Marquette/Sawyer International Airport

KSAW / MQT

Gwinn, US

Last Updated
Jun 10, 15:46Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 26 min ago
15:46Z

☀️ Day
IFR
Flight Rules
21°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 19°C
16 kt
210°
8 SM
Visibility
600 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KSAW 101546Z 21016KT 8SM HZ OVC006 21/19 A2979

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,221 ft
OVC 600 ft AGL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,821 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

IFR

Marquette/Sawyer International Airport is currently reporting instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions with overcast skies at 600 feet and 8 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south-southwest (210°) at 16 knots. Runway 19 is favored with a 15-knot headwind and 5-knot crosswind component. Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 8 SM. The ceiling is 600 feet AGL (overcast). Only precision approaches may be usable depending on minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 21°C (70°F) with a dewpoint of 19°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, Thunderstorm Rain, Light Showers Rain. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 3 to 14 knots. There is a 30% probability of IFR conditions with Thunderstorm Rain between 23:00Z and 02:00Z. There is a 30% probability of LIFR conditions with Light Showers Rain between 02:00Z and 04:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

An instrument rating and IFR flight plan are required. Verify that destination and alternate approach minimums are above current and forecast conditions. 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.

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KSAW 101120Z 1012/1112 VRB03KT 3/4SM BR BKN002 FM101300 VRB04KT 2SM BR BKN002 FM101600 19010KT P6SM BKN016 FM101700 17012KT P6SM BKN024 FM101800 18014KT P6SM BKN080 PROB30 1023/1102 2SM TSRA BKN019CB FM110200 20012KT 5SM BR OVC009 PROB30 1102/1104 2SM -SHRA OVC004
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
16:12Z BASE
+0h
LIFR VRB 3 kt
Visibility: 3/4SM
Ceiling: 200 ft
Mist
17:00Z FM101700
+1h
MVFR 170° 12 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 2,400 ft
18:00Z FM101800
+2h
VFR 180° 14 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 8,000 ft
23:00Z PROB30
+7h
IFR
Visibility: 2SM
Ceiling: 1,900 ft
Thunderstorm Rain

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
SAW
01
19 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 01/19
Active: 19
12,370 ft 150 ft PEM
15.0 kt 5.5 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 - KSAW

10,212 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
64.2%
MVFR
20.8%
IFR
7.7%
LIFR
7.3%

Marquette/Sawyer International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 64.2% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 15% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 8.5 knots, with gusts recorded up to 118 knots. Temperature extremes range from -30°C to 29°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are June, May, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 8.5 kt
Maximum Recorded: 118 kt
Calm Winds: 1.5%
Direction Distribution:
N
14.3%
NE
7.5%
E
2.9%
SE
3.9%
S
25.6%
SW
12.6%
W
14.4%
NW
17.2%

Temperature Range

Average: 0.5°C
Range: -30°C to 29°C
-30°C 29°C

Visibility

Average: 9.1 SM
Below 3 SM: 2.9%
Fog Frequency: 6.7%

Best Months for VFR

June May October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 01/19
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.3 kt

Statistics computed from 10,212 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Marquette/Sawyer International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KSAW
IATA Code: MQT
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,221 ft MSL

Location

City: Gwinn
Country: US
Latitude: 46.353600°
Longitude: -87.395401°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 01/19
Length: 12,370 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: PEM
ILS: No

About Marquette/Sawyer International Airport

Overview

Marquette/Sawyer International Airport serves the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, located in Gwinn with an elevation of 1,221 feet MSL. As a medium-sized airport, it provides critical aviation infrastructure for the region, positioned at coordinates 46.353600, -87.395401 with a single substantial runway 01/19 measuring 12,370 feet in length.

Flying Conditions

Weather patterns at KSAW demonstrate significant variability, with visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailing 59% of the time. Temperature ranges from -28°C to 29°C, creating challenging winter and summer operational environments. Winds predominantly come from the south at an average of 8.6 knots, with occasional strong gusts up to 45 knots and calm periods occurring 1.6% of the time.

Notable Features

The airport's extended runway and strategic location in Michigan's Upper Peninsula make it suitable for diverse aviation operations. Visibility averages 8.9 statute miles, with occasional reduced conditions including fog (6.3% occurrence) and periods below 3 miles visibility. The runway alignment allows for excellent wind coverage, with favorable wind conditions present 100% of the time.

Approach Considerations

Pilots should anticipate potential challenging conditions, particularly during winter months when IFR and LIFR conditions combine for 16.2% of observations. Runway 01/19 experiences an average crosswind of 4.5 knots, with September, October, and November offering the most consistently favorable VFR conditions. The substantial 12,370-foot runway provides significant operational flexibility for various aircraft types.

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.