Santa Maria Airport

SBSM / RIA

Santa Maria, BR

Last Updated
Mar 12, 16:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 24 min ago
16:00Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
25°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 21°C
3 kt
120°
10+ km
Visibility
1,500 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR SBSM 121600Z 12003KT 9999 BKN015 OVC030 25/21 Q1013

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 287 ft
BKN 1,500 ft AGL
OVC 3,000 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
1,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,787 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
3,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,287 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Santa Maria Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with overcast skies at 3,000 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east-southeast (120°) at 3 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 1500 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 25°C (77°F) with a dewpoint of 21°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 12 hours. IFR conditions are expected to persist or develop. An instrument rating and IFR flight plan are recommended.

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 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.

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF SBSM 120900Z 1212/1224 16006KT 8000 BKN008 TN23/1212Z TX28/1217Z BECMG 1214/1216 BKN015 BECMG 1220/1222 23006KT BKN020 FEW035TCU RMK PEN
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
16:24Z BASE
+0h
IFR 160° 6 kt
Visibility: 8 km
Ceiling: 800 ft
20:00Z BECMG
+4h
MVFR 230° 6 kt
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
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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
BSM
02
20 ✈️
11
29 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 02/20
Active: 20
4,638 ft 98 ft ASP
0.5 kt 3.0 kt
80° angle
✈️ 11/29
Active: 29
8,839 ft 148 ft CON
3.0 kt 0.5 kt
170° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - SBSM

3,262 observations | Sep 2025 - Mar 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
86%
MVFR
8.8%
IFR
3.5%
LIFR
1.7%

Santa Maria Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 86% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the E averaging 5.8 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: 5.8 kt
Maximum Recorded: 23 kt
Calm Winds: 2.2%
Direction Distribution:
N
3.9%
NE
9.1%
E
40.3%
SE
23.7%
S
5.4%
SW
4.3%
W
8.1%
NW
2.9%

Temperature Range

Average: 23.4°C
Range: 6°C to 38°C
6°C 38°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 1.3%

Best Months for VFR

January November September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 02/20
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.9 kt
Runway 11/29
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2 kt

Statistics computed from 3,262 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Mar 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.