American Lake Seaplane Base (W37) Area Aviation Weather & Runway Winds
Aviation weather near American Lake Seaplane Base in Tacoma, WA, decoded from the nearest reporting station (KTCM): conditions, runway crosswinds, and free Telegram airport alerts.
American Lake Seaplane Base (W37) is a seaplane base in Tacoma, WA. W37 has no weather station of its own. Conditions here are decoded from KTCM, about 4 nm away, the nearest reporting station, and local conditions can differ. Its 2 runways (02, 20), longest 5,500 ft, are checked against the current wind in the crosswind table below. The nearest TAF is issued for KTCM. Track it in the ATIS Alerts Telegram bot to get alerts read from KTCM, the station this page is based on.
No weather station at this airport: showing the nearest station KTCM, 3.5 nm away.
Wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 kt, visibility 10+ statute miles, broken clouds at 600 ft, overcast at 1,400 ft, temperature 13°C (56°F), altimeter 29.91 inHg. Conditions are Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), ceiling 600 ft.
METAR KTCM 130955Z AUTO 21006KT 10SM -RA BKN006 OVC014 13/12 A2991 RMK AO2 RAE08RAB41 BKN V OVC SLP132 P0000 T01320122 $
What changed at KTCM (nearest station)?
Since the 0944Z (2:44 AM PDT) report, compared automatically against the latest METAR.
No significant changes since the 0944Z report, conditions are holding steady.
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Current pilot readout for W37
Based on the nearest station (KTCM), W37 is currently IFR with winds from 210° at 6 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and a 600 ft ceiling. The strongest crosswind component is currently on runway 02, about 3 knots. Density altitude is approximately 100 ft (field elevation 235 ft). Review the latest TAF below for forecast changes before departure.
⚠️ 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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Track W37 free on TelegramRunway 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 W37. This is intended as a planning aid only and should not replace official performance calculations or pilot judgment.
| Runway | Length | Surface | Head / Tail | Crosswind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02FAV | 5,500 ft | WATER-E | 5 kt tail | 3 kt left |
| 20 | 5,500 ft | WATER-E | 5 kt tail | 3 kt left |
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 0→6 kt, ceiling unlimited → 600 ft.
W37 weather radar
Live NEXRAD + lightning, with a 4-hour future-radar forecast. Drag to pan, tap ⚡ to toggle lightning.
Live weather radar around American Lake Seaplane Base in Tacoma, WA: 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 W37 is headed.
Radar: NOAA/NWS via IEM · Forecast: NOAA HRRR · Lightning: NOAA · Map © Stadia Maps © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
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 W37
Reported by pilots in flight over the past 6 hours, via aviationweather.gov.
Show raw report
SEA UA /OV SEA161002/TM 0913/FL021/TP A321/SK BASES 015
SEA UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV SEA161002Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0913Reported at 09:13 UTC.FL021Altitude: 2,100 ft MSL.TP A321Aircraft type reporting.SK BASES 015Sky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.Show raw report
SEA UA /OV SEA161005/TM 0843/FL030/TP B763/SK BASES 025
SEA UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV SEA161005Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0843Reported at 08:43 UTC.FL030Altitude: 3,000 ft MSL.TP B763Aircraft type reporting.SK BASES 025Sky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.Show raw report
SEA UA /OV SEA163025/TM 0614/FL135/TP E75L/SK TOP 140/TA M8/IC LGT RIME 115-140/RM ZSE
SEA UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV SEA163025Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0614Reported at 06:14 UTC.FL135Altitude: 13,500 ft MSL.TP E75LAircraft type reporting.SK TOP 140Sky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.TA M8Outside air temperature, °C.IC LGT RIME 115-140Icing: light rime 11,500–14,000 ft.RM ZSERemarks.Show raw report
OLM UA /OV OLM200020/TM 0559/FL150/TP E75L/TB MOD 150-260 CONS LGT 260-ABV/RM DURC ZSE
OLM UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV OLM200020Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0559Reported at 05:59 UTC.FL150Altitude: 15,000 ft MSL.TP E75LAircraft type reporting.TB MOD 150-260 CONS LGT 260-…Turbulence: moderate 15,000–26,000 ft continuous light 260-abv.RM DURC ZSERemarks.Show raw report
SEA UA /OV SEA140002/TM 0520/FL014/TP B739/SK BKN014
SEA UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV SEA140002Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0520Reported at 05:20 UTC.FL014Altitude: 1,400 ft MSL.TP B739Aircraft type reporting.SK BKN014Sky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.Show raw report
SEA UA /OV SEA150050/TM 0504/FL240/TP E75L/TB LGT OCNL MOD 220-240/RM DURC SUMMA ZSE
SEA UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV SEA150050Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0504Reported at 05:04 UTC.FL240Altitude: 24,000 ft MSL.TP E75LAircraft type reporting.TB LGT OCNL MOD 220-240Turbulence: light occasional moderate 22,000–24,000 ft.RM DURC SUMMA ZSERemarks.Show raw report
OLM UA /OV OLM150030/TM 0501/FL180/TP B737/TB LGT OCNL MOD 280-180/RM DURD HAWKZ ZSE
OLM UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV OLM150030Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0501Reported at 05:01 UTC.FL180Altitude: 18,000 ft MSL.TP B737Aircraft type reporting.TB LGT OCNL MOD 280-180Turbulence: light occasional moderate 28,000–18,000 ft.RM DURD HAWKZ ZSERemarks.Show raw report
PDX UA /OV BTG070020/TM 0451/FL100/TP B738/TA M06/IC LGT RIME/RM DURC 100-180-ZSE
PDX UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV BTG070020Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0451Reported at 04:51 UTC.FL100Altitude: 10,000 ft MSL.TP B738Aircraft type reporting.TA M06Outside air temperature, °C.IC LGT RIMEIcing: light rime.RM DURC 100-180-ZSERemarks.⚠️ PIREPs are unverified pilot reports. Not for operational use: conditions change between reports.
Recent aviation weather trends at W37
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, the nearest station KTCM reported mostly VFR across 47 observations, with 5 flight-category changes. The strongest gust reached 16 kt, the lowest ceiling was 600 ft. Wind most often came from the SW.
Most recent change: VFR → IFR
Most recent change: VFR → IFR
- 02/20
- 100%
TAF | Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
Issued 0500Z (10:00 PM PDT)
TAF KTCM 130500Z 1305/1411 21005KT 9000 -RA FEW010 OVC050 620809 QNH2990INS BECMG 1308/1309 22005KT 9000 -RA SCT008 OVC015 620809 QNH2992INS TEMPO 1309/1312 BKN008 BECMG 1318/1319 21010G15KT 9999 NSW BKN015 OVC040 620809 QNH2998INS BECMG 1401/1402 20010G15KT 9999 SCT020 BKN040 QNH3002INS TX17/1401Z TN12/1313Z
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Nearby TFRs
Active FAA TFRs near W37
FAA TFR data shows an active temporary flight restriction near W37.
View all active US TFRs → · Official FAA TFR ↗
Verify with official FAA TFR sources before flight.
Airport facts
Reference data from the OurAirports dataset.
- Type
- Seaplane base
- FAA LID
- W37
- City
- Tacoma
- State
- Washington
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 235 ft
- Coordinates
- 47.1415, -122.5610
- Runways
- 2
- Longest runway
- 5,500 ft
- Weather reporting
- Nearest station KTCM
- TAF
- Nearest KTCM
- Time zone
- America/Los_Angeles
- Next sunset
- 16h 14m
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed W37'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
9 airports+3 more within 25 NM
25–50 NM
7 airports+1 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.
- Hot Start Helicopters , Olympia, WA · 9 mi
- Northwest Skyraiders - Pierce County Airport , Puyallup, WA · 13 mi
- Puget Sound Silent Flyers - Lister Rd , Olympia, WA · 15 mi
W37 weather: frequently asked
What runways are available at W37?+
W37 has 2 runways: 02, 20; the longest is 5,500 ft. This page computes the live crosswind for each runway end from the current wind.
Where does the weather shown for W37 come from?+
American Lake Seaplane Base does not have its own weather station. Conditions shown here come from the nearest reporting station, KTCM, about 4 nm away, close enough for situational awareness, but local conditions at W37 can differ.
Does W37 have a TAF?+
Yes. The KTCM TAF is shown on this page below the current conditions.
Does W37 broadcast D-ATIS?+
No. W37 does not broadcast D-ATIS. Alerts for W37 from the ATIS Alerts bot (@atisalerts_bot) are based on its METAR (via the nearest reporting station) instead.
Pilot PIREPs for American Lake Seaplane Base (W37)
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 American Lake 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 W37 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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