Columbus Municipal Airport (KOLU) Aviation Weather: METAR
As of 3:56 AM CDT, Oct 28, KOLU is currently MVFR with winds from 060° at 4 knots, visibility 5 statute miles, and no ceiling reported.
Live aviation weather for Columbus Municipal Airport in Columbus, NE, including METAR, flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling, altimeter and runway crosswinds.
Columbus Municipal Airport (KOLU) is a regional airport serving Columbus, NE at a field elevation of 1,447 ft. KOLU reports its own METAR, decoded live on this page as flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling and altimeter. It has 2 physical runways (02/20, 14/32), the longest 6,801 ft. Automated weather is broadcast on 125.525.
Wind from the east-northeast (060°) at 4 kt, visibility 5 statute miles, no cloud data, temperature 11°C (51°F), altimeter 29.99 inHg. Conditions are Marginal VFR (MVFR).
METAR KOLU 280856Z AUTO 06004KT 5SM BR CLR 11/11 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP160 T01060106 56014
What changed at KOLU?
Since the 0756Z (2:56 AM CDT) report, compared automatically against the latest METAR.
- Pressure falling: altimeter 30.01 → 29.99 inHg.
Current pilot readout for KOLU
KOLU is currently MVFR with winds from 060° at 4 knots, visibility 5 statute miles, and no ceiling reported. the wind favors northeast-facing runway ends (02). Density altitude is approximately 1,200 ft (field elevation 1,447 ft). KOLU does not publish a TAF. The nearest TAF station is KOFK, about 33 nm away.
KOLU by the numbers
What the long-run records say about flying here, computed for this airport alone.
KOLU reported VFR in 81% of daylight observations over 20 years, about 270 flyable days a year. June is the most reliable month and December the least, with IFR or worse 12% of the time. When conditions drop it is usually low ceilings rather than fog (ceilings under 1,000 ft 6% of hours, visibility under 3 miles 3%).
Over 20 years of hourly winds, runway 32 had the best headwind 32% of the time, runway 14 28%, and winds were calm 12% of hours. Winds most often blow from the south. Crosswind on the best available runway topped 15 kt in under 1% of hours.
Thunderstorms were reported on about 41 days a year. 58% of storm hours fall in May, June and August, peaking in June when storms were in the air 2% of the time.
Snow fell on about 19 days a year. From December to February KOLU was IFR or worse 11% of the time, against 4% from June to August.
Field elevation is 1,447 ft, but on a median summer afternoon the air performs like 3,295 ft, 1,848 ft higher. Plan for a longer takeoff roll and a weaker climb from June to August.
Gusts showed up in 20% of hours, typically 6 kt above the steady wind, and the strongest credible gust on record was 71 kt. April is the windiest month (mean 11 kt) and August 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02FAV | 4,135 ft | GRS | 3 kt head | 2 kt right |
| 14 | 6,801 ft | CON | 0 kt head | 4 kt left |
| 32 | 6,801 ft | CON | 0 kt head | 4 kt right |
| 20 | 4,135 ft | GRS | 3 kt tail | 2 kt left |
Open the crosswind calculator to try your own wind and runway numbers →
KOLU runways
2 physical runways · 4 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 02/204,135 × 150 ft · GRSCurrent useno stated-runway source at KOLUWind
- 02
- 3 kt headwind · 2 kt crosswind from right
- 20
- 3 kt tailwind · 2 kt crosswind from left
no active equipment NOTAM receivedView Runway Intelligence → - Restricted (NOTAM)Runway 14/326,801 × 100 ft · CONCurrent useno stated-runway source at KOLUWind
- 14
- 0 kt headwind · 4 kt crosswind from left
- 32
- 0 kt headwind · 4 kt crosswind from right
3 active equipment NOTAMsView 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 8→4 kt, ceiling 1,400 ft → unlimited.
KOLU 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.
Recent aviation weather trends at KOLU
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, KOLU reported a mix of conditions, most often marginal VFR across 38 observations, with 11 flight-category changes. The lowest ceiling was 400 ft. Wind most often came from the S.
Most recent change: IFR → MVFR
Most recent change: IFR → MVFR
Share of hours each runway had the most headwind. From wind reports, not ATC assignments.
- 14
- 39%
- 02
- 22%
- 20
- 22%
- 32
- 17%
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Track KOLU free on TelegramLive KOLU Weather
Live crosswind meter
Measured by KOLU's own weather station.
Wind is 30° off runway 02, the end with the most headwind right now.
Turf · 4,135 ft. Headings from FAA runway data. Not for navigation.
Field aerial
North up
Runway 02/20, 14/32 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 DALGT local
- Repairs
- Airframe & engine, major
- Transient parking
- Tie-downs · Hangars
- Landing fee
- No
- Other services
- Air freight · Flight instruction · Aircraft rental
- Control tower
- None
- Wind indicator
- Lighted
Airport
- Type
- Regional airport
- ICAO
- KOLU
- IATA
- OLU
- FAA LID
- OLU
- City
- Columbus
- State
- Nebraska
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 1,447 ft
- Coordinates
- 41.4481, -97.3402
- Runways
- 2 physical runways · 4 runway ends
- Longest runway
- 6,801 ft
- Weather reporting
- Reports METAR
- TAF
- Nearest KOFK
- AWOS/ASOS
- 125.525 MHz
- CTAF
- 123.05 MHz
- Time zone
- America/Chicago
- Next sunset
- 14h 19m
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed KOLU'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
5 airports25–50 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.
- Norfalcon Radio Control Club Inc - Don Sucha Field , Leigh, NE · 21 mi
Historical Flying Weather at KOLU
2006–2025 · ATIS Alerts Flying Weather Index
Based on historical observations from 2006–2025, KOLU reported VFR conditions during about 81.4% of valid daylight observations, with an estimated 270 VFR flying days a year. June had the most VFR weather; December had the most instrument conditions. Surface winds averaged 8.2 kt, calm 10.4% of the time.
Full historical breakdown
Flight category by month
| Month | VFR % | MVFR % | IFR % | LIFR % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 74.6 | 13.1 | 6.9 | 5.4 |
| Feb | 77.0 | 14.5 | 5.4 | 3.1 |
| Mar | 74.8 | 15.1 | 6.6 | 3.4 |
| Apr | 80.4 | 12.8 | 4.5 | 2.3 |
| May | 81.2 | 13.2 | 4.1 | 1.5 |
| Jun | 89.5 | 8.0 | 1.7 | 0.8 |
| Jul | 88.6 | 8.0 | 2.0 | 1.4 |
| Aug | 84.9 | 10.3 | 2.9 | 1.9 |
| Sep | 86.0 | 8.6 | 3.4 | 2.0 |
| Oct | 83.0 | 9.8 | 4.5 | 2.6 |
| Nov | 84.4 | 10.4 | 3.3 | 1.9 |
| Dec | 72.9 | 14.9 | 7.2 | 5.0 |
Average wind by month
| Month | Mean wind (kt) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 8.5 kt |
| Feb | 8.8 kt |
| Mar | 9.9 kt |
| Apr | 10.5 kt |
| May | 8.8 kt |
| Jun | 7.9 kt |
| Jul | 6.4 kt |
| Aug | 6.2 kt |
| Sep | 6.9 kt |
| Oct | 8.1 kt |
| Nov | 8.3 kt |
| Dec | 8.3 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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OLU's real runway layout on the back, elevation and tower frequency on the front. Add your tail number on the sleeve.
Pilot PIREPs for Columbus Municipal Airport (KOLU)
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 Columbus 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 KOLU 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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