Ames Municipal Airport (KAMW) Aviation Weather, METAR, TAF & ATIS Alerts
Live aviation weather for Ames Municipal Airport in Ames, IA, including METAR, TAF, flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling, altimeter, runway crosswinds, and Telegram airport alerts.
Ames Municipal Airport (KAMW) is a general aviation airport serving pilots in and around Ames, IA at 956 ft. KAMW reports its own METAR — decoded live on this page as flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling and altimeter. Its 4 runways (01, 13, 19, 31) — longest 5,701 ft — are checked against the current wind in the crosswind table below. Automated weather is broadcast on 132.025. Track KAMW in the ATIS Alerts Telegram bot to get a message when a new METAR changes the picture — flight category, wind, or ceiling past your selected minimums.
Wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 8 kt, visibility 10+ statute miles, a few clouds at 3,600 ft, temperature 30°C (86°F), altimeter 29.99 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
METAR KAMW 291953Z AUTO 15008KT 10SM FEW036 30/22 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP146 T03000217
What changed at KAMW?
Since the 1853Z (1:53 PM CDT) report — compared automatically against the latest METAR.
- Wind direction moved from 120° to 150°.
- Pressure falling: altimeter 30.01 → 29.99 inHg.
This is exactly what ATIS Alerts watches for you — get a Telegram message when KAMW's weather changes, free →
Current pilot readout for KAMW
KAMW is currently VFR with winds from 150° at 8 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and no ceiling reported. The strongest crosswind component is currently on runway 01, about 6 knots. Density altitude is approximately 2,900 ft (field elevation 956 ft). KAMW does not publish a TAF — the nearest TAF station is KDSM, about 28 nm away.
⚠️ 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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Stop refreshing aviation weather manually. Track KAMW in ATIS Alerts and get notified when a new METAR changes the picture — a category drop, or wind and ceiling moving toward your minimums.
Track KAMW 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 KAMW. This is intended as a planning aid only and should not replace official performance calculations or pilot judgment.
| Runway | Length | Surface | Head / Tail | Crosswind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13FAV | 3,491 ft | ASP | 8 kt head | 2 kt right |
| 19 | 5,701 ft | ASP | 5 kt head | 6 kt left |
| 01 | 5,701 ft | ASP | 5 kt tail | 6 kt right |
| 31 | 3,491 ft | ASP | 8 kt tail | 2 kt left |
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 6→8 kt, ceiling unlimited → unlimited.
KAMW weather radar
Live NEXRAD + lightning, with a 4-hour future-radar forecast — drag to pan, tap ⚡ to toggle lightning.
Live weather radar around Ames Municipal Airport in Ames, 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 KAMW 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.
Pilot reports (PIREPs) within 100 NM of KAMW
Reported by pilots in flight over the past 6 hours — via aviationweather.gov.
Show raw report
OTM UA /OV OTM/TM 1849/FL370/TP B737/TB OCNL LGT-MOD CHOP
OTM UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV OTMLocation — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 1849Reported at 18:49 UTC.FL370Altitude: 37,000 ft MSL.TP B737Aircraft type reporting.TB OCNL LGT-MOD CHOPTurbulence: occasional light to moderate chop.Show raw report
IOW UA /OV IOW270040/TM 1815/FL370/TP B38M/TB LGT CHOP
IOW UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV IOW270040Location — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 1815Reported at 18:15 UTC.FL370Altitude: 37,000 ft MSL.TP B38MAircraft type reporting.TB LGT CHOPTurbulence: light chop.Show raw report
IOW UA /OV IOW/TM 1713/FL370/TP B752/TB NEG
IOW UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV IOWLocation — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 1713Reported at 17:13 UTC.FL370Altitude: 37,000 ft MSL.TP B752Aircraft type reporting.TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.Show raw report
SLB UA /OV SKI/TM 1401/FL055/TP T210/SK SKC
SLB UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV SKILocation — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 1401Reported at 14:01 UTC.FL055Altitude: 5,500 ft MSL.TP T210Aircraft type reporting.SK SKCSky condition — cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.⚠️ PIREPs are unverified pilot reports. Not for operational use — conditions change between reports.
Recent aviation weather trends at KAMW
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, KAMW reported mostly VFR across 31 observations, with 9 flight-category changes. The lowest ceiling was 1,200 ft. Wind most often came from the SE.
Most recent change: MVFR → VFR
Most recent change: MVFR → VFR
- 19
- 36%
- 13
- 32%
- 01
- 18%
- 31
- 14%
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Airport facts
Reference data from the OurAirports dataset.
- 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
- 4
- Longest runway
- 5,701 ft
- Weather reporting
- Reports METAR
- TAF
- Nearest KDSM
- AWOS/ASOS
- 132.025 MHz
- Time zone
- America/Chicago
- Sunset in
- 5h 43m
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
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.
KAMW weather — frequently asked
What runways are available at KAMW?+
KAMW has 4 runways — 01, 13, 19, 31; the longest is 5,701 ft. This page computes the live crosswind for each runway end from the current wind.
Does KAMW report its own weather?+
Yes — Ames Municipal Airport has its own weather station and publishes METAR observations, which this page decodes live.
Does KAMW have a TAF?+
No — KAMW does not publish its own TAF. The nearest TAF station is KDSM, about 28 nm away.
Does KAMW broadcast D-ATIS?+
No — KAMW does not broadcast D-ATIS. Alerts for KAMW from the ATIS Alerts bot (@atisalerts_bot) are based on its METAR instead.
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.
Why pilots use ATIS Alerts
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⚠️ 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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