Tuscaloosa National Airport (KTCL) Aviation Weather: METAR & TAF
As of 11:53 PM CDT, Oct 28, KTCL is currently VFR with calm winds, visibility 10+ statute miles, and no ceiling reported.
Live aviation weather for Tuscaloosa National Airport in Tuscaloosa, AL, including METAR, TAF, flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling, altimeter and runway crosswinds.
Tuscaloosa National Airport (KTCL) is a regional airport serving Tuscaloosa, AL at a field elevation of 170 ft. KTCL reports its own METAR and publishes a TAF, decoded live on this page as flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling and altimeter. It has 2 physical runways (04/22, 12/30), the longest 6,498 ft. The official FAA airport diagram is at the bottom of the page.
Wind calm, visibility 10+ statute miles, no cloud data, temperature 12°C (53°F), altimeter 30.23 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
METAR KTCL 290453Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 12/11 A3023 RMK AO2 SLP235 T01170106
What changed at KTCL?
Since the 0353Z (10:53 PM CDT) report, compared automatically against the latest METAR.
No significant changes since the 0353Z (10:53 PM CDT) report, conditions are holding steady.
Current pilot readout for KTCL
KTCL is currently VFR with calm winds, visibility 10+ statute miles, and no ceiling reported. Density altitude is approximately -550 ft (field elevation 170 ft). Review the latest TAF below for forecast changes before departure.
KTCL by the numbers
What the long-run records say about flying here, computed for this airport alone.
KTCL reported VFR in 81% of daylight observations over 20 years, about 271 flyable days a year. June is the most reliable month and December 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 4% of hours, visibility under 3 miles 3%).
Over 20 years of hourly winds, runway 22 had the best headwind 31% of the time, runway 04 29%, and winds were calm 37% 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 68 days a year. 54% 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 42 days a year, and fog or mist on 206. November and December are the foggiest months, with fog in 11% of hours, against 7% in March.
Field elevation is 170 ft, but on a median summer afternoon the air performs like 2,107 ft, 1,937 ft higher. Plan for a longer takeoff roll and a weaker climb from June to August.
Winds were calm 31% of the time and averaged 4.3 kt overall. February is the windiest month (mean 6 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.
Current wind is calm: calm wind is not a factor for runway selection, and with no wind 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04 | 6,498 ft | ASP | - | - |
| 12 | 4,000 ft | ASP | - | - |
| 22 | 6,498 ft | ASP | - | - |
| 30 | 4,000 ft | ASP | - | - |
Open the crosswind calculator to try your own wind and runway numbers →
KTCL 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 04/226,498 × 150 ft · ASPCurrent useno stated-runway source at KTCLWind
- 04
- no steady wind
- 22
- no steady wind
no active equipment NOTAM receivedView Runway Intelligence → - Status not monitoredRunway 12/304,000 × 100 ft · ASPCurrent useno stated-runway source at KTCLWind
- 12
- no steady wind
- 30
- 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.
24-hour trend
Wind, ceiling and flight category over the last 24 hours.
Over the last 23 h: wind 3→0 kt, ceiling unlimited → unlimited.
KTCL 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 KTCL
Reported by pilots in flight over the past 6 hours, via aviationweather.gov.
Show raw report
BHM UA /OV VUZ135020/TM 0214/FL340/TP A320/TB CONS MOD CHOP /RM ZTLFD-03
BHM UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV VUZ135020Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0214Reported at 02:14 UTC.FL340Altitude: 34,000 ft MSL.TP A320Aircraft type reporting.TB CONS MOD CHOPTurbulence: continuous moderate chop.RM ZTLFD-03Remarks.Show raw report
TCL UA /OV LDK225030/TM 0206/FL360/TP B38M/TB OCNL LGT-MOD CHOP/RM ZME46
TCL UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV LDK225030Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0206Reported at 02:06 UTC.FL360Altitude: 36,000 ft MSL.TP B38MAircraft type reporting.TB OCNL LGT-MOD CHOPTurbulence: occasional light to moderate chop.RM ZME46Remarks.Show raw report
ARP UAL880 3323N 08837W 0113 F370 TB MODERATE SK CLEAR IC NONE
ARP UAL880 3323N 08837W 0113…Header: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.Show raw report
CBM UA /OV IGB/TM 0053/FL370/TP B738/TB LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME32
CBM UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV IGBLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0053Reported at 00:53 UTC.FL370Altitude: 37,000 ft MSL.TP B738Aircraft type reporting.TB LGT OCNL MOD CHOPTurbulence: light occasional moderate chop.RM ZME32Remarks.Show raw report
ATL UA /OV MGM216033/TM 0023/FL390/TP A319/TB MOD/RM ZTLFD 08
ATL UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV MGM216033Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0023Reported at 00:23 UTC.FL390Altitude: 39,000 ft MSL.TP A319Aircraft type reporting.TB MODTurbulence: moderate.RM ZTLFD 08Remarks.⚠️ PIREPs are unverified pilot reports. Not for operational use: conditions change between reports.
Recent aviation weather trends at KTCL
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, KTCL reported mostly VFR across 21 observations, with 0 flight-category changes. Wind most often came from the NE.
Most recent change: LIFR → VFR
Share of hours each runway had the most headwind. From wind reports, not ATC assignments.
- 04
- 59%
- 12
- 14%
- 22
- 14%
- 30
- 13%
TAF | Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
Issued 0520Z (12:20 AM CDT)
TAF KTCL 290520Z 2906/3006 00000KT P6SM SCT250 FM291500 07006KT P6SM SCT250
New to TAFs? How to read one →
Get KTCL weather alerts in Telegram
Stop refreshing aviation weather manually. Track KTCL 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 KTCL free on TelegramLive KTCL Weather
Live crosswind meter
Measured by KTCL's own weather station.
Wind is calm or variable. Either end works.
Asphalt · 6,498 ft. Headings from FAA runway data. Not for navigation.
Field aerial
North up
Runway 04/22, 12/30 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 0500-2200 local
- Repairs
- Airframe & engine, major
- Oxygen
- Bulk, low pressure
- Transient parking
- Tie-downs · Hangars
- Landing fee
- Yes
- Other services
- Air freight · Avionics · Cargo handling · Charter · Flight instruction · Aircraft rental
- Control tower
- Yes
- Wind indicator
- Lighted
Airport
- Type
- Regional airport
- ICAO
- KTCL
- IATA
- TCL
- FAA LID
- TCL
- City
- Tuscaloosa
- State
- Alabama
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 170 ft
- Coordinates
- 33.2206, -87.6114
- Runways
- 2 physical runways · 4 runway ends
- Longest runway
- 6,498 ft
- Weather reporting
- Reports METAR
- TAF
- Published
- AWOS/ASOS
- 132.825 MHz
- CTAF
- 126.3 MHz
- Time zone
- America/Chicago
- Next sunset
- 17h 16m
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed KTCL'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
3 airports25–50 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.
- West Alabama Aero Modelers 1 , Tuscaloosa, AL · 3 mi
- WAAM - West Alabama Aero Modelers - Fosters Ferry Rd , Tuscaloosa, AL · 3 mi
Historical Flying Weather at KTCL
2006–2025 · ATIS Alerts Flying Weather Index
Based on historical observations from 2006–2025, KTCL reported VFR conditions during about 81.3% of valid daylight observations, with an estimated 271 VFR flying days a year. June had the most VFR weather; December had the most instrument conditions. Surface winds averaged 4.3 kt, calm 31.3% of the time.
Full historical breakdown
Flight category by month
| Month | VFR % | MVFR % | IFR % | LIFR % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 74.2 | 17.4 | 6.5 | 1.9 |
| Feb | 71.8 | 19.3 | 7.2 | 1.7 |
| Mar | 79.8 | 15.3 | 4.0 | 0.9 |
| Apr | 83.6 | 11.7 | 3.6 | 1.1 |
| May | 83.3 | 12.1 | 3.3 | 1.3 |
| Jun | 86.7 | 9.1 | 3.0 | 1.2 |
| Jul | 85.9 | 9.4 | 3.1 | 1.6 |
| Aug | 85.1 | 10.0 | 3.4 | 1.5 |
| Sep | 86.0 | 10.4 | 2.8 | 0.9 |
| Oct | 83.1 | 11.9 | 3.8 | 1.3 |
| Nov | 78.8 | 14.1 | 4.9 | 2.3 |
| Dec | 68.6 | 20.5 | 7.5 | 3.5 |
Average wind by month
| Month | Mean wind (kt) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 5.1 kt |
| Feb | 5.5 kt |
| Mar | 5.4 kt |
| Apr | 5.1 kt |
| May | 4.3 kt |
| Jun | 3.6 kt |
| Jul | 3.3 kt |
| Aug | 3.2 kt |
| Sep | 3.5 kt |
| Oct | 3.7 kt |
| Nov | 3.9 kt |
| Dec | 4.6 kt |
Historical summary of past observations: not a forecast or safety rating. Always check the current METAR, TAF, and a weather briefing before flight.
KTCL 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 TCL shirt or mug
TCL's real runway layout on the back, elevation and tower frequency on the front. Add your tail number on the sleeve.
Pilot PIREPs for Tuscaloosa National Airport (KTCL)
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 Tuscaloosa National 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 KTCL 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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