Santa Maria Airport

SBSM / RIA

Santa Maria, BR

Last Updated
May 26, 03:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Stale 6 hours ago
03:00Z

☀️ Day
LIFR
Flight Rules
15°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 15°C
0 kt
2 km
Visibility
200 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR SBSM 260300Z 00000KT 2000 BR OVC002 15/15 Q1018

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 287 ft
OVC 200 ft AGL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
200 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
487 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

LIFR

Santa Maria Airport is currently reporting low IFR (LIFR) conditions with overcast skies at 200 feet and 2 km visibility. Note: This observation is 6 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are calm, presenting no crosswind concerns for any runway.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is reduced to 2 km. IFR conditions prevail and an instrument clearance is required for operations in controlled airspace. The ceiling is very low at 200 feet AGL (overcast), well below circling minimums at most airports.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 15°C (59°F) with a dewpoint of 15°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

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. Expected weather includes: Mist, Fog. There is a 40% probability of LIFR conditions with Fog between 06:00Z and 11:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Current conditions require an instrument rating, IFR-equipped aircraft, and an IFR clearance. Check approach minimums carefully as conditions may be below CAT I ILS minimums. 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 SBSM 260300Z 2606/2618 27005KT 2000 BR OVC002 TN14/2608Z TX20/2617Z PROB40 2606/2611 0800 FG OVC001 BECMG 2611/2613 18005KT 8000 NSW BKN010 BECMG 2614/2616 9999 BKN015 RMK PAB
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
08:57Z BASE
+0h
LIFR 270° 5 kt
Visibility: 2 km
Ceiling: 200 ft
Mist
11:00Z BECMG
+3h
MVFR 180° 5 kt
Visibility: 8 km
Ceiling: 1,000 ft
14:00Z BECMG
+6h
MVFR
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 1,500 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
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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 4,638 ft 98 ft ASP
0.0 kt 0.0 kt
0° angle
11/29 8,839 ft 148 ft CON
0.0 kt 0.0 kt
0° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - SBSM

4,642 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
82.7%
MVFR
10%
IFR
4.4%
LIFR
2.9%

Santa Maria Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 82.7% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the E averaging 5.6 knots. Temperature extremes range from 2°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: 5.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 30 kt
Calm Winds: 3.5%
Direction Distribution:
E
38.1%
N
4.7%
S
4.9%
W
10.4%
NE
9%
NW
3.5%
SE
21.9%
SW
4.1%

Temperature Range

Average: 22.3°C
Range: 2°C to 38°C
2°C 38°C

Visibility

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

Best Months for VFR

January November September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 02/20
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.7 kt
Runway 11/29
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2 kt

Statistics computed from 4,642 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 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.