Sangster International Airport

MKJS / MBJ

Montego Bay, JM

Last Updated
May 15, 03:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Aging 1 hour ago
03:00Z

🌙 Night
MVFR
Flight Rules
26°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 23°C
3 kt
170°
10+ km
Visibility
2,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR MKJS 150300Z 17003KT 9999 VCTS SCT018 BKN020CB 26/23 Q1015

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 4 ft
SCT 1,800 ft AGL
BKN 2,000 ft AGL (CB)
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
1,800 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,804 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN (CB)
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
2,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,004 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Sangster International Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with broken clouds at 2,000 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility. Note: This observation is 1.4 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (170°) at 3 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 2000 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category. Caution: cumulonimbus (thunderstorm) clouds reported at 2,000 ft AGL, indicating convective activity in the area.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 26°C (79°F) with a dewpoint of 23°C. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread suggests high humidity and potential for visibility restrictions, especially during cooling periods.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Showers Rain. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 3 to 17 knots. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Showers Rain between 19:00Z and 00:00Z.

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.

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF MKJS 142315Z 1500/1524 14003KT 9999 FEW022 BECMG 1513/1515 07017KT PROB30 TEMPO 1519/1524 5000 SHRA BKN018
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
04:21Z BASE
+0h
VFR 140° 3 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
13:00Z BECMG
+9h
VFR 70° 17 kt

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
KJS
07
25 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 07/25
Active: 25
8,735 ft 150 ft ASP 65°
0.5 kt 3.0 kt
80° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - MKJS

5,609 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
86.9%
MVFR
12.5%
IFR
0.6%
LIFR
0.1%

Sangster International Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 86.9% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the E averaging 8.9 knots. The climate is relatively stable with temperatures averaging 27°C (range: 19°C to 33°C). The best months for VFR flying are May, November, December.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: E (90°)
Average Speed: 8.9 kt
Maximum Recorded: 28 kt
Calm Winds: 0.7%
Direction Distribution:
N
4.5%
NE
17.9%
E
42.8%
SE
17.2%
S
9%
SW
3.8%
W
2.3%
NW
1.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 27°C
Range: 19°C to 33°C
19°C 33°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0%

Best Months for VFR

May November December

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 07/25
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.7 kt

Statistics computed from 5,609 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Sangster International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: MKJS
IATA Code: MBJ
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 4 ft MSL

Location

City: Montego Bay
Country: JM
Latitude: 18.503700°
Longitude: -77.913399°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 07/25
Length: 8,735 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Sangster International Airport

Overview

Sangster International Airport serves as the primary international gateway for Jamaica's north coast, located in Montego Bay. Situated at a low elevation of 4 ft MSL, the airport handles significant commercial and tourism traffic for the Caribbean region. Its strategic coastal location makes it a critical aviation hub for Jamaica's tourism and transportation infrastructure.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly VFR conditions, with 87.7% of observations showing clear weather and excellent visibility averaging 10 statute miles. Winds are consistently easterly at 90 degrees, with an average speed of 8.4 knots and occasional gusts up to 28 knots. Temperature remains stable, typically ranging between 22°C and 33°C, with an average of 27.6°C, providing consistently comfortable flying conditions.

Notable Features

The single runway (07/25) extends 8,735 feet with an asphalt surface, oriented east-west. Prevailing winds align nearly perfectly with the runway, providing favorable wind conditions 100% of the time. The low elevation and coastal positioning suggest minimal terrain interference for approaching and departing aircraft.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect highly predictable approach conditions with minimal meteorological complications. The runway experiences an average crosswind of only 3.6 knots, making landings straightforward. November through January represent the most consistently favorable VFR months, with minimal risk of instrument meteorological conditions.

Data Sources & Accuracy: Airport information sourced from OurAirports.com, a collaborative database of worldwide airport data. Weather data from official aviation weather services including NOAA Aviation Weather Center and international METAR/TAF providers. Information is updated regularly but pilots should always verify current conditions and NOTAMs through official channels before flight operations.

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.