Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (KMSL) Aviation Weather, METAR, TAF & ATIS Alerts
Live aviation weather for Northwest Alabama Regional Airport in Muscle Shoals, AL, including METAR, TAF, flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling, altimeter, runway crosswinds, and Telegram airport alerts.
Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (KMSL) is a regional airport serving Muscle Shoals, AL at 551 ft. KMSL reports its own METAR and publishes a TAF — decoded live on this page as flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling and altimeter. Its 4 runways (11, 18, 29, 36) — longest 6,693 ft — are checked against the current wind in the crosswind table below. Automated weather is broadcast on 119.425. Track KMSL 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 northwest (310°) at 4 kt, visibility 10+ statute miles, no cloud data, temperature 30°C (86°F), altimeter 29.80 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
METAR KMSL 290153Z AUTO 31004KT 10SM CLR 30/26 A2980 RMK AO2 SLP083 T03000261
What changed at KMSL?
Since the 0053Z (7:53 PM CDT) report — compared automatically against the latest METAR.
- Pressure rising: altimeter 29.78 → 29.80 inHg.
This is exactly what ATIS Alerts watches for you — get a Telegram message when KMSL's weather changes, free →
Current pilot readout for KMSL
KMSL is currently VFR with winds from 310° at 4 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and no ceiling reported. The strongest crosswind component is currently on runway 18, about 3 knots. Density altitude is approximately 2,650 ft (field elevation 551 ft). Review the latest TAF below for forecast changes before departure.
⚠️ 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 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 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 KMSL. This is intended as a planning aid only and should not replace official performance calculations or pilot judgment.
| Runway | Length | Surface | Head / Tail | Crosswind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29FAV | 6,693 ft | ASP | 4 kt head | 1 kt right |
| 36 | 4,000 ft | ASP | 3 kt head | 3 kt left |
| 18 | 4,000 ft | ASP | 3 kt tail | 3 kt right |
| 11 | 6,693 ft | ASP | 4 kt tail | 1 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 0→4 kt, ceiling unlimited → unlimited.
KMSL weather radar
Live NEXRAD + lightning, with a 4-hour future-radar forecast — drag to pan, tap ⚡ to toggle lightning.
Live weather radar around Northwest Alabama Regional Airport in Muscle Shoals, AL: 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 KMSL 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 KMSL
Reported by pilots in flight over the past 6 hours — via aviationweather.gov.
Show raw report
BNA UA /OV BNA/TM 2158/FL035/TP B737/SK BKN035 BKN050
BNA UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV BNALocation — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2158Reported at 21:58 UTC.FL035Altitude: 3,500 ft MSL.TP B737Aircraft type reporting.SK BKN035 BKN050Sky condition — cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.Show raw report
BHM UA /OV VUZ/TM 2036/FL370/TP B738/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZTLFD 02
BHM UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV VUZLocation — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2036Reported at 20:36 UTC.FL370Altitude: 37,000 ft MSL.TP B738Aircraft type reporting.TB CONS LGT CHOPTurbulence: continuous light chop.RM ZTLFD 02Remarks.Show raw report
MKL UA /OV MKL/TM 2033/FL300/TP C56X/TA M07/IC LGT RIME/RM ZME
MKL UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV MKLLocation — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2033Reported at 20:33 UTC.FL300Altitude: 30,000 ft MSL.TP C56XAircraft type reporting.TA M07Outside air temperature, °C.IC LGT RIMEIcing: light rime.RM ZMERemarks.⚠️ 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 29 observations, with 5 flight-category changes. The strongest gust reached 24 kt. Wind most often came from the W.
Most recent change: IFR → VFR
Most recent change: MVFR → VFR
- 29
- 52%
- 18
- 20%
- 11
- 17%
- 36
- 11%
TAF — Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
Issued 2320Z (6:20 PM CDT)
TAF KMSL 282320Z 2900/2924 28005KT P6SM BKN250 FM290400 VRB05KT P6SM VCSH SCT045 BKN200 FM291000 32005KT P6SM FEW050 BKN200
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Airport facts
Reference data from the OurAirports dataset.
- Type
- Regional airport
- ICAO
- KMSL
- IATA
- MSL
- FAA LID
- MSL
- City
- Muscle Shoals
- State
- Alabama
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 551 ft
- Coordinates
- 34.7451, -87.6130
- Runways
- 4
- Longest runway
- 6,693 ft
- Weather reporting
- Reports METAR
- TAF
- Published
- AWOS/ASOS
- 119.425 MHz
- Time zone
- America/Chicago
- Next sunset
- 22h 49m
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
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.
KMSL weather — frequently asked
What runways are available at KMSL?+
KMSL has 4 runways — 11, 18, 29, 36; the longest is 6,693 ft. This page computes the live crosswind for each runway end from the current wind.
Does KMSL report its own weather?+
Yes — Northwest Alabama Regional Airport has its own weather station and publishes METAR observations, which this page decodes live.
Does KMSL have a TAF?+
Yes — the TAF is shown on this page below the current conditions.
Does KMSL broadcast D-ATIS?+
No — KMSL does not broadcast D-ATIS. Alerts for KMSL from the ATIS Alerts bot (@atisalerts_bot) are based on its METAR instead.
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.
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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