Proxy Weather Stations
How PlaneWX provides weather data for airports without direct METAR or TAF service.
The Challenge: Airports Without Weather
Of the 5,000+ public-use airports in the US, only about 2,500 have direct METAR service (automated weather observations), and even fewer have TAF service (terminal forecasts). This means many smaller airports—often popular GA destinations—have no official weather reporting.
Common scenario
You're planning a flight to a small field. ForeFlight shows "No METAR available." Now what? You're left guessing conditions at your destination.
PlaneWX Proxy Weather
PlaneWX automatically identifies the nearest airport with weather serviceand uses that as a proxy. This gives you actionable weather data even for airports without their own reporting.
METARProxy METARs
Current weather observations from the nearest airport with METAR service. Used for assessing current conditions at your departure or arrival airport.
TAFProxy TAFs
Terminal forecasts from the nearest airport with TAF service. Used for forecasting conditions at your departure or arrival time.
Why Different Airports for METAR vs TAF?
You may notice that PlaneWX uses different proxy airports for METARs and TAFs. This is intentional and provides the most accurate data:
METAR proxy: KWHP (4 NM)
Whiteman Airport has an AWOS (Automated Weather Observing System) providing current observations, but no human forecasters for TAFs.
TAF proxy: KBUR (6 NM)
Burbank Airport is larger with NWS forecaster coverage, providing TAF service. It's slightly farther but offers the forecast data you need.
PlaneWX finds the nearest airport for each specific service, ensuring you get the most geographically relevant weather data available.
Terrain-Aware Distance Limits
Not all proxy weather is equally useful. Weather can vary significantly over short distances, especially in complex terrain. PlaneWX uses terrain-aware distance limitsto ensure proxy data is reliable:
If no proxy airport is available within these limits, PlaneWX will indicate that weather data is unavailable rather than provide potentially misleading information.
Where You'll See Proxy Weather
Home Airport Widget
If your home airport uses a proxy, you'll see a badge:
Flight Briefings
In the METAR and TAF sections of your briefing, proxy weather is clearly labeled:
**KBUR (BURBANK)** [Proxy for KPAI]:
METAR KBUR 261653Z 00000KT 10SM CLR...
Weather Products Panel
The raw weather products section shows proxy source and distance information in the metadata for each METAR and TAF.
Confidence & Limitations
High confidence
Proxy <10 NM away, similar elevation, flat terrain
Medium confidence
Proxy 10-25 NM away, or significant elevation difference
Low confidence
Proxy 25-50 NM away, complex terrain, or large elevation difference
Best Practice
When using proxy weather, consider calling the FBO or checking local webcams for real-time conditions. Proxy data provides a good baseline but local effects (valley fog, terrain-induced wind, lake effect) may not be captured.
Coverage Statistics
With proxy weather, PlaneWX significantly expands weather coverage:
~2,400
Airports with direct METAR
~4,300
Airports with METAR + proxy
~800
Airports with direct TAF
~2,700
Airports with TAF + proxy
Approximately 900 remote airports remain without proxy coverage due to terrain-aware distance limits. These are typically located in very remote areas of Alaska, the Mountain West, or islands.