Lake Hood Seaplane Base (PALH) Aviation Weather: METAR

As of 2:23 PM AKDT, Oct 28, PALH is currently LIFR with winds from 050° at 8 knots, visibility 3/4 statute mile, and a 200 ft ceiling.

Live aviation weather for Lake Hood Seaplane Base in Anchorage, AK, including METAR, flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling, altimeter and runway crosswinds.

Lake Hood Seaplane Base (PALH) is a seaplane base in Anchorage, AK. PALH reports its own METAR, decoded live on this page as flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling and altimeter. It has 7 physical runways (14/32, E, N, NW, S, …), the longest 4,541 ft. The official FAA airport diagram is at the bottom of the page.

Ask ATIS AIAsk anything about PALH's weather, runways or delays, or search another airport.

LIFR

Observed 2223Z (2:23 PM AKDT)live · refreshes every 60s

Wind

050° 8 kt

Visibility

0.75 sm

Ceiling

200 ft

Altimeter

30.28"

Temp / Dew

32°F / 0°C

feels like 24°F

Wind from the northeast (050°) at 8 kt, visibility 3/4 statute mile, sky obscured at 200 ft, temperature 0°C (32°F), altimeter 30.28 inHg. Conditions are Low IFR (LIFR), ceiling 200 ft.

Raw METAR

SPECI PALH 282223Z 05008KT 3/4SM BR VV002 00/00 A3028 RMK AO2 T00000000

What changed at PALH?

Since the 2153Z (1:53 PM AKDT) report, compared automatically against the latest METAR.

Freezing fog ended (FZFG).
Wind direction moved from 020° to 050°.
Mist began (BR).

The latest report is an off-schedule special (SPECI), issued because conditions changed significantly. What is a SPECI? →

Current pilot readout for PALH

PALH is currently LIFR with winds from 050° at 8 knots, visibility 3/4 statute mile, and a 200 ft ceiling. the wind favors runway ends 32. Density altitude is approximately -2,150 ft (field elevation 79 ft). PALH does not publish a TAF. The nearest TAF station is PANC, about 1 nm away.

PALH by the numbers

What the long-run records say about flying here, computed for this airport alone.

88%

of daylight hours VFR, 2006 to 2025

PALH reported VFR in 88% of daylight observations over 20 years, about 262 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 a mix of low ceilings (under 1,000 ft 4% of hours) and low visibility (under 3 miles 5%).

snow days a year

Snow fell on about 60 days a year and freezing rain or drizzle on 3. From December to February PALH was IFR or worse 15% of the time, against 2% from June to August.

fog days a year

Fog was reported on about 34 days a year, and fog or mist on 104.

28%

of hours calm

Winds were calm 28% of the time and averaged 4.3 kt overall. May is the windiest month (mean 5 kt) and September the calmest.

Sources: hourly observations 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
EFAV	4,541 ft	WATER	5 kt head	6 kt right
N	1,930 ft	WATER	5 kt head	6 kt right
NW	1,370 ft	WATER	5 kt head	6 kt right
S	1,930 ft	WATER	5 kt head	6 kt right
SE	1,370 ft	WATER	5 kt head	6 kt right
W	4,541 ft	WATER	5 kt head	6 kt right
32	2,200 ft	GRVL-DIRT	2 kt head	8 kt right
14	2,200 ft	GRVL-DIRT	2 kt tail	8 kt left

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

PALH runways

7 physical runways · 8 runway ends. Each card opens the runway's intelligence page: equipment and lighting, LAHSO, frequencies, today's configuration, predicted use, history and approaches.

Runway 14/32
2,200 × 75 ft · GRVL-DIRT
Status not monitored
Current use
no stated-runway source at PALH
Wind
14
2 kt tailwind · 8 kt crosswind from left
32
2 kt headwind · 8 kt crosswind from right
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.

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

Over the last 24 h: wind 4→8 kt, ceiling unlimited → 200 ft.

PALH weather radar

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

Loading…

Loading radar…

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 PALH

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

PIREP2223Z (2:23 PM AKDT) · 7 NM NW of PALH · during climb · E75L

occasional light 020 turbulence

Show raw report

ANC UA /OV TED310008/TM 2223/FL025/TP E75L/SK TOPS 003/TB OCNL LGT 020/RM DURC

ANC UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.

OV TED310008Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.

TM 2223Reported at 22:23 UTC.

FL025Altitude: 2,500 ft MSL.

TP E75LAircraft type reporting.

SK TOPS 003Sky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.

TB OCNL LGT 020Turbulence: occasional light 020.

RM DURCRemarks.

PIREP2204Z (2:04 PM AKDT) · 4 NM NE of PALH · 800 ft MSL · C172

Show raw report

MRI UA /OV MRI/TM 2204/FL008/TP C172/SK SCT-TOP004

MRI UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.

OV MRILocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.

TM 2204Reported at 22:04 UTC.

FL008Altitude: 800 ft MSL.

TP C172Aircraft type reporting.

SK SCT-TOP004Sky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.

PIREP2157Z (1:57 PM AKDT) · 2 NM SW of PALH · during descent · B737

Show raw report

ANC UA /OV TED 250002/TM 2157/FL002/TP B737/RM TOP 002 DURGD RWY07R ANC

ANC UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.

OV TED 250002Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.

TM 2157Reported at 21:57 UTC.

FL002Altitude: 200 ft MSL.

TP B737Aircraft type reporting.

RM TOP 002 DURGD RWY07R ANCRemarks.

PIREP2155Z (1:55 PM AKDT) · 2 NM N of PALH · during climb · B77L

Show raw report

ANC UA /OV TED 330003/TM 2155/FL006/TP B77L/RM TOP 006 DURC RWY33 ANC

ANC UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.

OV TED 330003Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.

TM 2155Reported at 21:55 UTC.

FL006Altitude: 600 ft MSL.

TP B77LAircraft type reporting.

RM TOP 006 DURC RWY33 ANCRemarks.

PIREP2145Z (1:45 PM AKDT) · 11 NM SW of PALH · during climb · C208

light chop turbulence

Show raw report

ANC UA /OV TED205011/TM 2145/FL040/TP C208/SK TOP009/WX VMC/TA 03/TB LGT CHOP/IC NEG/RM DURC

ANC UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.

OV TED205011Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.

TM 2145Reported at 21:45 UTC.

FL040Altitude: 4,000 ft MSL.

TP C208Aircraft type reporting.

SK TOP009Sky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.

WX VMCWeather and flight visibility observed.

TA 03Outside air temperature, °C.

TB LGT CHOPTurbulence: light chop.

IC NEGIcing: none reported.

RM DURCRemarks.

PIREP2139Z (1:39 PM AKDT) · 1 NM SE of PALH · during climb · C208

Show raw report

ANC UA /OV TED 070000/TM 2139/FL048/TP C208/SK OVC SFC-TOP 005/RM TOP 480FT DURC RWY 07L ANC

ANC UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.

OV TED 070000Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.

TM 2139Reported at 21:39 UTC.

FL048Altitude: 4,800 ft MSL.

TP C208Aircraft type reporting.

SK OVC SFC-TOP 005Sky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.

RM TOP 480FT DURC RWY 07L AN…Remarks.

PIREP2137Z (1:37 PM AKDT) · 2 NM NW of PALH · during climb · C208

Show raw report

ANC UA /OV TED300003/TM 2137/FL020/TP C208/SK TOP003/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURC

ANC UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.

OV TED300003Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.

TM 2137Reported at 21:37 UTC.

FL020Altitude: 2,000 ft MSL.

TP C208Aircraft type reporting.

SK TOP003Sky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.

TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.

IC NEGIcing: none reported.

RM DURCRemarks.

PIREP2130Z (1:30 PM AKDT) · 3 NM W of PALH · during descent · B737

Show raw report

ANC UA /OV TED 250003/TM 2130/FL010/TP B737/WV 13020/RM DURGD RWY 07R ANC

ANC UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.

OV TED 250003Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.

TM 2130Reported at 21:30 UTC.

FL010Altitude: 1,000 ft MSL.

TP B737Aircraft type reporting.

WV 13020Wind (direction/speed) or wind-shear remarks.

RM DURGD RWY 07R ANCRemarks.

⚠️ PIREPs are unverified pilot reports. Not for operational use: conditions change between reports.

Recent aviation weather trends at PALH

From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.

Over the past 24 hours, PALH reported mostly low IFR across 31 observations, with 2 flight-category changes. The lowest ceiling was 100 ft. Wind most often came from the S.

Last 24 hours

VFR 26%MVFR 3%LIFR 71%

Wind avg/max: 2/8 kt

Max gust: -

Lowest ceiling: 100 ft

Lowest vis: -

Prevailing wind: S

Category changes: 2

Most recent change: MVFR → LIFR

Last 7 days

VFR 82%MVFR 4%LIFR 15%

Wind avg/max: 4/14 kt

Max gust: 27 kt

Lowest ceiling: 100 ft

Lowest vis: 0.25 sm

Prevailing wind: N

Category changes: 6

Most recent change: VFR → LIFR

Wind-favored runway - past 30 days

Share of hours each runway had the most headwind. From wind reports, not ATC assignments.

E/N/NW/S/SE/W: 51%
14: 33%
32: 16%

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Live PALH Weather

Live crosswind meter

Measured by PALH's own weather station.

Headwind

2 kt

Crosswind (from the right)

8 kt

Wind is 77° off runway 32, the end with the most headwind right now.

Gravel · 2,200 ft. Headings from FAA runway data. Not for navigation.

Field aerial

North up

Aerial photo of Lake Hood Seaplane Base (PALH) with runway 14/32 marked

N ↑

Runway 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: 100 (green) · 100LL · Jet A
Attended: 24 hours
Repairs: Airframe & engine, major
Transient parking: Tie-downs · Hangars
Landing fee: No
Other services: Air freight · Avionics · Beaching gear · Cargo handling · Charter · Flight instruction
Pattern altitude: 679 ft MSL (600 AGL)
Control tower: Yes
Runway lights: Sunset to sunrise
Wind indicator: Unlighted

Airport

Type: Seaplane base
ICAO: PALH
FAA LID: LHD
City: Anchorage
State: Alaska
Country: United States
Elevation: 79 ft
Coordinates: 61.1800, -149.9720
Runways: 7 physical runways · 8 runway ends
Longest runway: 4,541 ft
Weather reporting: Reports METAR
TAF: Nearest PANC
Time zone: America/Anchorage
Sunset in: 3h 40m

Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed PALH'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

10 airports

PANCTed Stevens Anchorage International AirportAnchorage, AK1 nm WLIFR METAR · TAF PAMRMerrill FieldAnchorage, AK4 nm NEVFR METAR PAEDElmendorf Air Force BaseAnchorage, AK6 nm NELIFR METAR · TAF PAFRBryant Army AirfieldFort Richardson, AK11 nm NEVFR METAR PABVBirchwood AirportBirchwood, AK20 nm NELIFR METAR 3C3Campbell Lake Seaplane BaseAnchorage, AK3 nm S

+4 more within 25 NM

25–50 NM

6 airports

PAWSWasilla AirportWasilla, AK27 nm NEVFR METAR PAAQWarren "Bud" Woods Palmer Municipal AirportPalmer, AK36 nm NEVFR METAR · TAF 6AK7Rainbow Heights Estates AirstripWasilla, AK26 nm N 80AKMorvro Lake Seaplane BaseHouston, AK26 nm N 56AKBechtol FieldWasilla, AK26 nm NE US-2920Longmere Lake AirstripSoldotna, AK50 nm SW

50–100 NM

7 airports

PAENKenai Municipal AirportKenai, AK52 nm SWVFR METAR · TAF PASXSoldotna AirportSoldotna, AK53 nm SWVFR METAR PAWDSeward AirportSeward, AK65 nm SVFR METAR PATKTalkeetna AirportTalkeetna, AK69 nm NVFR METAR · TAF PFCBChenega Bay AirportChenega, AK88 nm SEMETAR 7AK6Dan France AirportSoldotna, AK51 nm SW

+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 Radio Control Society - Jewel Lake Rd , Anchorage, AK · 2 mi
Frontier Fun Flyers 3 , Anchorage, AK · 8 mi
Alaska Radio Control Society - Ladue Rd , Anchorage, AK · 9 mi

All RC flying fields →

See all Alaska airports →

Historical Flying Weather at PALH

2006–2025 · ATIS Alerts Flying Weather Index

Based on historical observations from 2006–2025, PALH reported VFR conditions during about 88.2% of valid daylight observations, with an estimated 262 VFR flying days a year. May had the most VFR weather; December had the most instrument conditions. Surface winds averaged 4.3 kt, calm 27.6% of the time.

VFR Score

Wind Score

Reliability Score

National VFR rank

#219 of 1,400

Regional rank

State rank

Full historical breakdown

Daylight VFR

88.2%

MVFR

6.5%

IFR

4.0%

LIFR

3.3%

Est. VFR days/yr

262

Most VFR month

May

Fewest VFR month

December

Median ceiling

6,000 ft

Median visibility

10 sm

Calm wind

27.6%

Median wind

4 kt

Gusty hours

8.1%

Crosswind >15 kt

0.1%

Fog/mist days/yr

104

Thunderstorm days/yr

Summer density alt

356 ft

Flight category by month

VFRMVFRIFRLIFR

PALH monthly flight-category distribution, 2006–2025
Month	VFR %	MVFR %	IFR %	LIFR %
Jan	76.8	7.8	7.2	8.2
Feb	77.5	8.3	7.6	6.5
Mar	89.3	4.6	3.7	2.4
Apr	92.7	3.7	2.3	1.4
May	96.2	2.7	0.8	0.3
Jun	93.0	5.8	0.7	0.5
Jul	88.7	8.9	1.8	0.6
Aug	88.6	8.2	2.4	0.9
Sep	89.1	6.3	3.0	1.6
Oct	86.1	6.8	4.1	3.0
Nov	80.1	6.4	6.9	6.7
Dec	75.0	8.6	8.3	8.0

Average wind by month

PALH average wind by month, 2006–2025
Month	Mean wind (kt)
Jan	4.0 kt
Feb	4.2 kt
Mar	4.4 kt
Apr	4.3 kt
May	5.0 kt
Jun	5.0 kt
Jul	4.3 kt
Aug	3.9 kt
Sep	3.8 kt
Oct	4.1 kt
Nov	4.2 kt
Dec	4.2 kt

Alaska Interior & Southcentral 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.

PALH 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 LHD shirt or mug

LHD's real runway layout on the back, elevation and tower frequency on the front. Add your tail number on the sleeve.

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Pilot PIREPs for Lake Hood Seaplane Base (PALH)

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 Lake Hood 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 PALH 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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Lake Hood Seaplane Base (PALH) Aviation Weather: METAR

What changed at PALH?

Current pilot readout for PALH

PALH by the numbers

Runway wind check

PALH runways

24-hour trend

PALH weather radar

Pilot reports (PIREPs) within 100 NM of PALH

Recent aviation weather trends at PALH

Get PALH weather alerts in Telegram

Live crosswind meter

Field aerial

Airport info

Services

Airport

Nearby airports

Within 25 NM

25–50 NM

50–100 NM

RC flying fields nearby

Historical Flying Weather at PALH

Flight category by month

Average wind by month

PALH airport diagram

Customize your LHD shirt or mug

Pilot PIREPs for Lake Hood Seaplane Base (PALH)