Harris Field (73IA) Area Aviation Weather & Runway Winds
Aviation weather near Harris Field in Mason City, IA, decoded from the nearest reporting station (KMCW) — conditions, runway crosswinds, and free Telegram airport alerts.
Harris Field (73IA) is a general aviation airport serving pilots in and around Mason City, IA at 1,180 ft. 73IA has no weather station of its own — conditions here are decoded from KMCW, about 7 nm away, the nearest reporting station, and local conditions can differ. Its 2 runways (18, 36) — longest 3,250 ft — are checked against the current wind in the crosswind table below. The nearest TAF is issued for KMCW. Track it in the ATIS Alerts Telegram bot to get alerts read from KMCW, the station this page is based on.
No weather station at this airport — showing the nearest station KMCW, 7 nm away.
Wind calm, visibility 5 statute miles, no cloud data, temperature 21°C (70°F), altimeter 29.96 inHg. Conditions are Marginal VFR (MVFR).
METAR KMCW 290553Z AUTO 00000KT 5SM BR CLR 21/21 A2996 RMK AO2 SLP130 T02110211 10283 20206 402940200 53005
What changed at KMCW (nearest station)?
Since the 0453Z (11:53 PM CDT) report — compared automatically against the latest METAR.
- Flight category dropped from VFR to MVFR.
- Visibility dropped from 7 SM to 5 SM.
- Mist began (BR).
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Current pilot readout for 73IA
Based on the nearest station (KMCW), 73IA is currently MVFR with calm winds, visibility 5 statute miles, and no ceiling reported. Density altitude is approximately 2,150 ft (field elevation 1,180 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 73IA 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 73IA. This is intended as a planning aid only and should not replace official performance calculations or pilot judgment.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 3,250 ft | TURF-G | — | — |
| 36 | 3,250 ft | TURF-G | — | — |
Open the crosswind calculator — 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 7→0 kt, ceiling unlimited → unlimited.
73IA weather radar
Live NEXRAD + lightning, with a 4-hour future-radar forecast — drag to pan, tap ⚡ to toggle lightning.
Live weather radar around Harris Field in Mason City, IA: 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 73IA is headed.
Radar: NOAA/NWS via IEM · Forecast: NOAA HRRR · Lightning: NOAA · Map © OpenStreetMap © CARTO
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.
Recent aviation weather trends at 73IA
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, the nearest station KMCW reported mostly VFR across 26 observations, with 5 flight-category changes. The lowest ceiling was 3,600 ft. Wind most often came from the N.
Most recent change: VFR → MVFR
Most recent change: IFR → VFR
- 18/36
- 100%
TAF — Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
Issued 0537Z (12:37 AM CDT)
TAF KMCW 290537Z 2906/3006 00000KT P6SM SKC FM291100 14002KT 6SM BR SCT200 FM291500 18007KT P6SM SCT035
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Airport facts
Reference data from the OurAirports dataset.
- Type
- General aviation airport
- FAA LID
- 73IA
- City
- Mason City
- State
- Iowa
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 1,180 ft
- Coordinates
- 43.2356, -93.2083
- Runways
- 2
- Longest runway
- 3,250 ft
- Weather reporting
- Nearest station KMCW
- TAF
- Nearest KMCW
- Time zone
- America/Chicago
- Next sunset
- 19h 33m
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Nearby airports
Compare nearby METAR/TAF stations within 25, 50 and 100 NM before departure or arrival.
Within 25 NM
8 airports+2 more within 25 NM
25–50 NM
8 airports+2 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.
- River City RC 1 — Mason City, IA · 6 mi
73IA weather — frequently asked
What runways are available at 73IA?+
73IA has 2 runways — 18, 36; the longest is 3,250 ft. This page computes the live crosswind for each runway end from the current wind.
Where does the weather shown for 73IA come from?+
Harris Field does not have its own weather station. Conditions shown here come from the nearest reporting station, KMCW, about 7 nm away — close enough for situational awareness, but local conditions at 73IA can differ.
Does 73IA have a TAF?+
Yes — the KMCW TAF is shown on this page below the current conditions.
Does 73IA broadcast D-ATIS?+
No — 73IA does not broadcast D-ATIS. Alerts for 73IA from the ATIS Alerts bot (@atisalerts_bot) are based on its METAR (via the nearest reporting station) instead.
Pilot PIREPs for Harris Field (73IA)
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 Harris Field, 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 73IA 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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⚠️ Not for operational use. Always verify with official FAA-approved preflight weather sources before flight.
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