General Mitchell International Airport

KMKE / MKE

Milwaukee, US

Last Updated
Jul 27, 20:04Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 13 min ago
20:04Z

🌙 Night
IFR
Flight Rules
22°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 21°C
15 kt
140° G41 kt
1.947 km
Visibility
1,800 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1007 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

SPECI KMKE 272004Z 14015G41KT 1/2SM R01L/2800VP6000FT TSRA BR FEW009 BKN018 OVC030CB 22/21 A2974 RMK AO2 PK WND 12041/1956 WSHFT 1947 SFC VIS 3 OCNL LTGCGIC SE-SW TS SE-SW MOV SE P0021 T02170206 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 723 ft
FEW 900 ft AGL
BKN 1,800 ft AGL
OVC 3,000 ft AGL (CB)
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
900 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,623 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
1,800 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,523 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC (CB)
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
3,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,723 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

IFR

General Mitchell International Airport is currently reporting instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions with overcast skies at 3,000 feet and 1.947 km visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the southeast (140°) at 15 knots with gusts to 41 knots. The significant gust spread of 26 knots may cause challenging turbulence on approach. Runway 13/31 is favored with a 15-knot headwind and 3-knot crosswind component (gusting to 7 knots crosswind). These are strong winds that may exceed crosswind limits for light aircraft.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is reduced to 1.947 km. IFR conditions prevail and an instrument clearance is required for operations in controlled airspace. The ceiling is 1800 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category. Caution: cumulonimbus (thunderstorm) clouds reported at 3,000 ft AGL, indicating convective activity in the area.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 22°C (72°F) with a dewpoint of 21°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 28 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Expected weather includes: Thunderstorm Rain. Winds are forecast to reach up to 23 knots during the period. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 10 to 23 knots. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Thunderstorm Rain between 20:00Z and 21:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

An instrument rating and IFR flight plan are required. Verify that destination and alternate approach minimums are above current and forecast conditions. Gusty conditions may exceed demonstrated crosswind components for many general aviation aircraft. Check your aircraft's limitations. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours.

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

QNH
1007 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
983 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (723 ft)
Pressure Alt
911 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,925 ft
ISA Deviation: +8.4°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KMKE 271950Z 2720/2824 06015G23KT P6SM SCT015 BKN030 TEMPO 2720/2721 06023G38KT 1SM TSRA OVC015CB FM272100 22011G18KT P6SM SCT030 BKN035 FM280200 32010KT P6SM SCT180 FM280400 36010G19KT P6SM SCT029
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
20:17Z BASE
+0h
VFR 60° 15 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 3,000 ft
21:00Z FM272100
+1h
VFR 220° 11 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 3,500 ft
02:00Z FM280200
+6h
VFR 320° 10 kt
Visibility: >6SM
04:00Z FM280400
+8h
VFR 360° 10 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
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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
MKE
01L
19R
01R
19L
07L
25R
07R
25L
13 ✈️
31

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
01L/19R 9,690 ft 200 ft PEM
10.2 kt 11.0 kt
133° angle
01R/19L 4,183 ft 150 ft ASP
10.2 kt 11.0 kt
133° angle
07L/25R 4,800 ft 100 ft ASP 71°
5.4 kt 14.0 kt
69° angle
07R/25L 8,012 ft 150 ft PEM 72°
5.6 kt 13.9 kt
68° angle
✈️ 13/31
Active: 13
5,868 ft 150 ft ASP 132°
14.8 kt 2.6 kt
10° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KMKE

8,811 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
72.7%
MVFR
17.6%
IFR
6.3%
LIFR
3.5%

General Mitchell International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 72.7% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 9.8% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 9.3 knots, with gusts recorded up to 37 knots. Temperature extremes range from -26°C to 37°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are May, October, June.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 9.3 kt
Maximum Recorded: 37 kt
Calm Winds: 7.9%
Direction Distribution:
E
6.2%
N
10.9%
S
10.8%
W
16.9%
NE
9.1%
NW
15.4%
SE
7.5%
SW
15.4%

Temperature Range

Average: 7.4°C
Range: -26°C to 37°C
-26°C 37°C

Visibility

Average: 9.2 SM
Below 3 SM: 2.9%
Fog Frequency: 2.2%

Best Months for VFR

May October June

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 13/31
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.8 kt
Runway 01L/19R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6 kt
Runway 01R/19L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6 kt
Runway 07L/25R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.8 kt
Runway 07R/25L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.8 kt

Statistics computed from 8,811 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

General Mitchell International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KMKE
IATA Code: MKE
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 723 ft MSL

Location

City: Milwaukee
Country: US
Latitude: 42.947201°
Longitude: -87.896599°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 01L/19R
Length: 9,690 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: PEM
ILS: No
Runway 01R/19L
Length: 4,183 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 07L/25R
Length: 4,800 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 07R/25L
Length: 8,012 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: PEM
ILS: No
Runway 13/31
Length: 5,868 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About General Mitchell International Airport

Overview

General Mitchell International Airport serves Milwaukee, Wisconsin as a key regional transportation hub. Located at coordinates 42.947201, -87.896599 with an elevation of 723 feet MSL, the airport provides critical air connectivity for southeastern Wisconsin. As a large airport, it supports commercial passenger, cargo, and general aviation operations.

Flying Conditions

Milwaukee's latitude and proximity to Lake Michigan create dynamic weather conditions that pilots must carefully monitor. The airport's multiple runway configurations (five total runways ranging from 4,183 to 9,690 feet) provide operational flexibility across various wind and precipitation scenarios. Seasonal variations can significantly impact approach and departure strategies, particularly during winter months.

Notable Features

The airport features five runways with diverse surface compositions: two Portland Cement (PEM) and three asphalt (ASP) runways. The longest runway, 01L/19R, extends 9,690 feet, offering substantial landing and takeoff options for larger commercial aircraft. Its multi-runway configuration enables efficient traffic management and provides alternatives during challenging meteorological conditions.

Approach Considerations

Runway selection will depend primarily on wind direction, with the parallel 01L/19R and 01R/19L runways offering primary approach vectors. The 07L/25R and 07R/25L runways provide complementary approach options, with lengths of 4,800 and 8,012 feet respectively. Pilots should anticipate potential wind shear effects due to the airport's proximity to Lake Michigan and prepare accordingly during approach and landing phases.

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.