Sacramento International Airport (KSMF) Aviation Weather: METAR, TAF & ATIS
As of 10:53 PM PDT, Oct 28, KSMF is currently VFR with calm winds, visibility 10+ statute miles, and no ceiling reported. The FAA lists no ground stop or delay program for KSMF right now.
Live aviation weather for Sacramento International Airport in Sacramento, CA, including METAR, TAF, ATIS, flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling, altimeter and runway crosswinds.
Sacramento International Airport (KSMF) is one of the primary air-carrier airports serving Sacramento, CA at a field elevation of 27 ft. KSMF reports its own METAR and publishes a TAF, and broadcasts digital ATIS (D-ATIS), decoded live on this page as flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling and altimeter. It has 2 physical runways (17L/35R, 17R/35L), the longest 8,605 ft. The official FAA airport diagram is at the bottom of the page.
Wind calm, visibility 10+ statute miles, no cloud data, temperature 9°C (49°F), altimeter 29.95 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
METAR KSMF 290553Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 09/05 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP142 T00940050 10206 20089 50003
Current runway configuration at KSMF
As stated by the facility — not an estimate. Tap a runway for its intelligence page.
Updated 2 min ago (0643Z / 11:43 PM PDT)
This configuration has been stated since 0233Z (7:33 PM PDT).
What changed at KSMF?
Since the 0453Z (9:53 PM PDT) report, compared automatically against the latest METAR.
No significant changes since the 0453Z (9:53 PM PDT) report, conditions are holding steady.
Current pilot readout for KSMF
KSMF is currently VFR with calm winds, visibility 10+ statute miles, and no ceiling reported. The tower TFDM states arrivals on runway 17L and 17R and departures on runway 17L and 17R. Density altitude is approximately -700 ft (field elevation 27 ft). Review the latest TAF below for forecast changes before departure.
KSMF by the numbers
What the long-run records say about flying here, computed for this airport alone.
The FAA issued 4 ground stops and 0 ground delay programs for SMF between October 2025 and October 2026, affecting 4 days. Fog and low visibility was the most common reason (3 of 4). A typical ground stop lasted about 1 h 12 min.
KSMF reported VFR in 91% of daylight observations over 20 years, about 310 flyable days a year. July is the most reliable month and December the least, with IFR or worse 19% of the time. When conditions drop it is usually a mix of low ceilings (under 1,000 ft 3% of hours) and low visibility (under 3 miles 3%).
Over 20 years of hourly winds, the south-facing ends (17L, 17R) had the best headwind 68% of the time, the north-facing ends (35L, 35R) 32%, and winds were calm 19% of hours. Winds most often blow from the south. Crosswind on the best available runway topped 15 kt in under 1% of hours.
Fog was reported on about 51 days a year, and fog or mist on 97. January and December are the foggiest months, with fog in 28% of hours, against 0% in July.
SMF departures left within 15 minutes of schedule 81% of the time across 57,160 flights, June 2025 to May 2026. Before 9 AM departures did best (93%) and 3 to 6 PM did worst (71%).
Over the last 30 days of recorded D-ATIS broadcasts, KSMF ran north flow 50% of the time and south flow 50%. Runway 35R was named for arrivals most often (50% of recorded hours), and the configuration changed 43 times.
Sources: FAA ATCSCC advisories, hourly observations 2006 to 2025, the per-runway wind climatology 2006 to 2025, BTS airline on-time data and recorded runway configurations. 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 →
D-ATIS
Digital Automatic Terminal Information Service, the live broadcast.
SMF ATIS INFO D 0553Z. 00000KT 10SM CLR 09/05 A2995 (TWO NINER NINER FIVE). SIMUL VISUAL APCHS IN USE, LNDG RWYS 17R AND LEFT. SIMUL DEPENDENT APCHS IN USE. NOTAMS... TWY B3 CLSD. RWY 17 RIGHT INNER MARKER OTS. BIRD ACTIVITY VICINITY ARPT. CD IS ON 121.7. ...ADVS YOU HAVE INFO D.
Runway wind check
Estimated head/tailwind and crosswind for each runway end from the current reported wind.
Current wind is calm: calm wind is not a factor for runway selection, and with no wind there is no head/tail or crosswind component to compute. Live numbers return automatically once a report includes a wind direction.
| Runway | Length | Surface | Head / Tail | Crosswind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17L | 8,605 ft | CON | - | - |
| 17R | 8,598 ft | CON | - | - |
| 35L | 8,598 ft | CON | - | - |
| 35R | 8,605 ft | CON | - | - |
Open the crosswind calculator to try your own wind and runway numbers →
KSMF 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.
- No closure reportedRunway 17L/35R8,605 × 150 ft · CONCurrent use17LARR/DEPWind
- 17L
- no steady wind
- 35R
- no steady wind
no active equipment NOTAM receivedView Runway Intelligence → - No closure reportedRunway 17R/35L8,598 × 150 ft · CONCurrent use17RARR/DEPWind
- 17R
- no steady wind
- 35L
- no steady wind
no active equipment NOTAM receivedView Runway Intelligence →
“Current use” is what the tower TFDM configurationstates; 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 0→0 kt, ceiling unlimited → unlimited.
KSMF 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.
Recent aviation weather trends at KSMF
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, KSMF reported mostly VFR across 24 observations, with 0 flight-category changes. The lowest ceiling was 25,000 ft. Wind most often came from the NW.
Most recent change: LIFR → VFR
Share of hours each runway had the most headwind. From wind reports, not ATC assignments.
- 17L/17R
- 58%
- 35L/35R
- 42%
TAF | Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
Issued 0520Z (10:20 PM PDT)
TAF KSMF 290520Z 2906/3006 VRB05KT P6SM SCT250
New to TAFs? How to read one →
Get KSMF weather alerts in Telegram
Stop refreshing aviation weather manually. Track KSMF in ATIS Alerts and get notified when the ATIS changes, the airport drops below VFR, or wind and ceiling conditions move closer to your minimums.
Track KSMF free on TelegramLive KSMF Weather
Live crosswind meter
Measured by KSMF's own weather station.
Wind is calm or variable. Either end works.
Concrete · 8,605 ft. Headings from FAA runway data. Not for navigation.
Field aerial
North up
Runway 17L/35R, 17R/35L drawn from FAA threshold coordinates.
Imagery: USGS The National Map (public domain). Something off? ✏️ Suggest an edit
Nearby TFRs
Active FAA TFRs near KSMF
FAA TFR data shows an active temporary flight restriction near KSMF.
View all active US TFRs → · Official FAA TFR ↗
Verify with official FAA TFR sources before flight.
Airport info
From the FAA airport record (cycle 2026-10-01) and OurAirports.
Services
- Fuel
- 100LL · Jet A
- Attended
- 24 hours
- Repairs
- Airframe minor · Engine major
- Transient parking
- Tie-downs
- Landing fee
- No
- Other services
- Air freight · Cargo handling · Charter
- Control tower
- Yes
- Wind indicator
- Lighted
Airport
- Type
- Large airport
- ICAO
- KSMF
- IATA
- SMF
- FAA LID
- SMF
- City
- Sacramento
- State
- California
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 27 ft
- Coordinates
- 38.6954, -121.5910
- Runways
- 2 physical runways · 4 runway ends
- Longest runway
- 8,605 ft
- Weather reporting
- METAR · D-ATIS
- TAF
- Published
- ATIS
- 126.75 MHz
- Time zone
- America/Los_Angeles
- Next sunset
- 18h 26m
Is there a ground stop at SMF today? Delay status and history →
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed KSMF'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.
- WDARC - Woodland/Davis Burgdorf Henson Field , Davis, CA · 10 mi
- Woodland/Davis Aeromodelers, Lake Minden , Nicolaus, CA · 14 mi
- Sacramento Valley Soaring Society- Yolo County Grasslands Regional Park , Davis, CA · 15 mi
Historical Flying Weather at KSMF
2006–2025 · ATIS Alerts Flying Weather Index
Based on historical observations from 2006–2025, KSMF reported VFR conditions during about 91.3% of valid daylight observations, with an estimated 310 VFR flying days a year. July had the most VFR weather; December had the most instrument conditions. Surface winds averaged 6.5 kt, calm 14.9% of the time.
Full historical breakdown
Flight category by month
| Month | VFR % | MVFR % | IFR % | LIFR % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70.2 | 13.8 | 6.0 | 10.0 |
| Feb | 87.2 | 8.3 | 2.5 | 2.0 |
| Mar | 94.1 | 4.3 | 1.0 | 0.6 |
| Apr | 96.7 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 0.2 |
| May | 98.6 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.1 |
| Jun | 99.0 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 99.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 98.0 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 97.5 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 0.1 |
| Oct | 96.3 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.4 |
| Nov | 82.5 | 7.5 | 4.7 | 5.4 |
| Dec | 66.8 | 14.3 | 7.8 | 11.1 |
Average wind by month
| Month | Mean wind (kt) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 5.5 kt |
| Feb | 6.5 kt |
| Mar | 6.9 kt |
| Apr | 7.0 kt |
| May | 7.8 kt |
| Jun | 7.6 kt |
| Jul | 7.7 kt |
| Aug | 7.0 kt |
| Sep | 6.1 kt |
| Oct | 5.5 kt |
| Nov | 5.0 kt |
| Dec | 5.5 kt |
Historical summary of past observations: not a forecast or safety rating. Always check the current METAR, TAF, and a weather briefing before flight.
KSMF 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 SMF shirt or mug
SMF's real runway layout on the back, elevation and tower frequency on the front. Add your tail number on the sleeve.
Pilot PIREPs for Sacramento International Airport (KSMF)
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 Sacramento International 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 KSMF 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.
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