MBS International Airport

KMBS / MBS

Freeland, US

Last Updated
Jul 27, 18:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 28 min ago
18:53Z

🌇 Dusk
VFR
Flight Rules
28°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 18°C
13 kt
270°
10 SM
Visibility
12,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1009 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KMBS 271853Z 27013KT 10SM BKN120 28/18 A2979 RMK AO2 SLP083 T02780178

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 668 ft
BKN 12,000 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
12,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
12,668 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

MBS International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 12,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west (270°) at 13 knots. Runway 23 is favored with a 10-knot headwind and 8-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 12000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 28°C (82°F) with a dewpoint of 18°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 23 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Light Rain, Light Showers Rain. There is a 30% probability of VFR conditions with Light Rain between 19:00Z and 21:00Z. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Light Showers Rain between 01:00Z and 04:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. 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.

QNH
1009 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
987 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (668 ft)
Pressure Alt
796 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 2,516 ft
ISA Deviation: +14.3°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KMBS 271908Z 2719/2818 27013KT P6SM SCT045 BKN080 PROB30 2719/2721 6SM -RA SCT030 FM280000 22010KT P6SM SCT045 OVC100 PROB30 2801/2804 4SM -SHRA FM280400 34007KT P6SM BKN015 OVC025 FM281400 36014G23KT P6SM OVC015
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
19:20Z BASE
+0h
VFR 270° 13 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 8,000 ft
00:00Z FM280000
+5h
VFR 220° 10 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 10,000 ft
01:00Z PROB30
+6h
MVFR
Visibility: 4SM
Light Showers Rain
04:00Z FM280400
+9h
MVFR 340° 7 kt
Visibility: >6SM
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
MBS
05
23 ✈️
14
32

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 05/23
Active: 23
8,002 ft 150 ft ASP 45°
10.0 kt 8.4 kt
40° angle
14/32 6,400 ft 150 ft ASP 135°
9.2 kt 9.2 kt
135° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KMBS

9,572 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
67%
MVFR
22%
IFR
7.1%
LIFR
3.9%

MBS International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 67% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 11% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 9.2 knots, with gusts recorded up to 33 knots. Temperature extremes range from -24°C to 36°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are October, May, June.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 9.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 33 kt
Calm Winds: 6.9%
Direction Distribution:
E
6.9%
N
10.1%
S
14.2%
W
18.6%
NE
11.4%
NW
9.6%
SE
4.4%
SW
17.9%

Temperature Range

Average: 6.7°C
Range: -24°C to 36°C
-24°C 36°C

Visibility

Average: 8.9 SM
Below 3 SM: 4.1%
Fog Frequency: 3.7%

Best Months for VFR

October May June

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 05/23
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5 kt
Runway 14/32
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.7 kt

Statistics computed from 9,572 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

MBS International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KMBS
IATA Code: MBS
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 668 ft MSL

Location

City: Freeland
Country: US
Latitude: 43.531913°
Longitude: -84.082275°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 05/23
Length: 8,002 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 14/32
Length: 6,400 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About MBS International Airport

Overview

MBS International Airport serves the Saginaw, Michigan metropolitan area as a medium-sized airport located in Freeland, Michigan. Positioned at an elevation of 668 feet MSL, the airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for commercial, general aviation, and potentially regional transportation needs in central Michigan.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect predominantly favorable flying conditions, with 63.3% of observations reporting VFR conditions. The airport experiences significant weather variability, with temperature ranges from -23°C to 31°C and average wind speeds of 9.3 knots from the west. Seasonal visibility averages 8.7 statute miles, though 5.1% of observations show visibility below 3 miles, with fog present in 4.8% of reports.

Notable Features

The airport features two asphalt runways: Runway 05/23 at 8,002 feet and Runway 14/32 at 6,400 feet. Both runways demonstrate consistent wind alignment, with 100% favorable wind conditions. Crosswind averages are moderate, measuring 5.2 knots for Runway 05/23 and 6.6 knots for Runway 14/32, providing reasonable operational flexibility for most aircraft.

Approach Considerations

September through November represent the most consistent VFR flying months, offering optimal approach conditions. Prevailing westerly winds at 270 degrees suggest pilots should anticipate wind conditions from that direction, with potential for occasional gusts up to 32 knots. Calm wind conditions occur in 8.7% of observations, recommending flexible runway selection based on current meteorological data.

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.