Mackeys Lakes Seaplane Base (L85) Area Aviation Weather & Runway Winds
As of 3:08 AM AKDT, Oct 28, based on the nearest station (PASX), L85 is currently LIFR with winds from 080° at 4 knots, visibility 1/2 statute mile, and a 300 ft ceiling.
Aviation weather near Mackeys Lakes Seaplane Base in Soldotna, AK, decoded from the nearest reporting station (PASX): conditions and runway crosswinds.
Mackeys Lakes Seaplane Base (L85) is a seaplane base in Soldotna, AK. L85 has no weather station of its own. Conditions here are decoded from PASX, about 4 nm away, the nearest reporting station, and local conditions can differ. It has 2 physical runways (N, S), the longest 3,000 ft. The nearest TAF is issued for PAEN.
No weather station at this airport: showing the nearest station PASX, 3.7 nm away.
Wind from the east (080°) at 4 kt, visibility 1/2 statute mile, overcast at 300 ft, temperature -3°C (27°F), altimeter 30.42 inHg. Conditions are Low IFR (LIFR), ceiling 300 ft.
SPECI PASX 281108Z AUTO 08004KT 1/2SM FZFG OVC003 M03/M03 A3042 RMK AO2 FZRANO TSNO
What changed at PASX (nearest station)?
Since the 1056Z (2:56 AM AKDT) report, compared automatically against the latest METAR.
- Visibility dropped from 1 SM to 0.5 SM.
- Freezing fog began (FZFG).
- Mist ended (BR).
The latest report is an off-schedule special (SPECI), issued because conditions changed significantly. What is a SPECI? →
Current pilot readout for L85
Based on the nearest station (PASX), L85 is currently LIFR with winds from 080° at 4 knots, visibility 1/2 statute mile, and a 300 ft ceiling. Density altitude is approximately -2,550 ft (field elevation 175 ft). L85 does not publish a TAF. The nearest TAF station is PAEN, 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.
| Runway | Length | Surface | Head / Tail | Crosswind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NFAV | 3,000 ft | WATER-E | 1 kt head | 4 kt right |
| S | 3,000 ft | WATER-E | 1 kt head | 4 kt right |
Open the crosswind calculator to try your own wind and runway numbers →
24-hour trend
Wind, ceiling and flight category over the last 24 hours.
Over the last 23 h: wind 3→4 kt, ceiling unlimited → 300 ft.
L85 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 L85
Reported by pilots in flight over the past 6 hours, via aviationweather.gov.
Show raw report
ANC UA /OV TED189005/TM 0727/FL050/TP B739/SK SKC/TB LGT/IC NEG/RM DURD
ANC UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV TED189005Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0727Reported at 07:27 UTC.FL050Altitude: 5,000 ft MSL.TP B739Aircraft type reporting.SK SKCSky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.TB LGTTurbulence: light.IC NEGIcing: none reported.RM DURDRemarks.⚠️ PIREPs are unverified pilot reports. Not for operational use: conditions change between reports.
Recent aviation weather trends at L85
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, the nearest station PASX reported mostly low IFR across 48 observations, with 4 flight-category changes. The lowest ceiling was 300 ft. Wind most often came from the E.
Most recent change: IFR → LIFR
Most recent change: IFR → LIFR
Share of hours each runway had the most headwind. From wind reports, not ATC assignments.
- N/S
- 100%
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North up
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
- Attended
- Unattended
- Landing fee
- No
- Control tower
- None
Airport
- Type
- Seaplane base
- FAA LID
- L85
- City
- Soldotna
- State
- Alaska
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 175 ft
- Coordinates
- 60.5336, -150.9960
- Runways
- 2 physical runways · 2 runway ends
- Longest runway
- 3,000 ft
- Weather reporting
- Nearest station PASX
- TAF
- Nearest PAEN
- Time zone
- America/Anchorage
- Next sunset
- 15h 7m
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed L85'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
8 airports+2 more within 25 NM
25–50 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.
- Peninsula Modelers Association - Redoubt Dr , Kenai, AK · 11 mi
Pilot PIREPs for Mackeys Lakes Seaplane Base (L85)
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 Mackeys Lakes Seaplane Base, 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 L85 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.
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