Mackay Airport

YBMK / MKY

Mackay, AU

Last Updated
May 15, 01:00Z

No METAR Available for YBMK

Showing weather from nearby airport with METAR data.

Currently using: YBHM
Weather Source: Hamilton Island Airport (YBHM)
Distance: 50nm / 93km from YBMK

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 34 min ago
01:00Z

🌙 Night
MVFR
Flight Rules
22°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 20°C
22 kt
150°
10+ km
Visibility
2,800 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR YBHM 150100Z AUTO 15022KT 9999 // FEW022 BKN028 OVC037 22/20 Q1019

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 19 ft
FEW 2,200 ft AGL
BKN 2,800 ft AGL
OVC 3,700 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
2,200 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,219 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
2,800 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,819 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
3,700 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,719 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Mackay Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with overcast skies at 3,700 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south-southeast (150°) at 22 knots. Runway 14/32 is favored with a 22-knot headwind and 4-knot crosswind component. Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 2800 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 22°C (72°F) with a dewpoint of 20°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. Conditions are expected to remain IFR throughout the forecast period. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain. Winds are forecast to reach up to 22 knots during the period.

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. 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 YBHM 142319Z 1500/1512 14022KT 9999 -SHRA SCT030 INTER 1510/1512 13022G32KT 5000 SHRA BKN014
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
01:33Z BASE
+0h
IFR 130° 22 kt
Visibility: 5 km
Ceiling: 1,400 ft
Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain

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
BMK
05
23
14 ✈️
32

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
05/23 4,409 ft 98 ft ASP 57°
1.2 kt 22.0 kt
93° angle
✈️ 14/32
Active: 14
6,499 ft 148 ft ASP 148°
21.7 kt 3.8 kt
10° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Mackay Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: YBMK
IATA Code: MKY
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 19 ft MSL

Location

City: Mackay
Country: AU
Latitude: -21.170816°
Longitude: 149.182588°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-10

Runway Information

Runway 05/23
Length: 4,409 ft
Width: 98 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 14/32
Length: 6,499 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Mackay Airport

Overview

Mackay Airport serves the Central Queensland region, located near the city of Mackay in northeastern Australia. Positioned at 19 feet above mean sea level, the airport supports regional and commercial aviation with its two paved runways accommodating various aircraft types.

Flying Conditions

Mackay's coastal location introduces variable weather conditions typical of tropical Queensland. Pilots should anticipate potential wind shifts and sea breeze effects, particularly during seasonal transition periods between dry and wet seasons.

Notable Features

The airport features two asphalt runways with significantly different lengths: Runway 05/23 at 4,409 feet and Runway 14/32 at 6,499 feet. Its geographic coordinates at -21.170816, 149.182588 place it in proximity to coastal terrain, which can influence local meteorological conditions.

Approach Considerations

With two perpendicular runways, pilots have multiple approach options depending on prevailing wind conditions. The longer Runway 14/32 provides more flexibility for larger aircraft, while the shorter 05/23 runway offers an alternative approach direction based on wind vector and operational requirements.

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.