Mason City Municipal Airport (KMCW) Aviation Weather: METAR & TAF
As of 7:53 AM CDT, Oct 27, KMCW is currently VFR with winds from 140° at 10 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and a 8,000 ft ceiling.
Live aviation weather for Mason City Municipal Airport in Mason City, IA, including METAR, TAF, flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling, altimeter and runway crosswinds.
Mason City Municipal Airport (KMCW) is a regional airport serving Mason City, IA at a field elevation of 1,213 ft. KMCW reports its own METAR and publishes a TAF, decoded live on this page as flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling and altimeter. It has 2 physical runways (12/30, 18/36), the longest 6,501 ft. The official FAA airport diagram is at the bottom of the page.
Wind from the southeast (140°) at 10 kt, visibility 10+ statute miles, overcast at 8,000 ft, temperature 10°C (50°F), altimeter 30.12 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR), ceiling 8,000 ft.
METAR KMCW 271253Z AUTO 14010KT 10SM OVC080 10/08 A3012 RMK AO2 RAB06E38 SLP196 P0000 T01000083
What changed at KMCW?
Since the 1153Z (6:53 AM CDT) report, compared automatically against the latest METAR.
No significant changes since the 1153Z (6:53 AM CDT) report, conditions are holding steady.
Current pilot readout for KMCW
KMCW is currently VFR with winds from 140° at 10 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and a 8,000 ft ceiling. the wind favors southeast-facing runway ends (12). Density altitude is approximately 650 ft (field elevation 1,213 ft). Review the latest TAF below for forecast changes before departure.
KMCW by the numbers
What the long-run records say about flying here, computed for this airport alone.
The FAA issued no ground stop or ground delay program for MCW in the 12 months to October 2026. Delays here come from the airlines or from programs at other airports rather than from MCW's own airspace.
KMCW reported VFR in 75% of daylight observations over 20 years, about 244 flyable days a year. July is the most reliable month and December the least, with IFR or worse 24% of the time. When conditions drop it is usually a mix of low ceilings (under 1,000 ft 8% of hours) and low visibility (under 3 miles 6%).
Over 20 years of hourly winds, runway 30 had the best headwind 34% of the time, runway 18 28%, and winds were calm 8% of hours. Winds most often blow from the south. Crosswind on the best available runway topped 15 kt in 1% of hours.
Snow fell on about 47 days a year and freezing rain or drizzle on 7. From December to February KMCW was IFR or worse 21% of the time, against 6% from June to August.
Thunderstorms were reported on about 44 days a year. 57% of storm hours fall in June, July and August, peaking in June when storms were in the air 2% of the time.
Field elevation is 1,213 ft, but on a median summer afternoon the air performs like 2,751 ft, 1,538 ft higher. Plan for a longer takeoff roll and a weaker climb from June to August.
Sources: FAA ATCSCC advisories, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12FAV | 5,502 ft | ASP | 10 kt head | 3 kt right |
| 18 | 6,501 ft | ASP | 8 kt head | 6 kt left |
| 36 | 6,501 ft | ASP | 8 kt tail | 6 kt right |
| 30 | 5,502 ft | ASP | 10 kt tail | 3 kt left |
Open the crosswind calculator to try your own wind and runway numbers →
KMCW 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 12/305,502 × 150 ft · ASPCurrent useno stated-runway source at KMCWWind
- 12
- 10 kt headwind · 3 kt crosswind from right
- 30
- 10 kt tailwind · 3 kt crosswind from left
no active equipment NOTAM receivedView Runway Intelligence → - Status not monitoredRunway 18/366,501 × 150 ft · ASPCurrent useno stated-runway source at KMCWWind
- 18
- 8 kt headwind · 6 kt crosswind from left
- 36
- 8 kt tailwind · 6 kt crosswind from right
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 8→10 kt, ceiling unlimited → 8,000 ft.
KMCW 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 KMCW
Reported by pilots in flight over the past 6 hours, via aviationweather.gov.
Show raw report
FRM UA /OV FRM/TM 1250/FL020/TP BE20/SK BASE020
FRM UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV FRMLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 1250Reported at 12:50 UTC.FL020Altitude: 2,000 ft MSL.TP BE20Aircraft type reporting.SK BASE020Sky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.Show raw report
CIN UA /OV CIN/TM 1247/FL360/TP B739/TB CONS LGT
CIN UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV CINLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 1247Reported at 12:47 UTC.FL360Altitude: 36,000 ft MSL.TP B739Aircraft type reporting.TB CONS LGTTurbulence: continuous light.Show raw report
DSM UA /OV DSM350040/TM 1221/FL210/TP CRJ7/TB CONS LGT/IC LGT RIME 140-160
DSM UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV DSM350040Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 1221Reported at 12:21 UTC.FL210Altitude: 21,000 ft MSL.TP CRJ7Aircraft type reporting.TB CONS LGTTurbulence: continuous light.IC LGT RIME 140-160Icing: light rime 14,000–16,000 ft.Show raw report
ONA UA /OV ONA/TM 1213/FL140/TP C560/SK TOP135/TB NEG/IC NEG
ONA UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV ONALocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 1213Reported at 12:13 UTC.FL140Altitude: 14,000 ft MSL.TP C560Aircraft type reporting.SK TOP135Sky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.IC NEGIcing: none reported.Show raw report
PRO UA /OV PRO/TM 1200/FL350/TP BCS1/TB LGT
PRO UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV PROLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 1200Reported at 12:00 UTC.FL350Altitude: 35,000 ft MSL.TP BCS1Aircraft type reporting.TB LGTTurbulence: light.Show raw report
FOD UA /OV FOD/TM 1128/FL330/TP E75L/TB OCNL LGT CHOP
FOD UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV FODLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 1128Reported at 11:28 UTC.FL330Altitude: 33,000 ft MSL.TP E75LAircraft type reporting.TB OCNL LGT CHOPTurbulence: occasional light chop.Show raw report
TOB UA /OV FOW088021 /TM 1114 /FL120 /TP B738 /TA M14 /IC LGT-RIME /RM PRODUCED BY SKYPATH
TOB UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV FOW088021Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 1114Reported at 11:14 UTC.FL120Altitude: 12,000 ft MSL.TP B738Aircraft type reporting.TA M14Outside air temperature, °C.IC LGT-RIMEIcing: light -rime.RM PRODUCED BY SKYPATHRemarks.Show raw report
MSP UA /OV FGT/TM 1111/FL172/TP B738/SK TOP160/TA 06/TB NEG/IC LGT RIME 110
MSP UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV FGTLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 1111Reported at 11:11 UTC.FL172Altitude: 17,200 ft MSL.TP B738Aircraft type reporting.SK TOP160Sky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.TA 06Outside air temperature, °C.TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.IC LGT RIME 110Icing: light rime 110.⚠️ PIREPs are unverified pilot reports. Not for operational use: conditions change between reports.
Recent aviation weather trends at KMCW
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, KMCW reported mostly VFR across 24 observations, with 0 flight-category changes. The strongest gust reached 21 kt, the lowest ceiling was 6,500 ft. Wind most often came from the E.
Most recent change: IFR → VFR
Share of hours each runway had the most headwind. From wind reports, not ATC assignments.
- 18
- 45%
- 30
- 20%
- 12
- 18%
- 36
- 17%
TAF | Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
Issued 1121Z (6:21 AM CDT)
TAF KMCW 271121Z 2712/2812 15011G19KT P6SM -RA OVC050 FM271700 18011G17KT P6SM BKN015 FM272200 19011KT P6SM BKN015 FM280200 19008KT P6SM SCT050
New to TAFs? How to read one →
Get KMCW weather alerts in Telegram
Stop refreshing aviation weather manually. Track KMCW 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 KMCW free on TelegramLive KMCW Weather
Live crosswind meter
Measured by KMCW's own weather station.
Wind is 15° off runway 12, the end with the most headwind right now.
Asphalt · 5,502 ft. Headings from FAA runway data. Not for navigation.
Field aerial
North up
Runway 12/30, 18/36 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
- Attended
- Daily 0700-1700 local
- Repairs
- Airframe & engine, major
- Transient parking
- Tie-downs · Hangars
- Landing fee
- No
- Other services
- Air ambulance · Charter · Flight instruction · Aircraft rental
- Pattern altitude
- 2,013 ft MSL (800 AGL)
- Control tower
- None
- Wind indicator
- Lighted
Airport
- Type
- Regional airport
- ICAO
- KMCW
- IATA
- MCW
- FAA LID
- MCW
- City
- Mason City
- State
- Iowa
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 1,213 ft
- Coordinates
- 43.1598, -93.3297
- Runways
- 2 physical runways · 4 runway ends
- Longest runway
- 6,501 ft
- Weather reporting
- Reports METAR
- TAF
- Published
- AWOS/ASOS
- 120.3 MHz
- Time zone
- America/Chicago
- Sunset in
- 10h 10m
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed KMCW'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.
- River City RC 1 , Mason City, IA · 4 mi
Historical Flying Weather at KMCW
2006–2025 · ATIS Alerts Flying Weather Index
Based on historical observations from 2006–2025, KMCW reported VFR conditions during about 75.4% of valid daylight observations, with an estimated 244 VFR flying days a year. July had the most VFR weather; December had the most instrument conditions. Surface winds averaged 9.5 kt, calm 6.4% of the time.
Full historical breakdown
Flight category by month
| Month | VFR % | MVFR % | IFR % | LIFR % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 59.0 | 18.3 | 12.5 | 10.3 |
| Feb | 66.9 | 16.8 | 9.8 | 6.5 |
| Mar | 69.1 | 16.4 | 7.8 | 6.6 |
| Apr | 74.2 | 15.3 | 7.7 | 2.8 |
| May | 79.9 | 12.5 | 5.6 | 2.0 |
| Jun | 86.4 | 8.3 | 3.5 | 1.8 |
| Jul | 86.9 | 8.5 | 2.6 | 2.0 |
| Aug | 83.9 | 9.0 | 3.6 | 3.6 |
| Sep | 84.0 | 8.9 | 4.0 | 3.1 |
| Oct | 79.4 | 11.8 | 5.2 | 3.7 |
| Nov | 69.8 | 17.6 | 7.2 | 5.4 |
| Dec | 56.4 | 19.4 | 12.6 | 11.6 |
Average wind by month
| Month | Mean wind (kt) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 10.9 kt |
| Feb | 10.8 kt |
| Mar | 10.8 kt |
| Apr | 11.7 kt |
| May | 10.1 kt |
| Jun | 8.6 kt |
| Jul | 6.8 kt |
| Aug | 6.5 kt |
| Sep | 7.6 kt |
| Oct | 9.4 kt |
| Nov | 10.5 kt |
| Dec | 10.4 kt |
Historical summary of past observations: not a forecast or safety rating. Always check the current METAR, TAF, and a weather briefing before flight.
KMCW airport diagram
Official FAA taxiway and runway layout. Tap to zoom.
Official FAA airport diagram · d-TPP cycle 2611 · Not for navigation. Download the official FAA PDF ↗
Customize your MCW shirt or mug
MCW's real runway layout on the back, elevation and tower frequency on the front. Add your tail number on the sleeve.
Pilot PIREPs for Mason City Municipal Airport (KMCW)
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 Mason City 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 KMCW 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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