Ralph Wien Memorial Airport (PAOT) Aviation Weather: METAR, TAF & ATIS
As of 7:53 PM AKDT, Oct 27, PAOT is currently VFR with winds from 160° at 25 knots gusting 32, visibility 9 statute miles, and a 3,800 ft ceiling. The FAA lists no ground stop or delay program for PAOT right now.
Live aviation weather for Ralph Wien Memorial Airport in Kotzebue, AK, including METAR, TAF, ATIS, flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling, altimeter and runway crosswinds.
Ralph Wien Memorial Airport (PAOT) is a regional airport serving Kotzebue, AK at a field elevation of 15 ft. PAOT reports its own METAR and publishes a TAF, decoded live on this page as flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling and altimeter. It has 2 physical runways (09/27, 18/36), the longest 6,300 ft. ATIS is broadcast on 135.45.
Wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 25 kt, gusting 32 kt, visibility 9 statute miles, overcast at 3,800 ft, temperature 3°C (38°F), altimeter 30.01 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR), ceiling 3,800 ft.
METAR PAOT 280353Z AUTO 16025G32KT 9SM -RA VCFG OVC038 03/02 A3001 RMK AO2 PK WND 16034/0319 RAB0258SNB47E50 SLP161 P0000 T00330022 TSNO $
What changed at PAOT?
Since the 0253Z (6:53 PM AKDT) report, compared automatically against the latest METAR.
- Rain began (-RA).
- Ceiling moved from 6,500 ft to 3,800 ft.
Current pilot readout for PAOT
PAOT is currently VFR with winds from 160° at 25 knots gusting 32, visibility 9 statute miles, and a 3,800 ft ceiling. the wind favors south-facing runway ends (18). Density altitude is approximately -1,500 ft (field elevation 15 ft). Review the latest TAF below for forecast changes before departure.
PAOT by the numbers
What the long-run records say about flying here, computed for this airport alone.
The FAA issued no ground stop or ground delay program for OTZ in the 12 months to October 2026. Delays here come from the airlines or from programs at other airports rather than from OTZ's own airspace.
PAOT reported VFR in 76% of daylight observations over 20 years, about 184 flyable days a year. June is the most reliable month and February the least, with IFR or worse 14% of the time. When conditions drop it is usually a mix of low ceilings (under 1,000 ft 5% of hours) and low visibility (under 3 miles 7%).
Over 20 years of hourly winds, runway 09 had the best headwind 37% of the time, runway 27 26%, and winds were calm 9% of hours. Winds most often blow from the east. Crosswind on the best available runway topped 15 kt in under 1% of hours.
Snow fell on about 109 days a year and freezing rain or drizzle on 5. From December to February PAOT was IFR or worse 12% of the time, against 9% from June to August.
Fog was reported on about 46 days a year, and fog or mist on 159. February and March are the foggiest months, with fog in 14% of hours, against 5% in September.
Sources: FAA ATCSCC advisories, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18FAV | 3,876 ft | GVL | 21 kt head | 14 kt left (g18) |
| 09 | 6,300 ft | ASPH-G | 13 kt head | 21 kt right (g27) |
| 27 | 6,300 ft | ASPH-G | 13 kt tail | 21 kt left (g27) |
| 36 | 3,876 ft | GVL | 21 kt tail | 14 kt right (g18) |
Open the crosswind calculator to try your own wind and runway numbers →
PAOT 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 09/276,300 × 150 ft · ASPH-GCurrent useno stated-runway source at PAOTWind
- 09
- 13 kt headwind · 21 kt crosswind from right
- 27
- 13 kt tailwind · 21 kt crosswind from left
3 active equipment NOTAMsView Runway Intelligence → - Closed (NOTAM)Runway 18/363,876 × 90 ft · GVLCurrent useno stated-runway source at PAOTWind
- 18
- 21 kt headwind · 14 kt crosswind from left
- 36
- 21 kt tailwind · 14 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.
Over the last 23 h: wind 4→25 kt, ceiling unlimited → 3,800 ft.
PAOT 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 PAOT
Reported by pilots in flight over the past 6 hours, via aviationweather.gov.
Show raw report
OTZ UA /OV OTZ/TM 0238/FL060/TP E750/TA M7 060/M22 160/IC LGT RIME/RM DURC /ZAN/
OTZ UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV OTZLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0238Reported at 02:38 UTC.FL060Altitude: 6,000 ft MSL.TP E750Aircraft type reporting.TA M7 060/M22 160Outside air temperature, °C.IC LGT RIMEIcing: light rime.RM DURC /ZAN/Remarks.Show raw report
OTZ UA /OV OTZ/TM 0140/FL040/TP C130/SK BKN040/WX 10SM/WV 160025/RM ZAN
OTZ UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV OTZLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0140Reported at 01:40 UTC.FL040Altitude: 4,000 ft MSL.TP C130Aircraft type reporting.SK BKN040Sky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.WX 10SMWeather and flight visibility observed.WV 160025Wind (direction/speed) or wind-shear remarks.RM ZANRemarks.Show raw report
OTZ UA /OV OTZ/TM 0011/FL150/TP B737/SK OVC020-TOP150/TA UNKN/TB LGT CHOP/IC LGT RIME IN TOPS/RM LGT CHOP SHORT FINAL RWY 9 /ZAN/
OTZ UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV OTZLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0011Reported at 00:11 UTC.FL150Altitude: 15,000 ft MSL.TP B737Aircraft type reporting.SK OVC020-TOP150Sky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.TA UNKNOutside air temperature, °C.TB LGT CHOPTurbulence: light chop.IC LGT RIME IN TOPSIcing: light rime in tops.RM LGT CHOP SHORT FINAL RWY …Remarks.⚠️ PIREPs are unverified pilot reports. Not for operational use: conditions change between reports.
Recent aviation weather trends at PAOT
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, PAOT reported a mix of conditions, most often VFR across 40 observations, with 7 flight-category changes. The strongest gust reached 36 kt, the lowest ceiling was 200 ft. Wind most often came from the S.
Most recent change: MVFR → VFR
Most recent change: IFR → VFR
Share of hours each runway had the most headwind. From wind reports, not ATC assignments.
- 09
- 42%
- 36
- 33%
- 18
- 19%
- 27
- 6%
TAF | Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
Issued 2320Z (3:20 PM AKDT)
TAF PAOT 272320Z 2800/2824 15025G32KT 6SM -SHRA BR OVC010 FM281000 14023G30KT 4SM -RA BR OVC015 FM281800 11031G38KT 1 1/2SM -RA BR OVC015
New to TAFs? How to read one →
Get PAOT weather alerts in Telegram
Stop refreshing aviation weather manually. Track PAOT 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 PAOT free on TelegramLive PAOT Weather
Live crosswind meter
Measured by PAOT's own weather station.
Wind is 34° off runway 18, the end with the most headwind right now.
GVL · 3,876 ft. Headings from FAA runway data. Not for navigation.
Field aerial
North up
Runway 09/27, 18/36 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) · Jet A
- Attended
- Wed-Mon 0700-1900 local
- Repairs
- Airframe & engine, minor
- Transient parking
- Hangars
- Landing fee
- No
- Other services
- Cargo handling
- Control tower
- None
- Wind indicator
- Lighted
Airport
- Type
- Regional airport
- ICAO
- PAOT
- IATA
- OTZ
- FAA LID
- OTZ
- City
- Kotzebue
- State
- Alaska
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 15 ft
- Coordinates
- 66.8847, -162.5990
- Runways
- 2 physical runways · 4 runway ends
- Longest runway
- 6,300 ft
- Weather reporting
- Reports METAR
- TAF
- Published
- ATIS
- 135.45 MHz
- AWOS/ASOS
- 135.45 MHz
- CTAF
- 123.6 MHz
- Time zone
- America/Nome
- Next sunset
- 22h 6m
Is there a ground stop at OTZ today? Delay status and history →
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed PAOT's live status on your website, free →
Nearby airports
Compare nearby METAR/TAF stations within 25, 50 and 100 NM before departure or arrival.
25–50 NM
3 airports50–100 NM
8 airports+2 more within 100 NM
Historical Flying Weather at PAOT
2006–2025 · ATIS Alerts Flying Weather Index
Based on historical observations from 2006–2025, PAOT reported VFR conditions during about 75.6% of valid daylight observations, with an estimated 184 VFR flying days a year. June had the most VFR weather; February had the most instrument conditions. Surface winds averaged 9.7 kt, calm 7.9% of the time.
Full historical breakdown
Flight category by month
| Month | VFR % | MVFR % | IFR % | LIFR % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 74.2 | 15.4 | 7.2 | 3.1 |
| Feb | 71.0 | 15.2 | 8.3 | 5.5 |
| Mar | 73.7 | 14.3 | 7.0 | 5.0 |
| Apr | 77.5 | 12.3 | 6.0 | 4.2 |
| May | 75.6 | 9.6 | 5.9 | 8.9 |
| Jun | 83.0 | 7.5 | 3.0 | 6.5 |
| Jul | 73.1 | 17.3 | 5.7 | 3.9 |
| Aug | 71.8 | 21.4 | 4.6 | 2.2 |
| Sep | 78.5 | 17.6 | 2.7 | 1.2 |
| Oct | 74.3 | 17.3 | 6.2 | 2.3 |
| Nov | 74.8 | 15.6 | 6.1 | 3.5 |
| Dec | 73.4 | 15.6 | 7.3 | 3.6 |
Average wind by month
| Month | Mean wind (kt) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 10.1 kt |
| Feb | 10.8 kt |
| Mar | 9.4 kt |
| Apr | 8.8 kt |
| May | 8.0 kt |
| Jun | 8.8 kt |
| Jul | 9.3 kt |
| Aug | 9.5 kt |
| Sep | 9.7 kt |
| Oct | 11.1 kt |
| Nov | 10.3 kt |
| Dec | 11.1 kt |
Historical summary of past observations: not a forecast or safety rating. Always check the current METAR, TAF, and a weather briefing before flight.
Customize your OTZ shirt or mug
OTZ's real runway layout on the back, elevation and tower frequency on the front. Add your tail number on the sleeve.
Pilot PIREPs for Ralph Wien Memorial Airport (PAOT)
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 Ralph Wien Memorial 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 PAOT 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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