Orcas Island Airport (KORS) Aviation Weather: METAR
As of 1:55 AM PDT, Oct 28, KORS is currently VFR with winds from 190° at 9 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and no ceiling reported.
Live aviation weather for Orcas Island Airport in Eastsound, WA, including METAR, flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling, altimeter and runway crosswinds.
Orcas Island Airport (KORS) is a regional airport serving Eastsound, WA at a field elevation of 35 ft. KORS reports its own METAR, decoded live on this page as flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling and altimeter. It has one runway (16/34), the longest 2,901 ft. Automated weather is broadcast on 135.425.
Wind from the south (190°) at 9 kt, visibility 10+ statute miles, no cloud data, temperature 8°C (46°F), altimeter 29.81 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
METAR KORS 280855Z AUTO 19009KT 10SM CLR 08/08 A2981 RMK AO2
What changed at KORS?
Since the 0835Z (1:35 AM PDT) report, compared automatically against the latest METAR.
No significant changes since the 0835Z (1:35 AM PDT) report, conditions are holding steady.
Current pilot readout for KORS
KORS is currently VFR with winds from 190° at 9 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and no ceiling reported. the wind favors south-facing runway ends (16). Density altitude is approximately -650 ft (field elevation 35 ft). KORS does not publish a TAF. The nearest TAF station is KBLI, about 16 nm away.
KORS by the numbers
What the long-run records say about flying here, computed for this airport alone.
KORS reported VFR in 82% of daylight observations over 20 years, about 248 flyable days a year. July is the most reliable month and January 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 4% of hours, visibility under 3 miles 2%).
Over 20 years of hourly winds, runway 16 had the best headwind 50% of the time, runway 34 50%, and winds were calm 35% of hours. Winds most often blow from the south. Crosswind on the best available runway topped 15 kt in under 1% of hours.
Snow fell on about 9 days a year. From December to February KORS was IFR or worse 9% of the time, against 1% from June to August.
Gusts showed up in 15% of hours, typically 8 kt above the steady wind, and the strongest credible gust on record was 44 kt. November is the windiest month (mean 5 kt) and September 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16FAV | 2,901 ft | ASPH-G | 9 kt head | 2 kt right |
| 34 | 2,901 ft | ASPH-G | 9 kt tail | 2 kt left |
Open the crosswind calculator to try your own wind and runway numbers →
KORS 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 16/342,901 × 60 ft · ASPH-GCurrent useno stated-runway source at KORSWind
- 16
- 9 kt headwind · 2 kt crosswind from right
- 34
- 9 kt tailwind · 2 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 24 h: wind 0→9 kt, ceiling 6,500 ft → unlimited.
KORS 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 KORS
Reported by pilots in flight over the past 6 hours, via aviationweather.gov.
Show raw report
SEA UA /OV SEA285027/TM 0713/FL180/TP B738/SK TOP180/TB LGT CHOP/IC NEG/RM DURC-ZSE
SEA UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV SEA285027Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0713Reported at 07:13 UTC.FL180Altitude: 18,000 ft MSL.TP B738Aircraft type reporting.SK TOP180Sky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.TB LGT CHOPTurbulence: light chop.IC NEGIcing: none reported.RM DURC-ZSERemarks.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
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 SEA300050/TM 0451/FL140/TP KC35/IC MOD RIME 140/RM JAWBN ARR /ZSE
SEA UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV SEA300050Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0451Reported at 04:51 UTC.FL140Altitude: 14,000 ft MSL.TP KC35Aircraft type reporting.IC MOD RIME 140Icing: moderate rime 140.RM JAWBN ARR /ZSERemarks.⚠️ PIREPs are unverified pilot reports. Not for operational use: conditions change between reports.
Recent aviation weather trends at KORS
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, KORS reported a mix of conditions, most often marginal VFR across 70 observations, with 16 flight-category changes. The strongest gust reached 11 kt, the lowest ceiling was 900 ft. Wind most often came from the S.
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.
- 16
- 51%
- 34
- 49%
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Live crosswind meter
Measured by KORS's own weather station.
Wind is 10° off runway 16, the end with the most headwind right now.
Asphalt · 2,901 ft. Headings from FAA runway data. Not for navigation.
Field aerial
North up
Runway 16/34 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
- Attended
- Daily 0800-1630 local
- Transient parking
- Tie-downs
- Landing fee
- No
- Other services
- Air freight · Air ambulance · Charter · Flight instruction
- Pattern altitude
- 1,035 ft MSL (1,000 AGL)
- Control tower
- None
- Wind indicator
- Lighted
Airport
- Type
- Regional airport
- ICAO
- KORS
- IATA
- ESD
- FAA LID
- ORS
- City
- Eastsound
- State
- Washington
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 35 ft
- Coordinates
- 48.7082, -122.9100
- Runways
- 1 physical runway · 2 runway ends
- Longest runway
- 2,901 ft
- Weather reporting
- Reports METAR
- TAF
- Nearest KBLI
- AWOS/ASOS
- 135.425 MHz
- CTAF
- 128.25 MHz
- Time zone
- America/Los_Angeles
- Next sunset
- 15h 54m
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed KORS'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
9 airports+3 more within 25 NM
25–50 NM
7 airports+1 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.
- Orcas RC Aircraft Society - Mount Baker Rd , Eastsound, WA · 1 mi
- Bell-Air R/C Flyers - Schnobrich Field , Ferndale, WA · 14 mi
- Lynden Flying Club 1 , Lynden, WA · 25 mi
Historical Flying Weather at KORS
2006–2025 · ATIS Alerts Flying Weather Index
Based on historical observations from 2006–2025, KORS reported VFR conditions during about 81.5% of valid daylight observations, with an estimated 248 VFR flying days a year. July had the most VFR weather; January had the most instrument conditions. Surface winds averaged 4.8 kt, calm 29.6% of the time.
Full historical breakdown
Flight category by month
| Month | VFR % | MVFR % | IFR % | LIFR % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 61.9 | 25.8 | 6.5 | 5.8 |
| Feb | 71.6 | 20.5 | 4.7 | 3.2 |
| Mar | 79.1 | 17.5 | 2.0 | 1.3 |
| Apr | 86.6 | 11.6 | 1.3 | 0.5 |
| May | 89.3 | 8.8 | 1.3 | 0.5 |
| Jun | 91.9 | 7.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 |
| Jul | 94.3 | 4.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 |
| Aug | 91.1 | 6.9 | 1.4 | 0.7 |
| Sep | 84.3 | 9.7 | 2.9 | 3.1 |
| Oct | 76.3 | 15.3 | 4.0 | 4.4 |
| Nov | 71.4 | 22.4 | 4.0 | 2.2 |
| Dec | 65.7 | 27.1 | 4.9 | 2.3 |
Average wind by month
| Month | Mean wind (kt) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 5.3 kt |
| Feb | 5.0 kt |
| Mar | 4.8 kt |
| Apr | 4.5 kt |
| May | 4.4 kt |
| Jun | 4.9 kt |
| Jul | 5.2 kt |
| Aug | 4.5 kt |
| Sep | 3.7 kt |
| Oct | 4.2 kt |
| Nov | 5.3 kt |
| Dec | 5.3 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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ORS's real runway layout on the back, elevation and tower frequency on the front. Add your tail number on the sleeve.
Pilot PIREPs for Orcas Island Airport (KORS)
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 Orcas Island 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 KORS 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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