Muskrat Dam Airport

CZMD / MSA

Muskrat Dam, CA

Last Updated
Apr 13, 12:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 10 min ago
12:00Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
-6°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: -8°C
5 kt
310°
9 SM
Visibility
1,100 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1010 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR CZMD 131200Z AUTO 31005KT 290V020 9SM OVC011 M06/M08 A2983 RMK SLP122

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 911 ft
OVC 1,100 ft AGL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
1,100 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,011 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Muskrat Dam Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with overcast skies at 1,100 feet and 9 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the northwest (310°) at 5 knots. Runway 23 is favored with a 1-knot headwind and 5-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 9 SM. The ceiling is 1100 feet AGL (overcast), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is -6°C (21°F) with a dewpoint of -8°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely. Temperatures are at or below freezing. Check for icing conditions and ensure aircraft anti-ice/de-ice systems are operational if required.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 12 hours. Conditions are expected to remain MVFR throughout the forecast period. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Snow, FCST, FCST. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with FCST, FCST between 17:00Z and 22:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours.

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

QNH
1010 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
980 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (911 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,009 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -1,292 ft
ISA Deviation: -19.2°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF CZMD 130940Z 1310/1322 01008KT P6SM OVC012 FM131700 28005KT P6SM -SHSN OVC020 TEMPO 1317/1322 P6SM NSW OVC025 RMK FCST BASED ON AUTO OBS. NXT FCST BY 131600Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
12:10Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 10° 8 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 1,200 ft
17:00Z FM131700
+5h
MVFR 280° 5 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 2,000 ft
Light Showers Snow
17:00Z TEMPO
+5h
MVFR
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 2,500 ft
FCST, FCST

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: 05
3,500 ft 100 ft GRVL
0.9 kt 4.9 kt
100° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - CZMD

4,237 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
63.9%
MVFR
25.8%
IFR
8.9%
LIFR
1.4%

Muskrat Dam Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 63.9% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 10.3% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 6.6 knots. Temperature extremes range from -39°C to 31°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are April, September, March.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 6.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 22 kt
Calm Winds: 5.3%
Direction Distribution:
N
8%
NE
8.9%
E
5.6%
SE
3.2%
S
12%
SW
22.7%
W
24.5%
NW
9.7%

Temperature Range

Average: -8.4°C
Range: -39°C to 31°C
-39°C 31°C

Visibility

Average: 8.4 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.6%
Fog Frequency: 0.2%

Best Months for VFR

April September March

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 05/23
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.4 kt

Statistics computed from 4,237 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 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 63.9% of the time based on 4,237 observations, CZMD requires careful weather planning. IFR conditions occur in 10.3% 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 6.6 knots. Runway 05/23 offers the lowest average crosswind component at 3.4 knots, making it the preferred choice in typical wind conditions.

Seasonal Considerations

The best months for VFR operations are April, September, March, when clear skies are most prevalent. Temperatures at the field range from -39°C (-38°F) to 31°C (88°F), averaging -8.4°C (17°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 4,237 official METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 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.