Fillmore County Airport (KFKA) Aviation Weather: METAR
As of 6:35 PM CDT, Oct 28, KFKA is currently VFR with winds from 200° at 14 knots gusting 23, visibility 9 statute miles, and a 6,500 ft ceiling.
Live aviation weather for Fillmore County Airport in Preston, MN, including METAR, flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling, altimeter and runway crosswinds.
Fillmore County Airport (KFKA) is a general aviation airport serving pilots in and around Preston, MN at a field elevation of 1,277 ft. KFKA reports its own METAR, decoded live on this page as flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling and altimeter. It has one runway (11/29), the longest 4,001 ft. Automated weather is broadcast on 118.925.
Wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 14 kt, gusting 23 kt, visibility 9 statute miles, a few clouds at 2,900 ft, scattered clouds at 4,700 ft, broken clouds at 6,500 ft, temperature 20°C (68°F), altimeter 29.88 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR), ceiling 6,500 ft.
METAR KFKA 282335Z AUTO 20014G23KT 9SM FEW029 SCT047 BKN065 20/15 A2988 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT ALQDS
What changed at KFKA?
Since the 2315Z (6:15 PM CDT) report, compared automatically against the latest METAR.
- A thunderstorm ended (VCTS).
- A ceiling formed at 6,500 ft.
Current pilot readout for KFKA
KFKA is currently VFR with winds from 200° at 14 knots gusting 23, visibility 9 statute miles, and a 6,500 ft ceiling. Density altitude is approximately 2,250 ft (field elevation 1,277 ft). KFKA does not publish a TAF. The nearest TAF station is KRST, about 20 nm away.
KFKA by the numbers
What the long-run records say about flying here, computed for this airport alone.
KFKA reported VFR in 74% of daylight observations over 20 years, about 238 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 11% of hours, visibility under 3 miles 6%).
Over 20 years of hourly winds, runway 29 had the best headwind 58% of the time, runway 11 42%, and winds were calm 9% of hours. Winds most often blow from the south. Crosswind on the best available runway topped 15 kt in 2% of hours.
Snow fell on about 59 days a year. From December to February KFKA was IFR or worse 21% of the time, against 7% from June to August.
Thunderstorms were reported on about 61 days a year. 52% of storm hours fall in June, July and August, peaking in June when storms were in the air 3% of the time.
Gusts showed up in 23% of hours, typically 6 kt above the steady wind, and the strongest credible gust on record was 52 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11FAV | 4,001 ft | ASP | 0 kt head | 14 kt right (g23) |
| 29 | 4,001 ft | ASP | 0 kt head | 14 kt left (g23) |
Open the crosswind calculator to try your own wind and runway numbers →
KFKA runways
1 physical runway · 2 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 11/294,001 × 75 ft · ASPCurrent useno stated-runway source at KFKAWind
- 11
- 0 kt headwind · 14 kt crosswind from right
- 29
- 0 kt headwind · 14 kt crosswind from left
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 24 h: wind 7→14 kt, ceiling 5,500 ft → 6,500 ft.
KFKA 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 KFKA
Reported by pilots in flight over the past 6 hours, via aviationweather.gov.
Show raw report
MCW UA /OV MCW/TM 2328/FL060/TP CRJ2/SK UNKN040-TOPUNKN/WX -RA/RM DURD
MCW UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV MCWLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2328Reported at 23:28 UTC.FL060Altitude: 6,000 ft MSL.TP CRJ2Aircraft type reporting.SK UNKN040-TOPUNKNSky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.WX -RAWeather and flight visibility observed.RM DURDRemarks.Show raw report
LVN UA /OV LVN/TM 2325/FL100/TP A339/SK UNKN-TOP090/TA 14/IC NEG
LVN UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV LVNLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2325Reported at 23:25 UTC.FL100Altitude: 10,000 ft MSL.TP A339Aircraft type reporting.SK UNKN-TOP090Sky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.TA 14Outside air temperature, °C.IC NEGIcing: none reported.Show raw report
RGK UA /OV RGK/TM 2315/FL370/TP C550/SK UNKN-TOP370
RGK UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV RGKLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2315Reported at 23:15 UTC.FL370Altitude: 37,000 ft MSL.TP C550Aircraft type reporting.SK UNKN-TOP370Sky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.Show raw report
LVN UA /OV FGT/TM 2219/FL410/TP C750/SK T410
LVN UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV FGTLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2219Reported at 22:19 UTC.FL410Altitude: 41,000 ft MSL.TP C750Aircraft type reporting.SK T410Sky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.Show raw report
RST UA /OV RST-RST300010/TM 2205/FLDURC/TP E55P/TB NEG 070-190
RST UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV RST-RST300010Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2205Reported at 22:05 UTC.FLDURCReported during climb.TP E55PAircraft type reporting.TB NEG 070-190Turbulence: none reported 7,000–19,000 ft.Show raw report
MSP UA /OV MSP/TM 2203/FL001/TP BCS1/WV +/-10 KTS DURD
MSP UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV MSPLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2203Reported at 22:03 UTC.FL001Altitude: 100 ft MSL.TP BCS1Aircraft type reporting.WV +/-10 KTS DURDWind (direction/speed) or wind-shear remarks.Show raw report
FCM UUA /OV FCM/TM 2155/FL018/TP C700/RM LLWS +/- 10 KTS DURD RY 10R
FCM UUAHeader: reporting station and UUA: an URGENT pilot report (severe conditions, wind shear, or similar).OV FCMLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2155Reported at 21:55 UTC.FL018Altitude: 1,800 ft MSL.TP C700Aircraft type reporting.RM LLWS +/- 10 KTS DURD RY 1…Remarks.Show raw report
DEH UA /OV CJJ/TM 2124/FL160/TP C25M/SK UNKN-TOP125/RM DURC
DEH UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV CJJLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2124Reported at 21:24 UTC.FL160Altitude: 16,000 ft MSL.TP C25MAircraft type reporting.SK UNKN-TOP125Sky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.RM DURCRemarks.⚠️ PIREPs are unverified pilot reports. Not for operational use: conditions change between reports.
Recent aviation weather trends at KFKA
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, KFKA reported mostly VFR across 72 observations, with 2 flight-category changes. The strongest gust reached 25 kt, the lowest ceiling was 3,700 ft. Wind most often came from the S.
Most recent change: MVFR → VFR
Most recent change: MVFR → VFR
Share of hours each runway had the most headwind. From wind reports, not ATC assignments.
- 11
- 60%
- 29
- 40%
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Live crosswind meter
Measured by KFKA's own weather station.
Wind is 92° off runway 11, the end with the most headwind right now.
Asphalt · 4,001 ft. Headings from FAA runway data. Not for navigation.
Field aerial
North up
Runway 11/29 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
- Attended
- Unattended
- Transient parking
- Tie-downs
- Landing fee
- No
- Other services
- Flight instruction · Aircraft rental · Aircraft sales
- Control tower
- None
- Wind indicator
- Lighted
Airport
- Type
- General aviation airport
- ICAO
- KFKA
- FAA LID
- FKA
- City
- Preston
- State
- Minnesota
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 1,277 ft
- Coordinates
- 43.6768, -92.1797
- Runways
- 1 physical runway · 2 runway ends
- Longest runway
- 4,001 ft
- Weather reporting
- Reports METAR
- TAF
- Nearest KRST
- AWOS/ASOS
- 118.925 MHz
- CTAF
- 122.9 MHz
- Time zone
- America/Chicago
- Next sunset
- 23h 20m
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed KFKA'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
Historical Flying Weather at KFKA
2006–2025 · ATIS Alerts Flying Weather Index
Based on historical observations from 2006–2025, KFKA reported VFR conditions during about 73.8% of valid daylight observations, with an estimated 238 VFR flying days a year. July had the most VFR weather; December had the most instrument conditions. Surface winds averaged 8.0 kt, calm 7.9% of the time.
Full historical breakdown
Flight category by month
| Month | VFR % | MVFR % | IFR % | LIFR % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56.6 | 20.8 | 12.6 | 10.1 |
| Feb | 68.8 | 16.7 | 8.8 | 5.7 |
| Mar | 70.8 | 15.6 | 7.2 | 6.4 |
| Apr | 74.1 | 14.9 | 7.3 | 3.7 |
| May | 79.2 | 12.0 | 5.9 | 3.0 |
| Jun | 83.4 | 9.6 | 4.1 | 2.9 |
| Jul | 86.1 | 8.4 | 2.8 | 2.6 |
| Aug | 82.3 | 9.9 | 3.9 | 3.9 |
| Sep | 83.5 | 9.2 | 4.2 | 3.1 |
| Oct | 76.0 | 13.1 | 6.5 | 4.4 |
| Nov | 67.4 | 18.4 | 8.0 | 6.2 |
| Dec | 52.0 | 21.5 | 14.3 | 12.2 |
Average wind by month
| Month | Mean wind (kt) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 9.0 kt |
| Feb | 9.0 kt |
| Mar | 9.0 kt |
| Apr | 9.6 kt |
| May | 8.2 kt |
| Jun | 7.0 kt |
| Jul | 6.0 kt |
| Aug | 5.5 kt |
| Sep | 6.6 kt |
| Oct | 8.1 kt |
| Nov | 9.1 kt |
| Dec | 8.7 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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FKA's real runway layout on the back, elevation and tower frequency on the front. Add your tail number on the sleeve.
Pilot PIREPs for Fillmore County Airport (KFKA)
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 Fillmore County 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 KFKA 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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