Waukegan National Airport (KUGN) Aviation Weather: METAR & ATIS
As of 9:51 PM CDT, Oct 28, KUGN is currently VFR with winds from 200° at 10 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and no ceiling reported.
Live aviation weather for Waukegan National Airport in Chicago/Waukegan, IL, including METAR, ATIS, flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling, altimeter and runway crosswinds.
Waukegan National Airport (KUGN) is a general aviation airport serving pilots in and around Chicago/Waukegan, IL at a field elevation of 728 ft. KUGN reports its own METAR, decoded live on this page as flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling and altimeter. It has 2 physical runways (05/23, 14/32), the longest 6,001 ft. The official FAA airport diagram is at the bottom of the page.
Wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 10 kt, visibility 10+ statute miles, a few clouds at 12,000 ft, temperature 19°C (66°F), altimeter 30.06 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
METAR KUGN 290251Z AUTO 20010KT 10SM FEW120 19/11 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP174 T01890106 56005 $
What changed at KUGN?
Since the 0151Z (8:51 PM CDT) report, compared automatically against the latest METAR.
No significant changes since the 0151Z (8:51 PM CDT) report, conditions are holding steady.
Current pilot readout for KUGN
KUGN is currently VFR with winds from 200° at 10 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and no ceiling reported. the wind favors southwest-facing runway ends (23). Density altitude is approximately 1,200 ft (field elevation 728 ft). KUGN does not publish a TAF. The nearest TAF station is KENW, about 11 nm away.
KUGN by the numbers
What the long-run records say about flying here, computed for this airport alone.
KUGN reported VFR in 75% of daylight observations over 20 years, about 229 flyable days a year. July is the most reliable month and December the least, with IFR or worse 17% of the time. When conditions drop it is usually a mix of low ceilings (under 1,000 ft 6% of hours) and low visibility (under 3 miles 6%).
Over 20 years of hourly winds, runway 23 had the best headwind 34% of the time, runway 32 25%, and winds were calm 17% of hours. Winds most often blow from the southwest. Crosswind on the best available runway topped 15 kt in under 1% of hours.
Snow fell on about 43 days a year and freezing rain or drizzle on 8. From December to February KUGN was IFR or worse 16% of the time, against 6% from June to August.
Thunderstorms were reported on about 36 days a year. 57% of storm hours fall in June, July and August, peaking in July when storms were in the air 2% of the time.
Gusts showed up in 22% of hours, typically 9 kt above the steady wind, and the strongest credible gust on record was 57 kt. April is the windiest month (mean 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23FAV | 6,001 ft | ASP | 9 kt head | 5 kt left |
| 14 | 3,750 ft | ASP | 6 kt head | 8 kt right |
| 32 | 3,750 ft | ASP | 6 kt tail | 8 kt left |
| 05 | 6,001 ft | ASP | 9 kt tail | 5 kt right |
Open the crosswind calculator to try your own wind and runway numbers →
KUGN 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.
- Restricted (NOTAM)Runway 05/236,001 × 150 ft · ASPCurrent useno stated-runway source at KUGNWind
- 05
- 9 kt tailwind · 5 kt crosswind from right
- 23
- 9 kt headwind · 5 kt crosswind from left
1 active equipment NOTAMView Runway Intelligence → - Status not monitoredRunway 14/323,750 × 75 ft · ASPCurrent useno stated-runway source at KUGNWind
- 14
- 6 kt headwind · 8 kt crosswind from right
- 32
- 6 kt tailwind · 8 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 23 h: wind 0→10 kt, ceiling unlimited → unlimited.
KUGN 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 KUGN
Reported by pilots in flight over the past 6 hours, via aviationweather.gov.
Show raw report
MSN UA /OV MSN360001/TM 0305/FL1100/TP CRJ7/TB MOD/RM +/- 5-10 KTS ON SHORT FINAL RWY 18
MSN UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV MSN360001Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0305Reported at 03:05 UTC.FL1100Altitude: 11,000 ft MSL.TP CRJ7Aircraft type reporting.TB MODTurbulence: moderate.RM +/- 5-10 KTS ON SHORT FIN…Remarks.Show raw report
BEH UA /OV ELX/TM 0020/FL210/TP DH8D/TB NEG
BEH UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV ELXLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0020Reported at 00:20 UTC.FL210Altitude: 21,000 ft MSL.TP DH8DAircraft type reporting.TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.Show raw report
SBM UA /OV SBM/TM 0016/FL210/TP B738/TB NEG
SBM UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV SBMLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0016Reported at 00:16 UTC.FL210Altitude: 21,000 ft MSL.TP B738Aircraft type reporting.TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.Show raw report
UES UA /OV BAE/TM 0016/FL370/TP BCS3/TB NEG
UES UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV BAELocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0016Reported at 00:16 UTC.FL370Altitude: 37,000 ft MSL.TP BCS3Aircraft type reporting.TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.Show raw report
UES UA /OV BAE180015/TM 0007/FL450/TP CL35/TB NEG
UES UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV BAE180015Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0007Reported at 00:07 UTC.FL450Altitude: 45,000 ft MSL.TP CL35Aircraft type reporting.TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.⚠️ PIREPs are unverified pilot reports. Not for operational use: conditions change between reports.
Recent aviation weather trends at KUGN
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, KUGN reported mostly VFR across 27 observations, with 4 flight-category changes. 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.
- 23
- 43%
- 14
- 27%
- 05
- 16%
- 32
- 14%
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Live crosswind meter
Measured by KUGN's own weather station.
Wind is 28° off runway 23, the end with the most headwind right now.
Asphalt · 6,001 ft. Headings from FAA runway data. Not for navigation.
Field aerial
North up
Runway 05/23, 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
- 24 hours
- Repairs
- Airframe & engine, major
- Oxygen
- Bottled, high & low pressure · Bulk, high & low pressure
- Transient parking
- Tie-downs · Hangars
- Other services
- Air freight · Avionics · Cargo handling · Charter · Flight instruction · Aircraft rental
- Control tower
- Yes
- Wind indicator
- Lighted
Airport
- Type
- General aviation airport
- ICAO
- KUGN
- IATA
- UGN
- FAA LID
- UGN
- City
- Chicago/Waukegan
- State
- Illinois
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 728 ft
- Coordinates
- 42.4222, -87.8679
- Runways
- 2 physical runways · 4 runway ends
- Longest runway
- 6,001 ft
- Weather reporting
- Reports METAR
- TAF
- Nearest KENW
- ATIS
- 132.4 MHz
- CTAF
- 120.05 MHz
- Time zone
- America/Chicago
- Next sunset
- 19h 1m
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed KUGN'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.
- Lake County Radio Control Club - Beach Park Middle School , Beach Park, IL · 2 mi
- Lake County Radio Control Club - West Russell Road , Zion, IL · 6 mi
- Saddlebrook R/C Flyers - E Saddlebrook Dr , Grayslake, IL · 12 mi
Historical Flying Weather at KUGN
2006–2025 · ATIS Alerts Flying Weather Index
Based on historical observations from 2006–2025, KUGN reported VFR conditions during about 75.0% of valid daylight observations, with an estimated 229 VFR flying days a year. July had the most VFR weather; December had the most instrument conditions. Surface winds averaged 6.8 kt, calm 12.1% of the time.
Full historical breakdown
Flight category by month
| Month | VFR % | MVFR % | IFR % | LIFR % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57.2 | 25.8 | 10.1 | 6.9 |
| Feb | 65.7 | 20.8 | 8.0 | 5.6 |
| Mar | 69.6 | 18.3 | 6.1 | 6.0 |
| Apr | 77.2 | 13.2 | 4.4 | 5.2 |
| May | 79.6 | 11.0 | 3.7 | 5.7 |
| Jun | 83.3 | 8.5 | 4.0 | 4.2 |
| Jul | 87.4 | 8.6 | 3.1 | 0.9 |
| Aug | 83.1 | 11.3 | 3.8 | 1.8 |
| Sep | 80.2 | 12.9 | 4.8 | 2.1 |
| Oct | 77.9 | 14.6 | 5.1 | 2.4 |
| Nov | 71.8 | 20.1 | 5.4 | 2.7 |
| Dec | 55.3 | 28.0 | 10.0 | 6.7 |
Average wind by month
| Month | Mean wind (kt) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 7.6 kt |
| Feb | 7.7 kt |
| Mar | 7.7 kt |
| Apr | 8.1 kt |
| May | 6.8 kt |
| Jun | 5.9 kt |
| Jul | 5.2 kt |
| Aug | 5.0 kt |
| Sep | 5.5 kt |
| Oct | 6.8 kt |
| Nov | 7.6 kt |
| Dec | 7.5 kt |
Historical summary of past observations: not a forecast or safety rating. Always check the current METAR, TAF, and a weather briefing before flight.
KUGN 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 UGN shirt or mug
UGN's real runway layout on the back, elevation and tower frequency on the front. Add your tail number on the sleeve.
Pilot PIREPs for Waukegan National Airport (KUGN)
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 Waukegan 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 KUGN 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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