Sumter Airport (KSMS) Aviation Weather, METAR, TAF & ATIS Alerts
Live aviation weather for Sumter Airport in Sumter, SC, including METAR, TAF, flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling, altimeter, runway crosswinds, and Telegram airport alerts.
Sumter Airport (KSMS) is a general aviation airport serving pilots in and around Sumter, SC at 182 ft. KSMS reports its own METAR — decoded live on this page as flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling and altimeter. Its 4 runways (05, 14, 23, 32) — longest 5,501 ft — are checked against the current wind in the crosswind table below. Automated weather is broadcast on 118.075. Track KSMS 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 south-southwest (210°) at 8 kt, visibility 10+ statute miles, a few clouds at 4,400 ft, scattered clouds at 6,000 ft, broken clouds at 11,000 ft, temperature 32°C (90°F), altimeter 29.69 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR), ceiling 11,000 ft.
METAR KSMS 290155Z AUTO 21008KT 170V230 10SM FEW044 SCT060 BKN110 32/24 A2969 RMK AO2
What changed at KSMS?
Since the 0135Z (9:35 PM EDT) report — compared automatically against the latest METAR.
- Gusts are no longer reported.
- A ceiling formed at 11,000 ft.
This is exactly what ATIS Alerts watches for you — get a Telegram message when KSMS's weather changes, free →
Current pilot readout for KSMS
KSMS is currently VFR with winds from 210° at 8 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and a 11,000 ft ceiling. The strongest crosswind component is currently on runway 14, about 8 knots. Density altitude is approximately 2,550 ft (field elevation 182 ft). KSMS does not publish a TAF — the nearest TAF station is KSSC, about 6 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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Stop refreshing aviation weather manually. Track KSMS 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 KSMS 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 KSMS. This is intended as a planning aid only and should not replace official performance calculations or pilot judgment.
| Runway | Length | Surface | Head / Tail | Crosswind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23FAV | 5,501 ft | ASP | 8 kt head | 2 kt left |
| 14 | 3,081 ft | GRS | 2 kt head | 8 kt right |
| 32 | 3,081 ft | GRS | 2 kt tail | 8 kt left |
| 05 | 5,501 ft | ASP | 8 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 24 h: wind 0→8 kt, ceiling unlimited → 11,000 ft.
KSMS weather radar
Live NEXRAD + lightning, with a 4-hour future-radar forecast — drag to pan, tap ⚡ to toggle lightning.
Live weather radar around Sumter Airport in Sumter, SC: 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 KSMS 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 KSMS
Reported by pilots in flight over the past 6 hours — via aviationweather.gov.
Show raw report
GSO UA /OV GSO180025/TM 0105/FL200/TP B738/WX RA/TA 12/TB LGT/RM ZTLFD-31
GSO UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV GSO180025Location — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0105Reported at 01:05 UTC.FL200Altitude: 20,000 ft MSL.TP B738Aircraft type reporting.WX RAWeather and flight visibility observed.TA 12Outside air temperature, °C.TB LGTTurbulence: light.RM ZTLFD-31Remarks.Show raw report
CHS UA /OV CHS360080/TM 0104/FL170/TP GLEX/SK IMC/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD/IC NEG
CHS UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV CHS360080Location — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0104Reported at 01:04 UTC.FL170Altitude: 17,000 ft MSL.TP GLEXAircraft type reporting.SK IMCSky condition — cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.TB CONS LGT OCNL MODTurbulence: continuous light occasional moderate.IC NEGIcing: none reported.Show raw report
CAE UA /OV CAE/TM 0059/FL350/TP A35K/TB OCNL LGT
CAE UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV CAELocation — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0059Reported at 00:59 UTC.FL350Altitude: 35,000 ft MSL.TP A35KAircraft type reporting.TB OCNL LGTTurbulence: occasional light.Show raw report
CAE UA /OV CAE045030/TM 0044/FL130/TP PC12/TB OCNL LGT
CAE UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV CAE045030Location — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0044Reported at 00:44 UTC.FL130Altitude: 13,000 ft MSL.TP PC12Aircraft type reporting.TB OCNL LGTTurbulence: occasional light.Show raw report
SPA UUA /OV SPA/TM 0026/FL400/TP LJ60/TB SEV/RM NO DAMAGE NO INJURIES ZTLFD-28
SPA UUAHeader — reporting station and UUA: an URGENT pilot report (severe conditions, wind shear, or similar).OV SPALocation — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0026Reported at 00:26 UTC.FL400Altitude: 40,000 ft MSL.TP LJ60Aircraft type reporting.TB SEVTurbulence: severe.RM NO DAMAGE NO INJURIES ZTL…Remarks.Show raw report
CLT UA /OV CLT220015/TM 0010/FL090/TP A21N/TB MOD/RM ZTLFD-31
CLT UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV CLT220015Location — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0010Reported at 00:10 UTC.FL090Altitude: 9,000 ft MSL.TP A21NAircraft type reporting.TB MODTurbulence: moderate.RM ZTLFD-31Remarks.Show raw report
GRD UA /OV GRD/TM 0009/FL320/TP C501/TA M22/IC LGT RIME 320/RM V32
GRD UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV GRDLocation — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0009Reported at 00:09 UTC.FL320Altitude: 32,000 ft MSL.TP C501Aircraft type reporting.TA M22Outside air temperature, °C.IC LGT RIME 320Icing: light rime 320.RM V32Remarks.Show raw report
CLT UA /OV CLT/TM 2343/FL200/TP B712/TA M17/IC LGT RIME 200/RM ZTLFD-33
CLT UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV CLTLocation — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2343Reported at 23:43 UTC.FL200Altitude: 20,000 ft MSL.TP B712Aircraft type reporting.TA M17Outside air temperature, °C.IC LGT RIME 200Icing: light rime 200.RM ZTLFD-33Remarks.⚠️ PIREPs are unverified pilot reports. Not for operational use — conditions change between reports.
Recent aviation weather trends at KSMS
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, KSMS reported mostly VFR across 72 observations, with 0 flight-category changes. The strongest gust reached 18 kt, the lowest ceiling was 5,000 ft. Wind most often came from the SW.
Most recent change: LIFR → VFR
- 23
- 68%
- 14
- 21%
- 32
- 6%
- 05
- 5%
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Airport facts
Reference data from the OurAirports dataset.
- Type
- General aviation airport
- ICAO
- KSMS
- IATA
- SUM
- FAA LID
- SMS
- City
- Sumter
- State
- South Carolina
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 182 ft
- Coordinates
- 33.9950, -80.3613
- Runways
- 4
- Longest runway
- 5,501 ft
- Weather reporting
- Reports METAR
- TAF
- Nearest KSSC
- AWOS/ASOS
- 118.075 MHz
- Time zone
- America/New_York
- Next sunset
- 22h 19m
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed KSMS'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
9 airports+3 more within 50 NM
50–100 NM
7 airports+1 more within 100 NM
RC flying fields nearby
AMA model-aircraft club fields around this airport — live wind, crosswind & flyability on each page.
- Carolina Sod Busters - Peach Orchard Rd — Dalzell, SC · 6 mi
- Carolina Sod Busters - Modern Turf Sod Farm Camden Hwy — Rembert, SC · 13 mi
- Kershaw County Flyers - Science Park — Camden, SC · 23 mi
Historical Flying Weather
2006–2025 · ATIS Alerts Flying Weather Index
Based on historical observations from 2006–2025, KSMS reported VFR conditions during about 81.0% of valid daylight observations, with an estimated 278 VFR flying days a year. June had the most VFR weather; December had the most instrument conditions. Surface winds averaged 3.4 kt, calm 47.0% of the time.
Full historical breakdown
Flight category by month
| Month | VFR % | MVFR % | IFR % | LIFR % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 78.2 | 10.1 | 5.6 | 6.1 |
| Feb | 75.8 | 10.9 | 6.6 | 6.7 |
| Mar | 79.7 | 10.3 | 5.7 | 4.3 |
| Apr | 83.7 | 9.3 | 4.3 | 2.6 |
| May | 80.2 | 11.2 | 5.1 | 3.6 |
| Jun | 84.2 | 10.2 | 3.3 | 2.3 |
| Jul | 81.5 | 11.1 | 3.8 | 3.7 |
| Aug | 75.2 | 13.5 | 6.1 | 5.2 |
| Sep | 78.3 | 12.3 | 5.3 | 4.2 |
| Oct | 79.6 | 10.5 | 5.7 | 4.3 |
| Nov | 77.6 | 11.4 | 6.3 | 4.8 |
| Dec | 71.7 | 13.3 | 7.5 | 7.5 |
Average wind by month
| Month | Mean wind (kt) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 3.8 kt |
| Feb | 4.4 kt |
| Mar | 4.7 kt |
| Apr | 4.6 kt |
| May | 3.7 kt |
| Jun | 3.0 kt |
| Jul | 2.8 kt |
| Aug | 2.4 kt |
| Sep | 2.8 kt |
| Oct | 2.9 kt |
| Nov | 3.1 kt |
| Dec | 3.3 kt |
Historical summary of past observations — not a forecast or safety rating. Always check the current METAR, TAF, and a weather briefing before flight.
KSMS weather — frequently asked
What runways are available at KSMS?+
KSMS has 4 runways — 05, 14, 23, 32; the longest is 5,501 ft. This page computes the live crosswind for each runway end from the current wind.
Does KSMS report its own weather?+
Yes — Sumter Airport has its own weather station and publishes METAR observations, which this page decodes live.
Does KSMS have a TAF?+
No — KSMS does not publish its own TAF. The nearest TAF station is KSSC, about 6 nm away.
Does KSMS broadcast D-ATIS?+
No — KSMS does not broadcast D-ATIS. Alerts for KSMS from the ATIS Alerts bot (@atisalerts_bot) are based on its METAR instead.
Pilot PIREPs for Sumter Airport (KSMS)
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 Sumter 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 KSMS 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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- Get pinged the moment KSMS drops below VFR or a new report moves your numbers.
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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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