Lake Cumberland Regional Airport

KSME / SME

Somerset, US

Last Updated
Jul 27, 03:15Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 10 min ago
03:15Z

🌙 Night
MVFR
Flight Rules
--
Temperature
Dewpoint: --
3 kt
140°
10 SM
Visibility
2,700 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1013 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KSME 270315Z AUTO 14003KT 10SM BKN027 BKN032 BKN043 A2990 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT N AND NW

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 927 ft
BKN 2,700 ft AGL
BKN 3,200 ft AGL
BKN 4,300 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
2,700 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,627 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
3,200 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,127 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
4,300 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,227 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Lake Cumberland Regional Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with broken clouds at 2,700 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the southeast (140°) at 3 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 2700 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature data is not available.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 21 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: Light Thunderstorm Rain, Mist, Mist. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Light Thunderstorm Rain, Mist between 03:00Z and 06:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further. 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
1013 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
982 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (927 ft)
Pressure Alt
935 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,157 ft
ISA Deviation: +1.9°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KSME 270315Z 2703/2724 00000KT P6SM SCT025 TEMPO 2703/2706 VRB10G20KT 3SM -TSRA BR SCT020CB FM270800 00000KT 4SM BR BKN015 FM271000 00000KT 2SM BR BKN006 FM271300 VRB02KT P6SM BKN025 FM271600 VRB06KT P6SM SCT120
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
03:25Z BASE
+0h
VFR
Visibility: >6SM
08:00Z FM270800
+5h
MVFR
Visibility: 4SM
Ceiling: 1,500 ft
Mist
10:00Z FM271000
+7h
IFR
Visibility: 2SM
Ceiling: 600 ft
Mist
13:00Z FM271300
+10h
MVFR VRB 2 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 2,500 ft

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
SME
05
23 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 05/23
Active: 23
5,800 ft 100 ft ASP 43°
0.0 kt 3.0 kt
90° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KSME

21,430 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
81.7%
MVFR
13.1%
IFR
3%
LIFR
2.2%

Lake Cumberland Regional Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 81.7% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the SW averaging 7.4 knots, with gusts recorded up to 42 knots. Calm conditions occur 39.2% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -15°C to 36°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are September, April, June.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SW (225°)
Average Speed: 7.4 kt
Maximum Recorded: 42 kt
Calm Winds: 39.2%
Direction Distribution:
E
3.7%
N
6.5%
S
10%
W
12.6%
NE
7.9%
NW
5.4%
SE
1.6%
SW
13.2%

Temperature Range

Average: 13.8°C
Range: -15°C to 36°C
-15°C 36°C

Visibility

Average: 9.5 SM
Below 3 SM: 0.8%
Fog Frequency: 1.3%

Best Months for VFR

September April June

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 05/23
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.5 kt

Statistics computed from 21,430 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Lake Cumberland Regional Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KSME
IATA Code: SME
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 927 ft MSL

Location

City: Somerset
Country: US
Latitude: 37.053398°
Longitude: -84.615898°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 05/23
Length: 5,800 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Lake Cumberland Regional Airport

Overview

Lake Cumberland Regional Airport serves Somerset, Kentucky as a medium-sized airport situated at 927 feet above mean sea level. Located in south-central Kentucky, the airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for the Lake Cumberland regional area, supporting general aviation and local transportation needs.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect predominantly favorable Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions, with 77.2% of observations showing clear weather. The airport experiences mild temperature variations between -14°C and 33°C, with an average temperature of 10.6°C. Wind patterns are predominantly westerly at 270 degrees, with an average speed of 7.2 knots and maximum gusts up to 24 knots.

Notable Features

The single runway 05/23 is a 5,800-foot asphalt surface with excellent wind alignment. The runway demonstrates consistent wind compatibility, with 100% favorable wind conditions and an average crosswind of only 3.7 knots. Calm wind conditions are frequent, occurring in 42.1% of observations.

Approach Considerations

September, October, and January represent the most consistently favorable flying months with optimal VFR conditions. Visibility averages 9.4 statute miles, with minimal instances of restricted visibility (below 3 miles in only 0.7% of observations). Pilots should be prepared for occasional fog, which occurs in 1.9% of observations.

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.