Mason City Municipal Airport

KMCW / MCW

Mason City, US

Last Updated
Jul 27, 16:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 37 min ago
16:53Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
32°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 28°C
10 kt
310°
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1008 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KMCW 271653Z AUTO 31010KT 10SM FEW020 32/28 A2977 RMK AO2 SLP063 T03220278

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,213 ft
FEW 2,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
2,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,213 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Mason City Municipal Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with few clouds at 2,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the northwest (310°) at 10 knots. Runway 30 is favored with a 10-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 2,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 32°C (90°F) with a dewpoint of 28°C. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread suggests high humidity and potential for visibility restrictions, especially during cooling periods. High temperatures at this elevation may result in significant density altitude effects. Pilots should calculate density altitude and adjust performance expectations accordingly.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period. Expected weather includes: Smoke.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

QNH
1008 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
968 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,213 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,371 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 3,702 ft (High - Reduced Performance)
ISA Deviation: +19.4°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KMCW 271120Z 2712/2812 17005KT P6SM SCT080 FM271400 28007KT P6SM FEW250 FM271700 31008KT 6SM FU SCT250 FM280500 35006KT P6SM SCT250
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
17:30Z BASE
+0h
VFR 170° 5 kt
Visibility: >6SM
05:00Z FM280500
+12h
VFR 350° 6 kt
Visibility: >6SM

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
MCW
12
30 ✈️
18
36

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 12/30
Active: 30
5,502 ft 150 ft ASP 124°
9.8 kt 1.7 kt
10° angle
18/36 6,501 ft 150 ft ASP 179°
6.6 kt 7.5 kt
131° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KMCW

9,545 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
70.7%
MVFR
18%
IFR
7.2%
LIFR
4.1%

Mason City Municipal Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 70.7% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 11.3% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NW averaging 11.1 knots, with gusts recorded up to 44 knots. Temperature extremes range from -28°C to 33°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are October, May, June.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NW (315°)
Average Speed: 11.1 kt
Maximum Recorded: 44 kt
Calm Winds: 7.9%
Direction Distribution:
E
7.1%
N
9.4%
S
17.3%
W
11.3%
NE
4%
NW
22.8%
SE
12.9%
SW
7.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 6.5°C
Range: -28°C to 33°C
-28°C 33°C

Visibility

Average: 9.1 SM
Below 3 SM: 3.6%
Fog Frequency: 5.6%

Best Months for VFR

October May June

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 12/30
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.5 kt
Runway 18/36
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.8 kt

Statistics computed from 9,545 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Mason City Municipal Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KMCW
IATA Code: MCW
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,213 ft MSL

Location

City: Mason City
Country: US
Latitude: 43.159801°
Longitude: -93.329716°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 12/30
Length: 5,502 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 18/36
Length: 6,501 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Mason City Municipal Airport

Overview

Mason City Municipal Airport serves the north-central Iowa region, positioned strategically in Cerro Gordo County. Located at 43.159801, -93.329716 with an elevation of 1,213 feet MSL, this medium-sized airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for the Mason City metropolitan area and surrounding communities.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect predominantly VFR conditions, with 64.3% of observations presenting clear flying weather. Seasonal temperature variations are significant, ranging from -28°C to 33°C, with an average of 2.1°C. Wind patterns are predominantly northwest at 315°, averaging 11.2 knots with occasional gusts up to 36 knots, and calm conditions occurring 7.2% of the time.

Notable Features

The airport features two asphalt runways: Runway 12/30 measuring 5,502 feet and Runway 18/36 extending 6,501 feet. Both runways demonstrate excellent wind alignment, with 100% favorable wind coverage. Crosswind components are moderate, averaging 4.9 knots on 12/30 and 7.2 knots on 18/36, providing consistent operational flexibility.

Approach Considerations

September through November represent the most consistent VFR months, offering optimal flying conditions. Visibility averages 8.7 statute miles, with only 6% of observations showing conditions below 3 miles. Pilots should be prepared for occasional fog (8.8% of observations) and plan approaches accordingly, leveraging the airport's well-aligned runways.

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.