008/TP EC45/SK BKN020/WX 10SM HZ
EWN UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV EWNLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 1607Reported at 16:07 UTC.FL008Altitude: 800 ft MSL.TP EC45Aircraft type reporting.SK BKN020Sky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.WX 10SM HZWeather and flight visibility observed.Show raw report
RDU UA /OV RDU 230/12/TM 1442/FL5200/TP A319/SK BASES 5200
RDU UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV RDU 230/12Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 1442Reported at 14:42 UTC.FL5200Altitude: 52,000 ft MSL.TP A319Aircraft type reporting.SK BASES 5200Sky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.Show raw report
FAY UA /OV FAY/TM 1424/FL038/TP CRJ9/RM BASES
FAY UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV FAYLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 1424Reported at 14:24 UTC.FL038Altitude: 3,800 ft MSL.TP CRJ9Aircraft type reporting.RM BASESRemarks.⚠️ PIREPs are unverified pilot reports. Not for operational use: conditions change between reports.
Recent aviation weather trends at KOAJ
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, KOAJ reported a mix of conditions, most often VFR across 41 observations, with 10 flight-category changes. The strongest gust reached 17 kt, the lowest ceiling was 100 ft. Wind most often came from the NE.
Most recent change: MVFR → VFR
Most recent change: MVFR → VFR
Share of hours each runway had the most headwind. From wind reports, not ATC assignments.
- 05
- 75%
- 23
- 25%
TAF | Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
Issued 1747Z (1:47 PM EDT)
TAF KOAJ 281747Z 2818/2918 04008KT P6SM SCT025 BKN040 TEMPO 2818/2821 BKN025 FM290500 VRB04KT P6SM BKN015 TEMPO 2906/2910 5SM BR BKN005 FM291500 04007KT P6SM BKN035 AMD LTD TO CLD VIS AND WIND
New to TAFs? How to read one →
Get KOAJ weather alerts in Telegram
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Track KOAJ free on TelegramLive KOAJ Weather
Live crosswind meter
Measured by KOAJ's own weather station.
Wind is 24° off runway 05, the end with the most headwind right now.
Asphalt · 7,100 ft. Headings from FAA runway data. Not for navigation.
Field aerial
North up
Runway 05/23 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
- Daily 0500-2400 local
- Repairs
- Airframe & engine, major
- Transient parking
- Tie-downs · Hangars
- Landing fee
- No
- Other services
- Flight instruction · Aircraft rental · Aircraft sales
- Control tower
- Yes
- Wind indicator
- Lighted
Airport
- Type
- Regional airport
- ICAO
- KOAJ
- IATA
- OAJ
- FAA LID
- OAJ
- City
- Richlands
- State
- North Carolina
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 93 ft
- Coordinates
- 34.8292, -77.6121
- Runways
- 1 physical runway · 2 runway ends
- Longest runway
- 7,100 ft
- Weather reporting
- Reports METAR
- TAF
- Published
- AWOS/ASOS
- 124.475 MHz
- Time zone
- America/New_York
- Sunset in
- 2h 0m
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed KOAJ'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.
- New River Modelers Association - Riggs Rd , Hubert, NC · 22 mi
- Topsail Electric Flyers Association - Old Post Office Rd , Hampstead, NC · 27 mi
- Flying G RC LLC - River Ridge Field , Rocky Point, NC · 28 mi
Historical Flying Weather at KOAJ
2006–2025 · ATIS Alerts Flying Weather Index
Based on historical observations from 2006–2025, KOAJ reported VFR conditions during about 81.4% of valid daylight observations, with an estimated 270 VFR flying days a year. April had the most VFR weather; September had the most instrument conditions. Surface winds averaged 5.1 kt, calm 25.6% of the time.
Full historical breakdown
Flight category by month
| Month | VFR % | MVFR % | IFR % | LIFR % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 78.0 | 10.9 | 5.4 | 5.7 |
| Feb | 77.3 | 10.6 | 6.4 | 5.6 |
| Mar | 81.4 | 9.5 | 5.2 | 3.9 |
| Apr | 84.1 | 9.1 | 4.1 | 2.7 |
| May | 79.8 | 11.9 | 4.6 | 3.8 |
| Jun | 81.4 | 11.0 | 4.0 | 3.6 |
| Jul | 81.8 | 12.0 | 3.3 | 2.9 |
| Aug | 77.3 | 13.7 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Sep | 75.2 | 14.0 | 5.8 | 5.0 |
| Oct | 77.5 | 11.8 | 6.3 | 4.5 |
| Nov | 80.8 | 9.4 | 5.5 | 4.3 |
| Dec | 77.0 | 10.7 | 5.5 | 6.7 |
Average wind by month
| Month | Mean wind (kt) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 5.0 kt |
| Feb | 5.6 kt |
| Mar | 6.2 kt |
| Apr | 6.4 kt |
| May | 5.7 kt |
| Jun | 5.1 kt |
| Jul | 5.0 kt |
| Aug | 4.1 kt |
| Sep | 4.6 kt |
| Oct | 4.5 kt |
| Nov | 4.6 kt |
| Dec | 4.8 kt |
Historical summary of past observations: not a forecast or safety rating. Always check the current METAR, TAF, and a weather briefing before flight.
KOAJ airport diagram
Official FAA taxiway and runway layout. Tap to zoom.
Official FAA airport diagram · d-TPP cycle 2611 · Not for navigation. Download the official FAA PDF ↗
Customize your OAJ shirt or mug
OAJ's real runway layout on the back, elevation and tower frequency on the front. Add your tail number on the sleeve.
Pilot PIREPs for Albert J Ellis Airport (KOAJ)
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 Albert J Ellis 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 KOAJ 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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