Marquette/Sawyer International Airport

KSAW / MQT

Gwinn, US

Last Updated
Jul 28, 00:45Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 2 min ago
00:45Z

🌙 Night
IFR
Flight Rules
18°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 17°C
11 kt
10°
8 SM
Visibility
500 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1008 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KSAW 280045Z 01011KT 8SM OVC005 18/17 A2977 RMK LTG DSNT SE

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,221 ft
OVC 500 ft AGL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,721 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

IFR

Marquette/Sawyer International Airport is currently reporting instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions with overcast skies at 500 feet and 8 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the north (10°) at 11 knots. Runway 01/19 is favored with a 11-knot headwind and 0-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 8 SM. The ceiling is 500 feet AGL (overcast). Only precision approaches may be usable depending on minimums.

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.

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.

QNH
1008 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
967 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,221 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,379 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 2,032 ft
ISA Deviation: +5.4°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KSAW 272320Z 2800/2824 01011KT 3SM BR OVC003 FM280500 36005KT 1SM BR OVC005 FM281100 36007KT 4SM BR BKN010 FM281200 01010KT P6SM SKC
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
00:47Z BASE
+0h
LIFR 10° 11 kt
Visibility: 3SM
Ceiling: 300 ft
Mist
05:00Z FM280500
+5h
IFR 360° 5 kt
Visibility: 1SM
Ceiling: 500 ft
Mist
11:00Z FM281100
+11h
IFR 360° 7 kt
Visibility: 4SM
Ceiling: 1,000 ft
Mist
12:00Z FM281200
+12h
VFR 10° 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
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
SAW
01 ✈️
19

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 01/19
Active: 01
12,370 ft 150 ft PEM
11.0 kt 0.0 kt
0° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KSAW

11,904 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
66.8%
MVFR
19%
IFR
7.3%
LIFR
6.9%

Marquette/Sawyer International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 66.8% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 14.2% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 8.2 knots, with gusts recorded up to 118 knots. Temperature extremes range from -30°C to 37°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are June, May, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 8.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 118 kt
Calm Winds: 1.5%
Direction Distribution:
E
2.9%
N
14.9%
S
24.7%
W
14.5%
NE
7.9%
NW
16.9%
SE
3.9%
SW
12.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 2.9°C
Range: -30°C to 37°C
-30°C 37°C

Visibility

Average: 9.1 SM
Below 3 SM: 3.3%
Fog Frequency: 6.2%

Best Months for VFR

June May October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 01/19
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.1 kt

Statistics computed from 11,904 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 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.