Santa Maria Airport

SBSM / RIA

Santa Maria, BR

Last Updated
Feb 17, 03:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Stale 3 hours ago
03:00Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
26°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 24°C
4 kt
20°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR SBSM 170300Z 02004KT 9999 FEW035 26/24 Q1012

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 287 ft
FEW 3,500 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
3,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,787 ft AMSL

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF SBSM 162100Z 1700/1712 01002KT 9999 SCT020 TN21/1709Z TX27/1712Z BECMG 1702/1704 33001KT 4000 BR OVC015 BECMG 1710/1712 16002KT 9999 NSW BKN020 RMK PAE
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
05:59Z BASE
+0h
VFR 10° 2 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
10:00Z BECMG
+5h
MVFR 160° 2 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 2,000 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
Chart Features
  • • Hover for exact values and timestamps
  • • Click legend items to toggle data series
  • • Zoom and pan for detailed analysis
  • • Units automatically converted to preferences
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
BSM
02 ✈️
20
11 ✈️
29

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 02/20
Active: 02
4,638 ft 98 ft ASP
4.0 kt 0.0 kt
0° angle
✈️ 11/29
Active: 11
8,839 ft 148 ft CON
0.0 kt 4.0 kt
90° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - SBSM

2,811 observations | Sep 2025 - Feb 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
87.1%
MVFR
8%
IFR
3.5%
LIFR
1.5%

Santa Maria Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 87.1% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the E averaging 6 knots. Temperature extremes range from 6°C to 38°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are January, November, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: E (90°)
Average Speed: 6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 23 kt
Calm Winds: 2.2%
Direction Distribution:
N
3.9%
NE
9.2%
E
40.6%
SE
22.7%
S
5.8%
SW
3.9%
W
8.4%
NW
3.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 23.3°C
Range: 6°C to 38°C
6°C 38°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.7%

Best Months for VFR

January November September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 02/20
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5 kt
Runway 11/29
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2.1 kt

Statistics computed from 2,811 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Feb 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Santa Maria Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: SBSM
IATA Code: RIA
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 287 ft MSL

Location

City: Santa Maria
Country: BR
Latitude: -29.711399°
Longitude: -53.688202°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+4

Runway Information

Runway 02/20
Length: 4,638 ft
Width: 98 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 11/29
Length: 8,839 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About Santa Maria Airport

Overview

Santa Maria Airport serves the Rio Grande do Sul region in Brazil, located at coordinates -29.711399, -53.688202 with an elevation of 287 feet MSL. As a medium-sized airport, it provides critical aviation infrastructure for regional transportation and supports various flight operations. The airport features two runways: a 4,638-foot asphalted runway (02/20) and a longer 8,839-foot concrete runway (11/29).

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Santa Maria Airport are predominantly VFR, with 87.2% of observations indicating favorable visual flight conditions. The prevailing wind blows from the east at an average of 6.1 knots, with occasional gusts up to 23 knots. Temperature ranges from 6°C to 38°C, with an average of 22.8°C, creating generally stable flying conditions throughout the year.

Notable Features

Both runways demonstrate excellent wind alignment, with 100% favorable wind coverage. The longer runway 11/29 experiences minimal crosswind, averaging just 2.1 knots, while runway 02/20 has a slightly higher average crosswind of 5.1 knots. Visibility is consistently good, with an average of 10 statute miles and rare instances of reduced visibility.

Approach Considerations

January, September, and November represent the best months for VFR flying at Santa Maria Airport. Pilots should anticipate east-trending winds and expect minimal meteorological disruptions, with only 3.7% of observations indicating IFR conditions. The airport's dual runway configuration provides flexibility for approaches, with the longer 11/29 runway offering optimal landing options.

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.