Massena International Airport Richards Field

KMSS / MSS

Massena, US

Last Updated
Apr 18, 10:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 23 min ago
10:53Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
6°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 4°C
4 kt
60°
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1014 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KMSS 181053Z AUTO 06004KT 10SM CLR 06/04 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP145 T00560039

Weather Briefing

VFR

Massena International Airport Richards Field is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with clear skies and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east-northeast (60°) at 4 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. Skies are clear with unlimited ceiling.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 6°C (43°F) with a dewpoint of 4°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 24 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain. Winds are forecast to reach up to 25 knots during the period. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 8 to 25 knots.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours. 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
1014 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1007 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (215 ft)
Pressure Alt
193 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -835 ft
ISA Deviation: -8.6°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KMSS 180533Z 1806/1906 00000KT P6SM FEW250 FM181100 13008KT P6SM FEW250 WS020/20030KT FM181400 17025G33KT P6SM FEW230 FM190100 19019G30KT P6SM -SHRA OVC045 FM190300 23014G31KT P6SM -SHRA OVC020
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
11:16Z BASE
+0h
VFR
Visibility: >6SM
14:00Z FM181400
+3h
VFR 170° 25 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
  • • Hover for exact values and timestamps
  • • Click legend items to toggle data series
  • • Zoom and pan for detailed analysis
  • • Units automatically converted to preferences
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
MSS
05 ✈️
23
09 ✈️
27

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 05/23
Active: 05
5,601 ft 100 ft ASP 31°
3.9 kt 0.7 kt
10° angle
✈️ 09/27
Active: 09
4,000 ft 100 ft ASP 76°
3.5 kt 2.0 kt
30° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KMSS

6,942 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
56.2%
MVFR
30.2%
IFR
10%
LIFR
3.6%

Massena International Airport Richards Field is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 56.2% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 13.6% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SW averaging 8.7 knots. Calm conditions occur 17.1% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -29°C to 28°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. Low visibility conditions (below 3 SM) occur in 5.8% of weather observations. The best months for VFR flying are September, October, March.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SW (225°)
Average Speed: 8.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 29 kt
Calm Winds: 17.1%
Direction Distribution:
N
3.6%
NE
16%
E
7.8%
SE
1%
S
5.6%
SW
23.3%
W
19.7%
NW
6%

Temperature Range

Average: -0.9°C
Range: -29°C to 28°C
-29°C 28°C

Visibility

Average: 8.4 SM
Below 3 SM: 5.8%
Fog Frequency: 1.5%

Best Months for VFR

September October March

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 05/23
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.4 kt
Runway 09/27
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.8 kt

Statistics computed from 6,942 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Massena International Airport Richards Field - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KMSS
IATA Code: MSS
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 215 ft MSL

Location

City: Massena
Country: US
Latitude: 44.936157°
Longitude: -74.844304°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 05/23
Length: 5,601 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 09/27
Length: 4,000 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Massena International Airport Richards Field

Overview

Massena International Airport Richards Field serves the northern New York region, located near the Canadian border at coordinates 44.936157, -74.844304. Situated at an elevation of 215 feet MSL, this medium airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for St. Lawrence County. The airport features two asphalt runways capable of handling a variety of aircraft operations.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect predominantly VFR conditions 56% of the time, with MVFR conditions occurring 29.4% of observations. Temperature variations are significant, ranging from -26°C to 28°C, with an average of 0.9°C. Wind patterns are consistently southwesterly at 225°, averaging 8.6 knots, with calm conditions present 20.7% of the time and occasional gusts up to 29 knots.

Notable Features

The airport's two runways offer flexible operational capabilities: Runway 05/23 measures 5,601 feet, while Runway 09/27 is 4,000 feet long. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignments, with minimal average crosswind components of 3.7 and 4.6 knots respectively. Visibility typically remains excellent, averaging 8.4 statute miles with only 6.1% of observations showing reduced visibility.

Approach Considerations

September, October, and December represent the best VFR months for operations at Massena International Airport. Pilots should anticipate predominantly southwestern wind patterns when planning approaches. The consistent wind characteristics and low average crosswind speeds provide relatively straightforward landing conditions across both primary 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.