Chippewa County International Airport

KCIU / CIU

Kincheloe, US

Last Updated
Mar 4, 12:56Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 52 min ago
12:56Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
-2°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: -3°C
4 kt
250°
10 SM
Visibility
3,200 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1023 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KCIU 041256Z AUTO 25004KT 10SM OVC032 M02/M03 A3020 RMK AO2 SLP238 T10221033 FZRANO

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 800 ft
OVC 3,200 ft AGL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
3,200 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,000 ft AMSL
QNH
1023 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
996 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (800 ft)
Pressure Alt
508 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -1,340 ft
ISA Deviation: -15.4°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KCIU 041129Z 0412/0512 24003KT P6SM SCT035 SCT250 FM041800 20007KT P6SM SCT019 TEMPO 0419/0423 BKN019 FM050200 VRB03KT 3SM BR OVC008
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
13:48Z BASE
+0h
VFR 240° 3 kt
Visibility: >6SM
18:00Z FM041800
+5h
VFR 200° 7 kt
Visibility: >6SM
19:00Z TEMPO
+6h
MVFR
Ceiling: 1,900 ft

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
CIU
09
27 ✈️
16
34

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 09/27
Active: 27
5,000 ft 75 ft ASP 90°
3.8 kt 1.4 kt
20° angle
16/34 7,201 ft 200 ft CON 150°
0.7 kt 3.9 kt
100° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KCIU

6,412 observations | Sep 2025 - Mar 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
38%
MVFR
36.6%
IFR
15.1%
LIFR
10.4%

Chippewa County International Airport is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 38% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 25.5% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 9.1 knots, with gusts recorded up to 31 knots. Temperature extremes range from -28°C to 28°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. Low visibility conditions (below 3 SM) occur in 8.9% of weather observations. The best months for VFR flying are March, October, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 9.1 kt
Maximum Recorded: 31 kt
Calm Winds: 7.5%
Direction Distribution:
N
9%
NE
3.8%
E
11.5%
SE
14.1%
S
10.4%
SW
6.3%
W
20.3%
NW
16.9%

Temperature Range

Average: -1.8°C
Range: -28°C to 28°C
-28°C 28°C

Visibility

Average: 7.9 SM
Below 3 SM: 8.9%
Fog Frequency: 6.5%

Best Months for VFR

March October September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 09/27
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.3 kt
Runway 16/34
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.2 kt

Statistics computed from 6,412 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Mar 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Chippewa County International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KCIU
IATA Code: CIU
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 800 ft MSL

Location

City: Kincheloe
Country: US
Latitude: 46.247707°
Longitude: -84.471379°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 09/27
Length: 5,000 ft
Width: 75 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 16/34
Length: 7,201 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About Chippewa County International Airport

Overview

Chippewa County International Airport serves the Kincheloe area in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, situated at an elevation of 800 feet MSL. The airport provides medium-sized facility capabilities with two substantial runways supporting diverse aviation operations. Its international designation suggests potential for broader transportation and logistical functions in the region.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at KCIU demonstrate significant variability, with Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and Marginal VFR conditions each representing 37% of observed periods. Temperature ranges extensively from -22°C to 28°C, creating challenging seasonal transitions for pilots. Prevailing westerly winds averaging 9 knots with occasional gusts up to 29 knots characterize the airport's wind profile.

Notable Features

The airport features two runways with complementary lengths and surfaces: Runway 09/27 is 5,000 feet of asphalt, while Runway 16/34 offers an extended 7,201-foot concrete surface. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with consistent average crosswind conditions around 5.1-5.3 knots. Visibility averages 7.9 statute miles, with occasional reduced conditions including fog events affecting 6.7% of observations.

Approach Considerations

September through November represent the most consistently favorable VFR months for operations. Pilots should anticipate potential reduced visibility scenarios, with 8.6% of observations showing visibility below 3 statute miles. The balanced runway configuration and predictable wind patterns provide flexibility for approach and departure planning across different 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.