Muskrat Dam Airport

CZMD / MSA

Muskrat Dam, CA

Last Updated
Jun 26, 19:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 25 min ago
19:00Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
28°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 6°C
6 kt
250°
9 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1016 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR CZMD 261900Z AUTO 25006KT 180V330 9SM FEW091 28/06 A2999 RMK SLP160 DENSITY ALT 2600FT

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 911 ft
FEW 9,100 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
9,100 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
10,011 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Muskrat Dam Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with few clouds at 9,100 feet and 9 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west-southwest (250°) at 6 knots. Runway 23 is favored with a 6-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 9 SM. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 9,100 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 28°C (82°F) with a dewpoint of 6°C, indicating very dry conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 6 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain, Thunderstorm Rain, Mist, FCST, FCST. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 3 to 15 knots. Temporary VFR conditions are forecast with Light Showers Rain between 18:00Z and 22:00Z. There is a 40% probability of MVFR conditions with Thunderstorm Rain, Mist, FCST, FCST between 18:00Z and 22:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. The forecast indicates conditions may deteriorate. Ensure you have fuel reserves and a viable alternate airport.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

QNH
1016 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
986 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (911 ft)
Pressure Alt
829 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 2,608 ft
ISA Deviation: +14.8°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF CZMD 261550Z 2616/2622 VRB03KT P6SM BKN110 FM261800 17005KT P6SM SCT080 TEMPO 2618/2622 P6SM -SHRA BKN080 PROB40 2618/2622 VRB15G28KT 5SM TSRA BR BKN050CB OVC080 RMK FCST BASED ON AUTO OBS. NXT FCST BY 271000Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
19:24Z BASE
+0h
VFR VRB 3 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 11,000 ft

24-Hour Weather Evolution

Loading weather data...
Data Sources
  • • Current conditions from METAR observations
  • • Historical data from past 24 hours
  • • No forecast or predicted data included
  • • Data updated with each new METAR report
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Note: Future values beyond current TAF validity are estimates based on climatological data and trends. Always verify with current forecasts before flight operations.

Airport Runway Layout

N
ZMD
05
23 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 05/23
Active: 23
3,500 ft 100 ft GRVL
5.6 kt 2.1 kt
20° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - CZMD

5,399 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
64.9%
MVFR
25.4%
IFR
8.3%
LIFR
1.4%

Muskrat Dam Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 64.9% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 9.7% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 6.7 knots. Temperature extremes range from -39°C to 31°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are June, September, March.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 6.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 22 kt
Calm Winds: 5.6%
Direction Distribution:
N
8.8%
NE
10.9%
E
7%
SE
3%
S
11.3%
SW
20.6%
W
21.5%
NW
11.2%

Temperature Range

Average: -6°C
Range: -39°C to 31°C
-39°C 31°C

Visibility

Average: 8.4 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.7%
Fog Frequency: 0.3%

Best Months for VFR

June September March

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 05/23
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.5 kt

Statistics computed from 5,399 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Muskrat Dam Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: CZMD
IATA Code: MSA
Type: small airport
Status: active
Elevation: 911 ft MSL

Location

City: Muskrat Dam
Country: CA
Latitude: 53.441399°
Longitude: -91.762802°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 05/23
Length: 3,500 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: GRVL
ILS: No

Nearby Airports

VFR MVFR IFR LIFR No Data

About Muskrat Dam Airport

Muskrat Dam Airport (CZMD/MSA) is located in Muskrat Dam, CA at an elevation of 911 feet MSL. The airport has 1 runway (05/23), with the longest at 3,500 feet.

Weather Profile

With VFR conditions only 64.9% of the time based on 5,399 observations, CZMD requires careful weather planning. IFR conditions occur in 9.7% of reports, and instrument proficiency is advisable for regular operations here.

Wind Patterns & Runway Selection

Prevailing winds at CZMD come from the W (270°) with an average speed of 6.7 knots. Runway 05/23 offers the lowest average crosswind component at 3.5 knots, making it the preferred choice in typical wind conditions.

Seasonal Considerations

The best months for VFR operations are June, September, March, when clear skies are most prevalent. Temperatures at the field range from -39°C (-38°F) to 31°C (88°F), averaging -6°C (21°F). Cold weather operations require attention to aircraft preheating, de-icing, and cold-soaked fuel management. Altimeter settings typically range from 29 to 30.62 inHg (982-1037 hPa).

Data Sources: Airport data from OurAirports.com. Weather statistics derived from 5,399 official METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Pilots should always verify current conditions through official channels before flight.

Official Data Sources

Weather NOAA Aviation Weather Center • International METAR/TAF Network
Airports OurAirports.com • Public domain airport database
NOTAMs FAA NOTAM System • ICAO NOTAM Distribution
Last updated: Jan 1, 1970 12:00 AM UTC

Disclaimer: Data is provided for informational purposes only. Pilots must verify all information through official sources before flight operations. Weather conditions change rapidly; always obtain a current briefing from approved weather services.