Birchwood Airport (PABV) Aviation Weather: METAR
As of 2:03 AM AKDT, Oct 28, PABV is currently LIFR with calm winds, visibility 1/4 statute mile, and a 400 ft ceiling.
Live aviation weather for Birchwood Airport in Birchwood, AK, including METAR, flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling, altimeter and runway crosswinds.
Birchwood Airport (PABV) is a regional airport serving Birchwood, AK at a field elevation of 83 ft. PABV reports its own METAR, decoded live on this page as flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling and altimeter. It has 2 physical runways (02L/20R, 02R/20L), the longest 4,012 ft. Automated weather is broadcast on 135.55.
Wind calm, visibility 1/4 statute mile, overcast at 400 ft, temperature -1°C (30°F), altimeter 30.46 inHg. Conditions are Low IFR (LIFR), ceiling 400 ft.
SPECI PABV 281003Z AUTO 00000KT 1/4SM FZFG OVC004 M01/M02 A3046 RMK AO2 FZRANO $
Current pilot readout for PABV
PABV is currently LIFR with calm winds, visibility 1/4 statute mile, and a 400 ft ceiling. Density altitude is approximately -2,500 ft (field elevation 83 ft). PABV does not publish a TAF. The nearest TAF station is PAED, about 13 nm away.
PABV by the numbers
What the long-run records say about flying here, computed for this airport alone.
PABV reported VFR in 88% of daylight observations over 20 years, about 253 flyable days a year. May is the most reliable month and December the least, with IFR or worse 16% of the time. When conditions drop it is usually low ceilings rather than fog (ceilings under 1,000 ft 6% of hours, visibility under 3 miles 3%).
Over 20 years of hourly winds, the southwest-facing ends (20L, 20R) had the best headwind 70% of the time, the northeast-facing ends (02L, 02R) 31%, and winds were calm 44% of hours. Winds most often blow from the south-southwest. Crosswind on the best available runway topped 15 kt in under 1% of hours.
Snow fell on about 45 days a year. From December to February PABV was IFR or worse 15% of the time, against 2% from June to August.
Fog was reported on about 23 days a year, and fog or mist on 56. February and November are the foggiest months, with fog in 6% of hours, against under 1% in May.
Winds were calm 39% of the time and averaged 3.0 kt overall. May is the windiest month (mean 4 kt) and September 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02L | 4,012 ft | ASP | - | - |
| 02R | 1,802 ft | GRV | - | - |
| 20L | 1,802 ft | GRV | - | - |
| 20R | 4,012 ft | ASP | - | - |
Open the crosswind calculator to try your own wind and runway numbers →
PABV 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 02L/20R4,012 × 100 ft · ASPCurrent useno stated-runway source at PABVWind
- 02L
- no steady wind
- 20R
- no steady wind
no active equipment NOTAM receivedView Runway Intelligence → - Status not monitoredRunway 02R/20L1,802 × 50 ft · GRVCurrent useno stated-runway source at PABVWind
- 02R
- no steady wind
- 20L
- 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.
PABV 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 PABV
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 PABV
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
History is still being collected. Check back in a few days.
Most recent change: VFR → LIFR
Share of hours each runway had the most headwind. From wind reports, not ATC assignments.
- 02L/02R
- 51%
- 20L/20R
- 49%
Get PABV weather alerts in Telegram
Stop refreshing aviation weather manually. Track PABV 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 PABV free on TelegramLive PABV Weather
Live crosswind meter
Measured by PABV's own weather station.
Wind is calm or variable. Either end works.
Asphalt · 4,012 ft. Headings from FAA runway data. Not for navigation.
Field aerial
North up
Runway 02L/20R, 02R/20L 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
- Attended
- Unattended
- Repairs
- Airframe & engine, major
- Transient parking
- Tie-downs · Hangars
- Other services
- Charter · Glider service · Flight instruction · Aircraft rental
- Control tower
- None
- Wind indicator
- Lighted
Airport
- Type
- Regional airport
- ICAO
- PABV
- FAA LID
- BCV
- City
- Birchwood
- State
- Alaska
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 83 ft
- Coordinates
- 61.4165, -149.5070
- Runways
- 2 physical runways · 4 runway ends
- Longest runway
- 4,012 ft
- Weather reporting
- Reports METAR
- TAF
- Nearest PAED
- AWOS/ASOS
- 135.55 MHz
- Time zone
- America/Anchorage
- Next sunset
- 15h 56m
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed PABV'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
11 airports+5 more within 25 NM
25–50 NM
6 airports50–100 NM
7 airports+1 more within 100 NM
RC flying fields nearby
AMA model-aircraft club fields around this airport: live wind, crosswind & flyability on each page.
- Alaska Drone Racing League - Peters Creek Christian Church , Chugiak, AK · 2 mi
- Peters Creek Christian Center (Gym) , Chugiak, AK · 2 mi
- Frontier Fun Flyers - Loretta French Park , Anchorage, AK · 2 mi
Historical Flying Weather at PABV
2006–2025 · ATIS Alerts Flying Weather Index
Based on historical observations from 2006–2025, PABV reported VFR conditions during about 88.2% of valid daylight observations, with an estimated 253 VFR flying days a year. May had the most VFR weather; December had the most instrument conditions. Surface winds averaged 3.0 kt, calm 39.5% of the time.
Full historical breakdown
Flight category by month
| Month | VFR % | MVFR % | IFR % | LIFR % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 75.7 | 7.5 | 5.2 | 11.6 |
| Feb | 78.1 | 9.3 | 5.9 | 6.7 |
| Mar | 89.7 | 5.4 | 2.9 | 2.1 |
| Apr | 92.3 | 4.4 | 2.0 | 1.3 |
| May | 95.4 | 3.6 | 0.8 | 0.2 |
| Jun | 92.3 | 6.6 | 0.8 | 0.3 |
| Jul | 88.0 | 9.6 | 1.6 | 0.9 |
| Aug | 89.6 | 7.3 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| Sep | 88.3 | 6.3 | 2.4 | 3.0 |
| Oct | 86.6 | 6.6 | 3.3 | 3.5 |
| Nov | 79.5 | 7.4 | 5.8 | 7.3 |
| Dec | 75.1 | 8.6 | 6.9 | 9.5 |
Average wind by month
| Month | Mean wind (kt) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 2.8 kt |
| Feb | 2.8 kt |
| Mar | 3.1 kt |
| Apr | 3.1 kt |
| May | 3.7 kt |
| Jun | 3.2 kt |
| Jul | 2.6 kt |
| Aug | 2.4 kt |
| Sep | 2.4 kt |
| Oct | 2.9 kt |
| Nov | 3.1 kt |
| Dec | 3.3 kt |
Historical summary of past observations: not a forecast or safety rating. Always check the current METAR, TAF, and a weather briefing before flight.
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Pilot PIREPs for Birchwood Airport (PABV)
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 Birchwood 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 PABV 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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