Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (KMSL) Aviation Weather: METAR & TAF
As of 7:53 AM CDT, Oct 28, KMSL is currently VFR with winds from 120° at 4 knots, visibility 7 statute miles, and no ceiling reported.
Live aviation weather for Northwest Alabama Regional Airport in Muscle Shoals, AL, including METAR, TAF, flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling, altimeter and runway crosswinds.
Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (KMSL) is a regional airport serving Muscle Shoals, AL at a field elevation of 550 ft. KMSL 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 6,694 ft. Automated weather is broadcast on 119.425.
Wind from the east-southeast (120°) at 4 kt, visibility 7 statute miles, no cloud data, temperature 9°C (48°F), altimeter 30.29 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
METAR KMSL 281253Z AUTO 12004KT 7SM CLR 09/08 A3029 RMK AO2 SLP255 T00890083 $
What changed at KMSL?
Since the 1153Z (6:53 AM CDT) report, compared automatically against the latest METAR.
- Visibility moved from 10 SM to 7 SM.
Current pilot readout for KMSL
KMSL is currently VFR with winds from 120° at 4 knots, visibility 7 statute miles, and no ceiling reported. the wind favors runway ends 12. Density altitude is approximately -500 ft (field elevation 550 ft). Review the latest TAF below for forecast changes before departure.
KMSL by the numbers
What the long-run records say about flying here, computed for this airport alone.
KMSL reported VFR in 81% of daylight observations over 20 years, about 268 flyable days a year. July is the most reliable month and December the least, with IFR or worse 10% of the time. When conditions drop it is usually low ceilings rather than fog (ceilings under 1,000 ft 4% of hours, visibility under 3 miles 2%).
Over 20 years of hourly winds, runway 18 had the best headwind 30% of the time, runway 12 26%, and winds were calm 30% of hours. Winds most often blow from the south. Crosswind on the best available runway topped 15 kt in under 1% of hours.
Thunderstorms were reported on about 61 days a year. 52% of storm hours fall in June, July and August, peaking in July when storms were in the air 3% of the time.
Fog was reported on about 34 days a year, and fog or mist on 155. January and September are the foggiest months, with fog in 9% of hours, against 5% in April.
Field elevation is 550 ft, but on a median summer afternoon the air performs like 2,522 ft, 1,972 ft higher. Plan for a longer takeoff roll and a weaker climb from June to August.
Winds were calm 25% of the time and averaged 4.9 kt overall. March is the windiest month (mean 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12FAV | 6,694 ft | ASP | 4 kt head | 0 kt |
| 18 | 4,000 ft | ASP | 2 kt head | 3 kt left |
| 36 | 4,000 ft | ASP | 2 kt tail | 3 kt right |
| 30 | 6,694 ft | ASP | 4 kt tail | 0 kt |
Open the crosswind calculator to try your own wind and runway numbers →
KMSL 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.
- Restricted (NOTAM)Runway 12/306,694 × 150 ft · ASPCurrent useno stated-runway source at KMSLWind
- 12
- 4 kt headwind · 0 kt crosswind
- 30
- 4 kt tailwind · 0 kt crosswind
2 active equipment NOTAMsView Runway Intelligence → - Status not monitoredRunway 18/364,000 × 100 ft · ASPCurrent useno stated-runway source at KMSLWind
- 18
- 2 kt headwind · 3 kt crosswind from left
- 36
- 2 kt tailwind · 3 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 3→4 kt, ceiling 200 ft → unlimited.
KMSL 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 KMSL
Reported by pilots in flight over the past 6 hours, via aviationweather.gov.
Show raw report
BHM UA /OV VUZ/TM 1255/FL300/TP A321/SK TOP 300/RM ZTLFD-03
BHM UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV VUZLocation: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 1255Reported at 12:55 UTC.FL300Altitude: 30,000 ft MSL.TP A321Aircraft type reporting.SK TOP 300Sky condition: cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.RM ZTLFD-03Remarks.Show raw report
BNA UA /OV SYI045020/TM 1225/FL140/TP BE20/TB LGT-MOD CHOP 125-140/RM ZME 60
BNA UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV SYI045020Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 1225Reported at 12:25 UTC.FL140Altitude: 14,000 ft MSL.TP BE20Aircraft type reporting.TB LGT-MOD CHOP 125-140Turbulence: light to moderate chop 12,500–14,000 ft.RM ZME 60Remarks.Show raw report
BNA UA /OV BNA180020/TM 1110/FL130/TP B738/TB CONS MOD CHOP 130-210/RM ZME60
BNA UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV BNA180020Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 1110Reported at 11:10 UTC.FL130Altitude: 13,000 ft MSL.TP B738Aircraft type reporting.TB CONS MOD CHOP 130-210Turbulence: continuous moderate chop 13,000–21,000 ft.RM ZME60Remarks.Show raw report
BNA UA /OV BNA135040/TM 0859/FL310/TP A321/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD/RM ZME62
BNA UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV BNA135040Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0859Reported at 08:59 UTC.FL310Altitude: 31,000 ft MSL.TP A321Aircraft type reporting.TB CONS LGT OCNL MODTurbulence: continuous light occasional moderate.RM ZME62Remarks.⚠️ PIREPs are unverified pilot reports. Not for operational use: conditions change between reports.
Recent aviation weather trends at KMSL
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, KMSL reported mostly VFR across 28 observations, with 1 flight-category change. The lowest ceiling was 200 ft. Wind most often came from the E.
Most recent change: LIFR → VFR
Most recent change: LIFR → VFR
Share of hours each runway had the most headwind. From wind reports, not ATC assignments.
- 36
- 37%
- 12
- 35%
- 30
- 20%
- 18
- 8%
TAF | Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
Issued 1130Z (6:30 AM CDT)
TAF KMSL 281130Z 2812/2912 VRB03KT P6SM SCT250
New to TAFs? How to read one →
Get KMSL weather alerts in Telegram
Stop refreshing aviation weather manually. Track KMSL 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 KMSL free on TelegramLive KMSL Weather
Live crosswind meter
Measured by KMSL's own weather station.
Wind is 6° off runway 12, the end with the most headwind right now.
Asphalt · 6,694 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 0600-1800 local
- Transient parking
- Tie-downs · Hangars
- Landing fee
- No
- Other services
- Air freight · Flight instruction · Aircraft rental
- Control tower
- None
- Wind indicator
- Lighted
Airport
- Type
- Regional airport
- ICAO
- KMSL
- IATA
- MSL
- FAA LID
- MSL
- City
- Muscle Shoals
- State
- Alabama
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 550 ft
- Coordinates
- 34.7451, -87.6130
- Runways
- 2 physical runways · 4 runway ends
- Longest runway
- 6,694 ft
- Weather reporting
- Reports METAR
- TAF
- Published
- AWOS/ASOS
- 119.425 MHz
- Time zone
- America/Chicago
- Sunset in
- 9h 48m
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed KMSL'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
7 airports+1 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.
- Quad Cities Radio Control - Colbert County Landfill , Tuscumbia, AL · 4 mi
Historical Flying Weather at KMSL
2006–2025 · ATIS Alerts Flying Weather Index
Based on historical observations from 2006–2025, KMSL reported VFR conditions during about 81.3% of valid daylight observations, with an estimated 268 VFR flying days a year. July had the most VFR weather; December had the most instrument conditions. Surface winds averaged 4.9 kt, calm 25.0% of the time.
Full historical breakdown
Flight category by month
| Month | VFR % | MVFR % | IFR % | LIFR % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 71.0 | 19.4 | 7.2 | 2.3 |
| Feb | 71.0 | 20.3 | 7.1 | 1.6 |
| Mar | 79.5 | 15.2 | 4.0 | 1.4 |
| Apr | 85.4 | 10.9 | 2.8 | 0.9 |
| May | 84.4 | 11.3 | 3.0 | 1.2 |
| Jun | 87.5 | 9.3 | 2.2 | 1.0 |
| Jul | 88.4 | 8.6 | 2.3 | 0.7 |
| Aug | 86.4 | 9.8 | 2.6 | 1.2 |
| Sep | 84.7 | 10.7 | 3.0 | 1.6 |
| Oct | 81.5 | 12.5 | 4.0 | 2.0 |
| Nov | 79.6 | 14.1 | 4.3 | 2.1 |
| Dec | 68.4 | 21.4 | 7.5 | 2.7 |
Average wind by month
| Month | Mean wind (kt) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 6.1 kt |
| Feb | 6.4 kt |
| Mar | 6.4 kt |
| Apr | 6.1 kt |
| May | 4.9 kt |
| Jun | 4.1 kt |
| Jul | 3.6 kt |
| Aug | 3.2 kt |
| Sep | 3.5 kt |
| Oct | 4.3 kt |
| Nov | 4.9 kt |
| Dec | 5.6 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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MSL's real runway layout on the back, elevation and tower frequency on the front. Add your tail number on the sleeve.
Pilot PIREPs for Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (KMSL)
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 Northwest Alabama Regional 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 KMSL 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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