Pierce County-Thun Field (KPLU) Aviation Weather: METAR
As of 1:55 AM PDT, Oct 28, KPLU is currently MVFR with variable winds at 5 knots, visibility 5 statute miles, and a 2,500 ft ceiling.
Live aviation weather for Pierce County-Thun Field in Puyallup, WA, including METAR, flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling, altimeter and runway crosswinds.
Pierce County-Thun Field (KPLU) is a general aviation airport serving pilots in and around Puyallup, WA at a field elevation of 538 ft. KPLU reports its own METAR, decoded live on this page as flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling and altimeter. It has one runway (17/35), the longest 3,651 ft.
Wind variable at 5 kt, gusting 10 kt, visibility 5 statute miles, broken clouds at 2,500 ft, broken clouds at 3,300 ft, overcast at 3,900 ft, temperature 8°C (46°F), altimeter 29.89 inHg. Conditions are Marginal VFR (MVFR), ceiling 2,500 ft.
METAR KPLU 280855Z AUTO VRB05G10KT 5SM RA BKN025 BKN033 OVC039 08/08 A2989 RMK AO2
What changed at KPLU?
Since the 0835Z (1:35 AM PDT) report, compared automatically against the latest METAR.
- Flight category dropped from VFR to MVFR.
- Gusts began, now gusting 10 kt.
- Ceiling dropped from 3,300 ft to 2,500 ft.
- Visibility dropped from 7 SM to 5 SM.
- Rain began (RA).
- Rain ended (-RA).
Current pilot readout for KPLU
KPLU is currently MVFR with variable winds at 5 knots, visibility 5 statute miles, and a 2,500 ft ceiling. Density altitude is approximately -150 ft (field elevation 538 ft). KPLU does not publish a TAF. The nearest TAF station is KTCM, about 8 nm away.
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.
Current wind is variable at 5 kt, gusting 10 kt: light and variable wind like this is generally not a factor for runway selection, and with no steady direction there is no head/tail or crosswind component to compute. Live numbers return automatically once a report includes a wind direction.
| Runway | Length | Surface | Head / Tail | Crosswind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 3,651 ft | ASPH-G | - | - |
| 35 | 3,651 ft | ASPH-G | - | - |
Open the crosswind calculator to try your own wind and runway numbers →
KPLU 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 17/353,651 × 60 ft · ASPH-GCurrent useno stated-runway source at KPLUWind
- 17
- no steady wind
- 35
- no steady wind
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.
Fuel at KPLU
100LL and Jet A at Pierce County-Thun Field: prices, FBO fees and cheaper fuel nearby now live on the KPLU fuel page.
Lowest 100LL
$7.95/ galSelf serve · Pierce County Airport - Thun Field
Guaranteed price, checked Oct 23Current
1 fuel provider
Fuel information has moved: view KPLUfuel & FBOs for every FBO’s prices, ramp and overnight fees, cheaper 100LL nearby, price history and pilot fuel reports.
24-hour trend
Wind, ceiling and flight category over the last 24 hours.
Over the last 24 h: wind 0→5 kt, ceiling 4,400 ft → 2,500 ft.
KPLU 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 KPLU
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
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.⚠️ PIREPs are unverified pilot reports. Not for operational use: conditions change between reports.
Recent aviation weather trends at KPLU
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, KPLU reported a mix of conditions, most often VFR across 70 observations, with 17 flight-category changes. The strongest gust reached 19 kt, the lowest ceiling was 300 ft. Wind most often came from the S.
Most recent change: VFR → MVFR
Most recent change: MVFR → VFR
Share of hours each runway had the most headwind. From wind reports, not ATC assignments.
- 17
- 57%
- 35
- 43%
Get KPLU weather alerts in Telegram
Stop refreshing aviation weather manually. Track KPLU in ATIS Alerts and get notified when a new METAR changes the picture: a category drop, or wind and ceiling moving toward your minimums.
Track KPLU free on TelegramLive KPLU Weather
Live crosswind meter
Measured by KPLU's own weather station.
Wind is calm or variable. Either end works.
Asphalt · 3,651 ft. Headings from FAA runway data. Not for navigation.
Field aerial
North up
Runway 17/35 drawn from FAA threshold coordinates.
Imagery: USGS The National Map (public domain). Something off? ✏️ Suggest an edit
Fuel prices
KPLU 100LL, FBOs and fees.
100LL from
$7.95 / gal · Self serve
1 fuel provider · Guaranteed price, checked Oct 23
View fuel prices & FBOs →Airport info
From the FAA airport record (cycle 2026-10-01) and OurAirports.
Services
- Fuel
- 100LL See fuel prices →
- Attended
- Daily 0800-1400 local
- Repairs
- Airframe & engine, major
- Oxygen
- Bottled, low pressure
- Transient parking
- Tie-downs
- Landing fee
- No
- Other services
- Avionics · Flight instruction · Aircraft rental
- Control tower
- None
- Wind indicator
- Lighted
Airport
- Type
- General aviation airport
- ICAO
- KPLU
- FAA LID
- PLU
- City
- Puyallup
- State
- Washington
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 538 ft
- Coordinates
- 47.1039, -122.2870
- Runways
- 1 physical runway · 2 runway ends
- Longest runway
- 3,651 ft
- Weather reporting
- Reports METAR
- TAF
- Nearest KTCM
- Time zone
- America/Los_Angeles
- Next sunset
- 15h 56m
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed KPLU'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
10 airports+4 more within 25 NM
25–50 NM
6 airports50–100 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.
- Northwest Skyraiders - Pierce County Airport , Puyallup, WA · 0 mi
- RAMS - Auburn Adventist Academy Airport , Auburn, WA · 14 mi
- Auburn Municipal Airport - Dick Scobee Field , Auburn, WA · 16 mi
Customize your PLU shirt or mug
PLU's real runway layout on the back, elevation and tower frequency on the front. Add your tail number on the sleeve.
Pilot PIREPs for Pierce County-Thun Field (KPLU)
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 Pierce County-Thun 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 KPLU 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.
Spotted incorrect airport info? ✏️ Suggest an edit
How ATIS Alerts works · All US airports · Washington airports