Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet County Airport

KPLN / PLN

Pellston, US

Last Updated
Jun 10, 08:54Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 11 min ago
08:54Z

☀️ Day
LIFR
Flight Rules
18°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 17°C
3 kt
340°
--
Visibility
200 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1008 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KPLN 100854Z AUTO 34003KT 1 1/2SM BR OVC002 18/17 A2978 RMK AO2 SLP084 T01780172 56005

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 721 ft
OVC 200 ft AGL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
200 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
921 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

LIFR

Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet County Airport is currently reporting low IFR (LIFR) conditions with overcast skies at 200 feet.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the north-northwest (340°) at 3 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

The ceiling is very low at 200 feet AGL (overcast), well below circling minimums at most airports.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 18°C (64°F) with a dewpoint of 17°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. 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: Mist, Fog. Temporary LIFR conditions are forecast with Fog between 06:00Z and 10:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Current conditions require an instrument rating, IFR-equipped aircraft, and an IFR clearance. Check approach minimums carefully as conditions may be below CAT I ILS minimums. 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
1008 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
984 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (721 ft)
Pressure Alt
879 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,412 ft
ISA Deviation: +4.4°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KPLN 100524Z 1006/1106 02006KT 3SM BR OVC005 TEMPO 1006/1010 1/2SM FG VV003 FM101500 29005KT P6SM BKN011 FM101900 16007KT P6SM SCT110 FM110100 18008KT P6SM VCTS BKN035CB
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
09:04Z BASE
+0h
IFR 20° 6 kt
Visibility: 3SM
Ceiling: 500 ft
Mist
15:00Z FM101500
+6h
MVFR 290° 5 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 1,100 ft
19:00Z FM101900
+10h
VFR 160° 7 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
PLN
05
23
14
32 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
05/23 5,395 ft 150 ft ASP 44°
1.3 kt 2.7 kt
64° angle
✈️ 14/32
Active: 32
6,512 ft 150 ft ASP 134°
2.8 kt 1.0 kt
20° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KPLN

9,413 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
54%
MVFR
30.4%
IFR
11.3%
LIFR
4.2%

Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet County Airport is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 54% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 15.5% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NW averaging 9.3 knots, with gusts recorded up to 33 knots. Calm conditions occur 20.9% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -29°C to 30°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. Low visibility conditions (below 3 SM) occur in 6.8% of weather observations. The best months for VFR flying are June, May, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NW (315°)
Average Speed: 9.3 kt
Maximum Recorded: 33 kt
Calm Winds: 20.9%
Direction Distribution:
E
7.7%
N
7.3%
S
7.5%
W
16.1%
NE
3.2%
NW
21.4%
SE
9.8%
SW
6.1%

Temperature Range

Average: 1.3°C
Range: -29°C to 30°C
-29°C 30°C

Visibility

Average: 8.3 SM
Below 3 SM: 6.8%
Fog Frequency: 4.9%

Best Months for VFR

June May October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 05/23
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 7.2 kt
Runway 14/32
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.4 kt

Statistics computed from 9,413 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet County Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KPLN
IATA Code: PLN
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 721 ft MSL

Location

City: Pellston
Country: US
Latitude: 45.570900°
Longitude: -84.796700°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 05/23
Length: 5,395 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 14/32
Length: 6,512 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet County Airport

Overview

Pellston Regional Airport serves Emmet County in northern Michigan, located near the scenic northwestern lower peninsula. As a medium-sized airport with two substantial runways, it provides critical aviation infrastructure for the region, supporting general aviation, potential commercial traffic, and local transportation needs.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect highly variable weather conditions, with visual flight rules (VFR) prevailing 49.9% of the time and marginal VFR conditions occurring 36.1% of observations. Temperature ranges dramatically from -21°C to 30°C, with an average of 1.7°C, indicating significant seasonal temperature fluctuations that can impact aircraft performance and operations.

Notable Features

Situated at 721 feet mean sea level, the airport features two asphalt runways with substantial lengths: Runway 05/23 at 5,395 feet and Runway 14/32 at 6,512 feet. Prevailing winds from the northwest (315°) average 9.3 knots, with calm conditions occurring 22.7% of the time, providing generally stable wind environments for pilots.

Approach Considerations

Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with Runway 05/23 experiencing an average crosswind of 7.5 knots and Runway 14/32 experiencing a lower average crosswind of 4.1 knots. September, October, and November represent the most consistently favorable VFR months, offering optimal flying conditions for pilots planning regional operations.

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.