MBS International Airport

KMBS / MBS

Freeland, US

Last Updated
Jun 10, 13:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 45 min ago
13:53Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
23°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 19°C
7 kt
250°
10 SM
Visibility
1,700 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1009 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KMBS 101353Z 25007KT 10SM BKN017 23/19 A2981 RMK AO2 SLP092 T02280189

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 668 ft
BKN 1,700 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
1,700 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,368 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

MBS International Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with broken clouds at 1,700 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west-southwest (250°) at 7 knots. Runway 23 is favored with a 7-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 1700 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 23°C (73°F) with a dewpoint of 19°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 23 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Light Rain. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Light Rain between 02:00Z and 06:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further.

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: 1,916 ft
ISA Deviation: +9.3°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KMBS 101301Z 1013/1112 28005KT P6SM OVC012 FM101600 24010KT P6SM BKN045 FM102200 23013KT P6SM BKN060 FM110100 18007KT P6SM SCT060 OVC120 PROB30 1102/1106 4SM -RA BKN060
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
14:38Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 280° 5 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 1,200 ft
16:00Z FM101600
+2h
VFR 240° 10 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 4,500 ft
22:00Z FM102200
+8h
VFR 230° 13 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 6,000 ft
01:00Z FM110100
+11h
VFR 180° 7 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 12,000 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
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°
6.6 kt 2.4 kt
20° angle
14/32 6,400 ft 150 ft ASP 135°
3.0 kt 6.3 kt
115° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KMBS

8,339 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
65.4%
MVFR
22.6%
IFR
7.6%
LIFR
4.4%

MBS International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 65.4% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 12% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 9.4 knots, with gusts recorded up to 33 knots. Temperature extremes range from -24°C to 31°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are October, May, June.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 9.4 kt
Maximum Recorded: 33 kt
Calm Winds: 6.9%
Direction Distribution:
N
9.8%
NE
11%
E
7.2%
SE
4.5%
S
14.7%
SW
17.4%
W
18.6%
NW
9.8%

Temperature Range

Average: 4.5°C
Range: -24°C to 31°C
-24°C 31°C

Visibility

Average: 8.9 SM
Below 3 SM: 4.4%
Fog Frequency: 4.2%

Best Months for VFR

October May June

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 05/23
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.1 kt
Runway 14/32
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.8 kt

Statistics computed from 8,339 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 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.