Albert Lea Municipal Airport

KAEL / AEL

Albert Lea, US

Last Updated
Apr 12, 23:15Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 12 min ago
23:15Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
20°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 16°C
15 kt
200° G25 kt
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1002 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KAEL 122315Z AUTO 20015G25KT 10SM CLR 20/16 A2958 RMK AO2 PK WND 20026/2304 T02030157

Weather Briefing

VFR

Albert Lea Municipal Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with clear skies and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south-southwest (200°) at 15 knots with gusts to 25 knots. Runway 23 is favored with a 13-knot headwind and 8-knot crosswind component (gusting to 13 knots crosswind). Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. Skies are clear with unlimited ceiling.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 20°C (68°F) with a dewpoint of 16°C. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread suggests high humidity and potential for visibility restrictions, especially during cooling periods.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight.

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

QNH
1002 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
960 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,260 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,598 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 2,500 ft
ISA Deviation: +7.5°C

24-Hour Weather Evolution

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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
AEL
05
23 ✈️
17
35

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 05/23
Active: 23
2,899 ft 75 ft ASP 47°
13.0 kt 7.5 kt
30° angle
17/35 5,000 ft 100 ft ASP 168°
12.7 kt 7.9 kt
32° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KAEL

13,644 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
71.4%
MVFR
14.6%
IFR
8.6%
LIFR
5.3%

Albert Lea Municipal Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 71.4% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 13.9% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NW averaging 8.8 knots, with gusts recorded up to 32 knots. Temperature extremes range from -28°C to 33°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are September, October, February.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NW (315°)
Average Speed: 8.8 kt
Maximum Recorded: 32 kt
Calm Winds: 9.7%
Direction Distribution:
N
7.9%
NE
2.8%
E
4.7%
SE
11.2%
S
21.5%
SW
7.6%
W
10.7%
NW
23.9%

Temperature Range

Average: 1.2°C
Range: -28°C to 33°C
-28°C 33°C

Visibility

Average: 9.3 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.3%
Fog Frequency: 1.5%

Best Months for VFR

September October February

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 05/23
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 7 kt
Runway 17/35
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.6 kt

Statistics computed from 13,644 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Albert Lea Municipal Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KAEL
IATA Code: AEL
Type: small airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,260 ft MSL

Location

City: Albert Lea
Country: US
Latitude: 43.681499°
Longitude: -93.367203°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 05/23
Length: 2,899 ft
Width: 75 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 17/35
Length: 5,000 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Albert Lea Municipal Airport

Albert Lea Municipal Airport (KAEL/AEL) is located in Albert Lea, US at an elevation of 1,260 feet MSL. The airport has 2 runways (05/23, 17/35), with the longest at 5,000 feet.

Weather Profile

Analysis of 13,644 weather observations shows KAEL maintains VFR conditions 71.4% of the time, with marginal VFR accounting for 14.6% and IFR/LIFR conditions present in 13.9% of reports.

Wind Patterns & Runway Selection

Prevailing winds at KAEL come from the NW (315°) with an average speed of 8.8 knots and recorded gusts up to 32 knots. Runway 17/35 offers the lowest average crosswind component at 4.6 knots, making it the preferred choice in typical wind conditions.

Seasonal Considerations

The best months for VFR operations are September, October, February, when clear skies are most prevalent. Temperatures at the field range from -28°C (-18°F) to 33°C (91°F), averaging 1.2°C (34°F). Cold weather operations require attention to aircraft preheating, de-icing, and cold-soaked fuel management. Altimeter settings typically range from 29.16 to 30.76 inHg (988-1042 hPa).

Data Sources: Airport data from OurAirports.com. Weather statistics derived from 13,644 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.