Sparta Community Airport - Hunter Field (KSAR) Area Aviation Weather & Runway Winds
Aviation weather near Sparta Community Airport - Hunter Field in Sparta, IL, decoded from the nearest reporting station (KPCD) — conditions, runway crosswinds, and free Telegram airport alerts.
Sparta Community Airport - Hunter Field (KSAR) is a general aviation airport serving pilots in and around Sparta, IL at 538 ft. KSAR has no weather station of its own — conditions here are decoded from KPCD, about 19 nm away, the nearest reporting station, and local conditions can differ. Its 4 runways (09, 18, 27, 36) — longest 4,002 ft — are checked against the current wind in the crosswind table below. Automated weather is broadcast on 118.375. Track it in the ATIS Alerts Telegram bot to get alerts read from KPCD, the station this page is based on.
No weather station at this airport — showing the nearest station KPCD, 18.5 nm away.
Wind from the east-northeast (060°) at 4 kt, visibility 10+ statute miles, no cloud data, temperature 23°C (74°F), altimeter 29.88 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
METAR KPCD 290635Z AUTO 06004KT 10SM 23/22 A2988 RMK AO2 T02330217
What changed at KPCD (nearest station)?
Since the 0615Z (1:15 AM CDT) report — compared automatically against the latest METAR.
No significant changes since the 0615Z report — conditions are holding steady.
This is exactly what ATIS Alerts watches for you — get a Telegram message when KSAR's weather changes, free →
Current pilot readout for KSAR
Based on the nearest station (KPCD), KSAR is currently VFR with winds from 060° 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 1,700 ft (field elevation 538 ft). KSAR does not publish a TAF — the nearest TAF station is KBLV, about 25 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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Track KSAR 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 KSAR. This is intended as a planning aid only and should not replace official performance calculations or pilot judgment.
| Runway | Length | Surface | Head / Tail | Crosswind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09FAV | 2,958 ft | GRS | 3 kt head | 2 kt left |
| 36 | 4,002 ft | ASP | 2 kt head | 3 kt right |
| 18 | 4,002 ft | ASP | 2 kt tail | 3 kt left |
| 27 | 2,958 ft | GRS | 3 kt tail | 2 kt right |
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.
KSAR weather radar
Live NEXRAD + lightning, with a 4-hour future-radar forecast — drag to pan, tap ⚡ to toggle lightning.
Live weather radar around Sparta Community Airport - Hunter Field in Sparta, IL: 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 KSAR 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.
Recent aviation weather trends at KSAR
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, the nearest station KPCD reported mostly VFR across 71 observations, with 0 flight-category changes. Wind most often came from the NW.
Most recent change: MVFR → VFR
- 36
- 31%
- 18
- 29%
- 27
- 25%
- 09
- 15%
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Airport facts
Reference data from the OurAirports dataset.
- Type
- General aviation airport
- ICAO
- KSAR
- IATA
- SAR
- FAA LID
- SAR
- City
- Sparta
- State
- Illinois
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 538 ft
- Coordinates
- 38.1489, -89.6987
- Runways
- 4
- Longest runway
- 4,002 ft
- Weather reporting
- Nearest station KPCD
- TAF
- Nearest KBLV
- AWOS/ASOS
- 118.375 MHz
- Time zone
- America/Chicago
- Next sunset
- 18h 16m
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed KSAR'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.
- Breezy Hill RC Club - Richard P. McClure Memorial Field — Chester, IL · 17 mi
- Belleville RC Flyers - Rentchler Rd — Belleville, IL · 26 mi
- Belleville RC Flyers 1 — Belleville, IL · 27 mi
KSAR weather — frequently asked
What runways are available at KSAR?+
KSAR has 4 runways — 09, 18, 27, 36; the longest is 4,002 ft. This page computes the live crosswind for each runway end from the current wind.
Where does the weather shown for KSAR come from?+
Sparta Community Airport - Hunter Field does not have its own weather station. Conditions shown here come from the nearest reporting station, KPCD, about 19 nm away — close enough for situational awareness, but local conditions at KSAR can differ.
Does KSAR have a TAF?+
No — KSAR does not publish its own TAF. The nearest TAF station is KBLV, about 25 nm away.
Does KSAR broadcast D-ATIS?+
No — KSAR does not broadcast D-ATIS. Alerts for KSAR from the ATIS Alerts bot (@atisalerts_bot) are based on its METAR (via the nearest reporting station) instead.
Pilot PIREPs for Sparta Community Airport - Hunter Field (KSAR)
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 Sparta Community Airport - Hunter Field, 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 KSAR 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.
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⚠️ Not for operational use. Always verify with official FAA-approved preflight weather sources before flight.
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