Waukegan National Airport (KUGN) Aviation Weather, METAR, TAF & ATIS Alerts

Live aviation weather for Waukegan National Airport in Chicago/Waukegan, IL, including METAR, TAF, flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling, altimeter, runway crosswinds, and Telegram airport alerts.

Waukegan National Airport (KUGN) is a general aviation airport serving pilots in and around Chicago/Waukegan, IL at 727 ft. KUGN reports its own METAR — decoded live on this page as flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling and altimeter. Its 4 runways (05, 14, 23, 32) — longest 6,001 ft — are checked against the current wind in the crosswind table below. The official FAA airport diagram is at the bottom of the page. Track KUGN in the ATIS Alerts Telegram bot to get a message when a new METAR changes the picture — flight category, wind, or ceiling past your selected minimums.

VFR

Observed 0351Z (10:51 PM CDT)live · refreshes every 60s

Wind

360° 3 kt

Visibility

10+ sm

Ceiling

Unlimited

Altimeter

29.93"

Temp / Dew

18°C / 65°F

dew 15°C

Wind from the north (360°) at 3 kt, visibility 10+ statute miles, no cloud data, temperature 18°C (65°F), altimeter 29.93 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR).

Raw METAR

METAR KUGN 290351Z AUTO 36003KT 10SM CLR 18/15 A2993 RMK AO2 SLPNO T01830150 $

What changed at KUGN?

Since the 0251Z (9:51 PM CDT) report — compared automatically against the latest METAR.

No significant changes since the 0251Z report — conditions are holding steady.

This is exactly what ATIS Alerts watches for you — get a Telegram message when KUGN's weather changes, free →

Current pilot readout for KUGN

KUGN is currently VFR with winds from 360° at 3 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and no ceiling reported. The strongest crosswind component is currently on runway 05, about 2 knots. Density altitude is approximately 1,300 ft (field elevation 727 ft). KUGN does not publish a TAF — the nearest TAF station is KENW, about 11 nm away.

⚠️ Not for operational use. Always verify with official FAA-approved preflight weather sources before flight.

New to aviation weather? How to read a METAR → · What VFR/MVFR/IFR mean → · Decode any METAR/TAF → · Density altitude calculator →

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Runway wind check

Estimated head/tailwind and crosswind for each runway end from the current reported wind.

Use this section to quickly compare current wind alignment across available runways at KUGN. This is intended as a planning aid only and should not replace official performance calculations or pilot judgment.

Runway	Length	Surface	Head / Tail	Crosswind
05FAV	6,001 ft	ASP	2 kt head	2 kt left
32	3,750 ft	ASP	2 kt head	2 kt right
14	3,750 ft	ASP	2 kt tail	2 kt left
23	6,001 ft	ASP	2 kt tail	2 kt right

Open the crosswind calculator — try your own wind and runway numbers →

24-hour trend

Wind, ceiling and flight category over the last 24 hours.

Wind (kt)Gusts (kt)Bottom strip — flight category:VFRMVFRIFRLIFRNo report

Over the last 23 h: wind 0→3 kt, ceiling unlimited → unlimited.

KUGN weather radar

Live NEXRAD + lightning, with a 4-hour future-radar forecast — drag to pan, tap ⚡ to toggle lightning.

Live weather radar around Waukegan National Airport in Chicago/Waukegan, IL: the NOAA/NWS NEXRAD composite updates about every five minutes, with NOAA lightning strike density overlaid. The loop plays the past 50 minutes, then continues into a future-radar forecast (+1 to +4 hours, NOAA HRRR model) so you can see where precipitation around KUGN is headed.

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Loading radar…

Radar: NOAA/NWS via IEM · Forecast: NOAA HRRR · Lightning: NOAA · Map © OpenStreetMap © CARTO

Forecast frames (amber label) are HRRR model guidance, not observed radar. Lightning strike density appears as a blue-white glow when strikes are detected in view. Radar and lightning coverage are limited in parts of Alaska, Hawaii, and offshore areas. Not for navigation.

Pilot reports (PIREPs) within 100 NM of KUGN

Reported by pilots in flight over the past 6 hours — via aviationweather.gov.

PIREP0340Z (10:40 PM CDT) · 32 NM N of KUGN · during descent · A319

Show raw report

MKE UA /OV MKE190000/TM 0340/FL000/TP A319/WV 010004/RM NEG WINDSHEAR-MICROBURST ON FINAL

MKE UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.

OV MKE190000Location — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.

TM 0340Reported at 03:40 UTC.

FL000Altitude: 0 ft MSL.

TP A319Aircraft type reporting.

WV 010004Wind (direction/speed) or wind-shear remarks.

RM NEG WINDSHEAR-MICROBURST …Remarks.

PIREP0218Z (9:18 PM CDT) · 92 NM NE of KUGN · 24,000 ft MSL · C56X

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MKG UA /OV MKG/TM 0218/FL240/TP C56X/TB NEG

MKG UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.

OV MKGLocation — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.

TM 0218Reported at 02:18 UTC.

FL240Altitude: 24,000 ft MSL.

TP C56XAircraft type reporting.

TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.

PIREP0215Z (9:15 PM CDT) · 81 NM N of KUGN · 20,000 ft MSL · PC12

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SBM UA /OV SBM/TM 0215/FL200/TP PC12/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 0215Reported at 02:15 UTC.

FL200Altitude: 20,000 ft MSL.

TP PC12Aircraft type reporting.

TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.

PIREP0213Z (9:13 PM CDT) · 13 NM S of KUGN · 23,000 ft MSL · B763

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PWK UA /OV OBK/TM 0213/FL230/TP B763/TB NEG

PWK UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.

OV OBKLocation — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.

TM 0213Reported at 02:13 UTC.

FL230Altitude: 23,000 ft MSL.

TP B763Aircraft type reporting.

TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.

PIREP0208Z (9:08 PM CDT) · 11 NM N of KUGN · during climb · CRJ2

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ENW UA /OV ENW/TM 0208/FL160/TP CRJ2/TB NEG/RM DURC

ENW UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.

OV ENWLocation — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.

TM 0208Reported at 02:08 UTC.

FL160Altitude: 16,000 ft MSL.

TP CRJ2Aircraft type reporting.

TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.

RM DURCRemarks.

PIREP0206Z (9:06 PM CDT) · 78 NM NW of KUGN · 19,000 ft MSL · BCS1

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MSN UA /OV MSN/TM 0206/FL190/TP BCS1/TB NEG

MSN UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.

OV MSNLocation — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.

TM 0206Reported at 02:06 UTC.

FL190Altitude: 19,000 ft MSL.

TP BCS1Aircraft type reporting.

TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.

PIREP0205Z (9:05 PM CDT) · 98 NM NW of KUGN · 20,000 ft MSL · E75S

Show raw report

MSN UA /OV C47/TM 0205/FL200/TP E75S/TB NEG

MSN UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.

OV C47Location — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.

TM 0205Reported at 02:05 UTC.

FL200Altitude: 20,000 ft MSL.

TP E75SAircraft type reporting.

TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.

PIREP0126Z (8:26 PM CDT) · 98 NM SE of KUGN · 25,000 ft MSL · E75L

Show raw report

GSH UA /OV GSH/TM 0126/FL250/TP E75L/TB NEG

GSH UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.

OV GSHLocation — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.

TM 0126Reported at 01:26 UTC.

FL250Altitude: 25,000 ft MSL.

TP E75LAircraft 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 25 observations, with 3 flight-category changes. The strongest gust reached 20 kt, the lowest ceiling was 800 ft. Wind most often came from the N.

Last 24 hours

VFR 78%MVFR 11%IFR 11%

Wind avg/max: 15/120 kt

Max gust: 20 kt

Lowest ceiling: 800 ft

Lowest vis: —

Prevailing wind: N

Category changes: 3

Most recent change: MVFR → VFR

Last 7 days

VFR 91%MVFR 3%IFR 3%LIFR 3%

Wind avg/max: 7/120 kt

Max gust: 39 kt

Lowest ceiling: 300 ft

Lowest vis: 0.5 sm

Prevailing wind: SW

Category changes: 16

Most recent change: MVFR → VFR

Active Runway - past 30 days

23: 39%
05: 37%
32: 13%
14: 11%

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Airport facts

Reference data from the OurAirports dataset.

Type: General aviation airport
ICAO: KUGN
IATA: UGN
FAA LID: UGN
City: Chicago/Waukegan
State: Illinois
Country: United States
Elevation: 727 ft
Coordinates: 42.4222, -87.8679
Runways: 4
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: 21h 17m

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.

VFRMVFRIFRLIFRNo report

Within 25 NM

9 airports

KENWKenosha Regional AirportKenosha, WI11 nm NVFR METAR · TAF KPWKChicago Executive AirportChicago/Prospect Heights/Wheeling, IL19 nm SVFR METAR KRACJohn H Batten AirportRacine, WI21 nm NVFR METAR IL02Herbert C. Maas AirportZion, IL4 nm NW IL11Donald Alfred Gade AirportAntioch, IL8 nm W 04WIDutch Gap AirstripBristol, WI9 nm NW

+3 more within 25 NM

25–50 NM

7 airports

KORDChicago O'Hare International AirportChicago, IL27 nm SVFR METAR · TAF KMKEGeneral Mitchell International AirportMilwaukee, WI32 nm NVFR METAR · TAF KDPADupage AirportChicago/West Chicago, IL35 nm SWVFR METAR · TAF KMDWChicago Midway International AirportChicago, IL39 nm SVFR METAR · TAF KUESWaukesha County AirportWaukesha, WI41 nm NWVFR METAR · TAF KMWCLawrence J Timmerman AirportMilwaukee, WI42 nm NVFR METAR

+1 more within 50 NM

50–100 NM

8 airports

KGYYGary/Chicago International AirportGary, IN52 nm SEVFR METAR · TAF KIGQLansing Municipal AirportChicago, IL55 nm SMETAR KJOTJoliet Regional AirportJoliet, IL56 nm SVFR METAR KRFDChicago Rockford International AirportChicago/Rockford, IL56 nm WVFR METAR · TAF KRYVWatertown Municipal AirportWatertown, WI59 nm NWVFR METAR KETBWest Bend Municipal AirportWest Bend, WI61 nm NVFR METAR

+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

All RC flying fields →

See all Illinois airports →

Historical Flying Weather

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.

VFR Score

Wind Score

Reliability Score

National VFR rank

#1234 of 1,400

Regional rank

#86

State rank

#33

Full historical breakdown

Daylight VFR

75.0%

MVFR

16.2%

IFR

5.7%

LIFR

4.2%

Est. VFR days/yr

229

Most VFR month

July

Fewest VFR month

December

Median ceiling

3,000 ft

Median visibility

10 sm

Calm wind

12.1%

Median wind

6 kt

Gusty hours

21.7%

Crosswind >15 kt

0.0%

Fog/mist days/yr

175

Thunderstorm days/yr

Summer density alt

1,973 ft

Flight category by month

VFRMVFRIFRLIFR

KUGN monthly flight-category distribution, 2006–2025
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

KUGN average wind by month, 2006–2025
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

Great Lakes flying weather Most VFR airports Windiest airports Flying Weather Index

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.

The FAA airport diagram for Waukegan National Airport in Chicago/Waukegan, IL shows the runway and taxiway layout across 4 runways, ramp areas, and hold-short positions — review it before taxiing at an unfamiliar field.

Official FAA airport diagram · d-TPP cycle 2608 · Not for navigation. Download the official FAA PDF ↗

KUGN weather — frequently asked

What runways are available at KUGN?+

KUGN has 4 runways — 05, 14, 23, 32; the longest is 6,001 ft. This page computes the live crosswind for each runway end from the current wind.

Does KUGN report its own weather?+

Yes — Waukegan National Airport has its own weather station and publishes METAR observations, which this page decodes live.

Does KUGN have a TAF?+

No — KUGN does not publish its own TAF. The nearest TAF station is KENW, about 11 nm away.

Does KUGN broadcast D-ATIS?+

No — KUGN does not broadcast D-ATIS. Alerts for KUGN from the ATIS Alerts bot (@atisalerts_bot) are based on its METAR instead.

Where can I find the KUGN airport diagram?+

The official FAA airport diagram for Waukegan National Airport (KUGN) is shown on this page — it maps the runway and taxiway layout, ramps, and hold-short lines. Tap it to zoom, or download the official FAA PDF free from the link under the diagram (updated every 28-day FAA charting cycle).

Pilot PIREPs for Waukegan National Airport (KUGN)

Community-submitted

Community-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.

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