Albert Lea Municipal Airport (KAEL) Aviation Weather: METAR
A current METAR is not available for KAEL right now.
Live aviation weather for Albert Lea Municipal Airport in Albert Lea, MN, including METAR, flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling, altimeter and runway crosswinds.
Albert Lea Municipal Airport (KAEL) is a general aviation airport serving pilots in and around Albert Lea, MN at a field elevation of 1,261 ft. KAEL reports its own METAR, decoded live on this page as flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling and altimeter. It has 2 physical runways (05/23, 17/35), the longest 5,000 ft. Automated weather is broadcast on 109.8.
Current pilot readout for KAEL
A current METAR is not available for KAEL right now. Check back shortly, review a nearby reporting station, and always confirm with an official briefing before flight.
KAEL by the numbers
What the long-run records say about flying here, computed for this airport alone.
KAEL reported VFR in 75% of daylight observations over 20 years, about 243 flyable days a year. July is the most reliable month and December the least, with IFR or worse 26% of the time. When conditions drop it is usually low ceilings rather than fog (ceilings under 1,000 ft 10% of hours, visibility under 3 miles 7%).
Over 20 years of hourly winds, runway 17 had the best headwind 35% of the time, runway 35 33%, and winds were calm 17% of hours. Winds most often blow from the south. Crosswind on the best available runway topped 15 kt in under 1% of hours.
Snow fell on about 58 days a year. From December to February KAEL was IFR or worse 22% of the time, against 5% from June to August.
Thunderstorms were reported on about 50 days a year. 53% of storm hours fall in June, July and August, peaking in June when storms were in the air 3% of the time.
Field elevation is 1,261 ft, but on a median summer afternoon the air performs like 2,771 ft, 1,510 ft higher. Plan for a longer takeoff roll and a weaker climb from June to August.
Gusts showed up in 25% of hours, typically 7 kt above the steady wind, and the strongest credible gust on record was 55 kt. April is the windiest month (mean 9 kt) and August the calmest.
Sources: 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05 | 2,898 ft | ASP | - | - |
| 17 | 5,000 ft | ASP | - | - |
| 23 | 2,898 ft | ASP | - | - |
| 35 | 5,000 ft | ASP | - | - |
Open the crosswind calculator to try your own wind and runway numbers →
KAEL 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.
- Status not monitoredRunway 05/232,898 × 75 ft · ASPCurrent useno stated-runway source at KAELWind
- 05
- no steady wind
- 23
- no steady wind
no active equipment NOTAM receivedView Runway Intelligence → - Status not monitoredRunway 17/355,000 × 100 ft · ASPCurrent useno stated-runway source at KAELWind
- 17
- no steady wind
- 35
- no steady wind
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.
KAEL 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 KAEL
Reported by pilots in flight over the past 6 hours, via aviationweather.gov.
Show raw report
HCD UA /OV HCD/TM 1649/FL075/TP P28A/SK TOP075/TB NEG/IC NEG
HCD UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV HCDLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 1649Reported at 16:49 UTC.FL075Altitude: 7,500 ft MSL.TP P28AAircraft type reporting.SK TOP075Sky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.IC NEGIcing: none reported.Show raw report
MSP UA /OV ANE270004/TM 1540/FLDURD/TP SR22/SK B019/TA 15
MSP UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV ANE270004Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 1540Reported at 15:40 UTC.FLDURDReported during descent.TP SR22Aircraft type reporting.SK B019Sky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.TA 15Outside air temperature, °C.Show raw report
ANE UA /OV ANE270004/TM 1539/FLDURD/TP SR22/SK B019/TA 15
ANE UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV ANE270004Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 1539Reported at 15:39 UTC.FLDURDReported during descent.TP SR22Aircraft type reporting.SK B019Sky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.TA 15Outside air temperature, °C.Show raw report
ARP UAL751 4320N 09431W 1513 F360 MS56 240/045KT TB NONE SK CLEAR IC NONE
ARP UAL751 4320N 09431W 1513…Header: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.Show raw report
FCM UA /OV FCM/TM 1510/FL021/TP C525/WX FV05SM/RM DURD RY 10R
FCM UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV FCMLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 1510Reported at 15:10 UTC.FL021Altitude: 2,100 ft MSL.TP C525Aircraft type reporting.WX FV05SMWeather and flight visibility observed.RM DURD RY 10RRemarks.Show raw report
FCM UA /OV FCM/TM 1500/FL021/TP C525/WX FV03SM/RM DURD ILS RY10R
FCM UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV FCMLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 1500Reported at 15:00 UTC.FL021Altitude: 2,100 ft MSL.TP C525Aircraft type reporting.WX FV03SMWeather and flight visibility observed.RM DURD ILS RY10RRemarks.Show raw report
MSP UA /OV MSP240020/TM 1459/FL110/TP B738/SK TOP 070/TB NEG
MSP UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV MSP240020Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 1459Reported at 14:59 UTC.FL110Altitude: 11,000 ft MSL.TP B738Aircraft type reporting.SK TOP 070Sky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.Show raw report
FCM UA /OV FCM/TM 1443/FL020/TP C68A/WX FV02SM/RM DURD ILS RY10R
FCM UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV FCMLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 1443Reported at 14:43 UTC.FL020Altitude: 2,000 ft MSL.TP C68AAircraft type reporting.WX FV02SMWeather and flight visibility observed.RM DURD ILS RY10RRemarks.⚠️ PIREPs are unverified pilot reports. Not for operational use: conditions change between reports.
Recent aviation weather trends at KAEL
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
History is still being collected. Check back in a few days.
Most recent change: LIFR → VFR
Share of hours each runway had the most headwind. From wind reports, not ATC assignments.
- 17
- 55%
- 35
- 21%
- 23
- 13%
- 05
- 11%
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Live crosswind meter
KAEL's weather station isn't reporting right now.
Live wind is temporarily unavailable.
Asphalt · 5,000 ft. Headings from FAA runway data. Not for navigation.
Field aerial
North up
Runway 05/23, 17/35 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
- 100LL · Jet A · Mogas (auto fuel)
- Attended
- Daily 0800-1700 local
- Repairs
- Airframe & engine, minor
- Transient parking
- Tie-downs · Hangars
- Landing fee
- Yes
- Other services
- Flight instruction · Aircraft rental · Aircraft sales
- Pattern altitude
- 2,001 ft MSL (740 AGL)
- Control tower
- None
- Wind indicator
- Lighted
Airport
- Type
- General aviation airport
- ICAO
- KAEL
- IATA
- AEL
- FAA LID
- AEL
- City
- Albert Lea
- State
- Minnesota
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 1,261 ft
- Coordinates
- 43.6815, -93.3672
- Runways
- 2 physical runways · 4 runway ends
- Longest runway
- 5,000 ft
- Weather reporting
- Reports METAR
- TAF
- Nearest KMCW
- AWOS/ASOS
- 109.8 MHz
- Time zone
- America/Chicago
- Sunset in
- 5h 1m
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed KAEL'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
8 airports+2 more within 25 NM
25–50 NM
9 airports+3 more within 50 NM
50–100 NM
7 airports+1 more within 100 NM
RC flying fields nearby
AMA model-aircraft club fields around this airport: live wind, crosswind & flyability on each page.
- Freeborn-Mower R C Flyers - 875th Ave , Hollandale, MN · 14 mi
- SMMAC - Southern MN Model Aircraft Club - 48th St , Owatonna, MN · 24 mi
- Owatonna RC Modelers - 43rd Ave , Owatonna, MN · 24 mi
Historical Flying Weather at KAEL
2006–2025 · ATIS Alerts Flying Weather Index
Based on historical observations from 2006–2025, KAEL reported VFR conditions during about 74.6% of valid daylight observations, with an estimated 243 VFR flying days a year. July had the most VFR weather; December had the most instrument conditions. Surface winds averaged 6.6 kt, calm 16.2% of the time.
Full historical breakdown
Flight category by month
| Month | VFR % | MVFR % | IFR % | LIFR % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55.4 | 20.5 | 13.3 | 10.8 |
| Feb | 66.4 | 18.0 | 9.8 | 5.7 |
| Mar | 68.4 | 16.9 | 8.2 | 6.5 |
| Apr | 73.8 | 15.8 | 7.5 | 2.9 |
| May | 79.6 | 13.3 | 5.6 | 1.6 |
| Jun | 84.9 | 10.2 | 3.5 | 1.4 |
| Jul | 86.9 | 9.2 | 2.5 | 1.4 |
| Aug | 82.8 | 10.4 | 3.9 | 2.9 |
| Sep | 83.7 | 9.9 | 4.3 | 2.1 |
| Oct | 77.2 | 12.8 | 6.3 | 3.7 |
| Nov | 68.3 | 18.4 | 8.3 | 4.9 |
| Dec | 53.8 | 20.5 | 14.2 | 11.5 |
Average wind by month
| Month | Mean wind (kt) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 7.1 kt |
| Feb | 7.1 kt |
| Mar | 7.8 kt |
| Apr | 8.5 kt |
| May | 7.2 kt |
| Jun | 6.0 kt |
| Jul | 4.7 kt |
| Aug | 4.5 kt |
| Sep | 5.5 kt |
| Oct | 6.7 kt |
| Nov | 7.4 kt |
| Dec | 7.1 kt |
Historical summary of past observations: not a forecast or safety rating. Always check the current METAR, TAF, and a weather briefing before flight.
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AEL's real runway layout on the back, elevation and tower frequency on the front. Add your tail number on the sleeve.
Pilot PIREPs for Albert Lea Municipal Airport (KAEL)
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 Albert Lea Municipal 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 KAEL 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. METAR source temporarily unavailable.
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