Ames Municipal Airport (KAMW) Aviation Weather: METAR
As of 3:53 AM CDT, Oct 28, KAMW is currently VFR with winds from 140° at 3 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and a 6,000 ft ceiling.
Live aviation weather for Ames Municipal Airport in Ames, IA, including METAR, flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling, altimeter and runway crosswinds.
Ames Municipal Airport (KAMW) is a general aviation airport serving pilots in and around Ames, IA at a field elevation of 956 ft. KAMW reports its own METAR, decoded live on this page as flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling and altimeter. It has 2 physical runways (01/19, 13/31), the longest 5,701 ft. Automated weather is broadcast on 132.025.
Wind from the southeast (140°) at 3 kt, visibility 10+ statute miles, overcast at 6,000 ft, temperature 12°C (54°F), altimeter 30.08 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR), ceiling 6,000 ft.
METAR KAMW 280853Z AUTO 14003KT 10SM OVC060 12/11 A3008 RMK AO2 RAB39E50 SLP180 P0000 60000 T01220111 56005
What changed at KAMW?
Since the 0753Z (2:53 AM CDT) report, compared automatically against the latest METAR.
No significant changes since the 0753Z (2:53 AM CDT) report, conditions are holding steady.
Current pilot readout for KAMW
KAMW is currently VFR with winds from 140° at 3 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and a 6,000 ft ceiling. the wind favors south-facing runway ends (13, 19). Density altitude is approximately 650 ft (field elevation 956 ft). KAMW does not publish a TAF. The nearest TAF station is KDSM, about 28 nm away.
KAMW by the numbers
What the long-run records say about flying here, computed for this airport alone.
KAMW reported VFR in 78% of daylight observations over 20 years, about 257 flyable days a year. June is the most reliable month and December the least, with IFR or worse 18% of the time. When conditions drop it is usually a mix of low ceilings (under 1,000 ft 6% of hours) and low visibility (under 3 miles 5%).
Over 20 years of hourly winds, runway 31 had the best headwind 31% of the time, runway 13 29%, and winds were calm 14% 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 37 days a year and freezing rain or drizzle on 3. From December to February KAMW was IFR or worse 15% of the time, against 4% from June to August.
Thunderstorms were reported on about 48 days a year. 54% 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 956 ft, but on a median summer afternoon the air performs like 2,578 ft, 1,622 ft higher. Plan for a longer takeoff roll and a weaker climb from June to August.
Gusts showed up in 18% of hours, typically 8 kt above the steady wind, and the strongest credible gust on record was 62 kt. April is the windiest month (mean 10 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.
| Runway | Length | Surface | Head / Tail | Crosswind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13FAV | 3,491 ft | ASP | 3 kt head | 0 kt |
| 19 | 5,701 ft | ASP | 2 kt head | 3 kt left |
| 01 | 5,701 ft | ASP | 2 kt tail | 3 kt right |
| 31 | 3,491 ft | ASP | 3 kt tail | 0 kt |
Open the crosswind calculator to try your own wind and runway numbers →
KAMW 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 01/195,701 × 100 ft · ASPCurrent useno stated-runway source at KAMWWind
- 01
- 2 kt tailwind · 3 kt crosswind from right
- 19
- 2 kt headwind · 3 kt crosswind from left
no active equipment NOTAM receivedView Runway Intelligence → - Status not monitoredRunway 13/313,491 × 75 ft · ASPCurrent useno stated-runway source at KAMWWind
- 13
- 3 kt headwind · 0 kt crosswind
- 31
- 3 kt tailwind · 0 kt crosswind
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 5→3 kt, ceiling 6,000 ft → 6,000 ft.
KAMW 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.
Recent aviation weather trends at KAMW
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, KAMW reported mostly VFR across 32 observations, with 9 flight-category changes. The lowest ceiling was 2,700 ft. Wind most often came from the SE.
Most recent change: IFR → VFR
Most recent change: IFR → VFR
Share of hours each runway had the most headwind. From wind reports, not ATC assignments.
- 13
- 36%
- 19
- 29%
- 01
- 20%
- 31
- 15%
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Live crosswind meter
Measured by KAMW's own weather station.
Wind is 4° off runway 13, the end with the most headwind right now.
Asphalt · 3,491 ft. Headings from FAA runway data. Not for navigation.
Field aerial
North up
Runway 01/19, 13/31 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
- Daily DAWN-DUSK local
- Repairs
- Airframe & engine, major
- Transient parking
- Tie-downs · Hangars
- Landing fee
- No
- Other services
- Charter · Flight instruction · Aircraft rental · Aircraft sales
- Control tower
- None
- Wind indicator
- Lighted
Airport
- Type
- General aviation airport
- ICAO
- KAMW
- IATA
- AMW
- FAA LID
- AMW
- City
- Ames
- State
- Iowa
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 956 ft
- Coordinates
- 41.9920, -93.6218
- Runways
- 2 physical runways · 4 runway ends
- Longest runway
- 5,701 ft
- Weather reporting
- Reports METAR
- TAF
- Nearest KDSM
- AWOS/ASOS
- 132.025 MHz
- Time zone
- America/Chicago
- Next sunset
- 14h 4m
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed KAMW'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
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.
- Central Iowa Aeromodelers - 580th Ave , Cambridge, IA · 6 mi
- Des Moines Modelaires - E Paul Johnson RC Field , Bondurant, IA · 16 mi
- R/C West Field , Dallas Center, IA · 26 mi
Historical Flying Weather at KAMW
2006–2025 · ATIS Alerts Flying Weather Index
Based on historical observations from 2006–2025, KAMW reported VFR conditions during about 78.1% of valid daylight observations, with an estimated 257 VFR flying days a year. June had the most VFR weather; December had the most instrument conditions. Surface winds averaged 7.9 kt, calm 12.1% of the time.
Full historical breakdown
Flight category by month
| Month | VFR % | MVFR % | IFR % | LIFR % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62.5 | 20.9 | 9.6 | 7.1 |
| Feb | 71.3 | 16.8 | 7.7 | 4.2 |
| Mar | 70.2 | 17.1 | 8.3 | 4.4 |
| Apr | 77.8 | 13.9 | 6.5 | 1.9 |
| May | 81.0 | 12.6 | 5.0 | 1.5 |
| Jun | 88.5 | 7.7 | 2.8 | 1.1 |
| Jul | 88.1 | 8.1 | 2.4 | 1.4 |
| Aug | 85.7 | 9.0 | 3.4 | 1.9 |
| Sep | 85.1 | 8.7 | 3.7 | 2.5 |
| Oct | 81.5 | 12.2 | 4.2 | 2.1 |
| Nov | 75.4 | 15.7 | 5.4 | 3.5 |
| Dec | 62.0 | 20.3 | 10.1 | 7.6 |
Average wind by month
| Month | Mean wind (kt) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 8.9 kt |
| Feb | 9.0 kt |
| Mar | 9.3 kt |
| Apr | 10.0 kt |
| May | 8.4 kt |
| Jun | 7.2 kt |
| Jul | 5.6 kt |
| Aug | 5.3 kt |
| Sep | 6.2 kt |
| Oct | 7.8 kt |
| Nov | 8.7 kt |
| Dec | 8.5 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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AMW's real runway layout on the back, elevation and tower frequency on the front. Add your tail number on the sleeve.
Pilot PIREPs for Ames Municipal Airport (KAMW)
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 Ames 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 KAMW 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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