Ástor Piazzola International Airport

SAZM / MDQ

Mar del Plata, AR

Last Updated
Jul 27, 12:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 21 min ago
12:00Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
9°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 8°C
5 kt
20°
10+ km
Visibility
10,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR SAZM 271200Z 02005KT 330V040 9999 SCT030 OVC100 09/08 Q1011

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 72 ft
SCT 3,000 ft AGL
OVC 10,000 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
3,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,072 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
10,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
10,072 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Ástor Piazzola International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with overcast skies at 10,000 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the north-northeast (20°) at 5 knots. Runway 31 is favored with a 2-knot headwind and 5-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 10000 feet AGL (overcast), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 9°C (48°F) with a dewpoint of 8°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. IFR conditions are expected to persist or develop. An instrument rating and IFR flight plan are recommended. Expected weather includes: Showers Rain, Mist.

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.

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF SAZM 271100Z 2712/2812 02010KT 9999 BKN020 BKN060 TX16/2718Z TN08/2810Z BECMG 2718/2721 36010G20KT 6000 SHRA BKN015 OVC040 BECMG 2807/2810 27005KT 3000 BR OVC010
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
12:20Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 20° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 2,000 ft
18:00Z BECMG
+6h
MVFR 360° 10 kt
Visibility: 6 km
Ceiling: 1,500 ft
Showers 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
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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
AZM
13
31 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 13/31
Active: 31
7,218 ft 148 ft ASP 123°
1.7 kt 4.7 kt
70° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - SAZM

7,733 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
69.4%
MVFR
14.8%
IFR
7.5%
LIFR
8.3%

Ástor Piazzola International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 69.4% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 15.8% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NW averaging 8.4 knots, with gusts recorded up to 31 knots. Temperature extremes range from -8°C to 38°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are November, January, February.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NW (315°)
Average Speed: 8.4 kt
Maximum Recorded: 31 kt
Calm Winds: 5.7%
Direction Distribution:
E
13.6%
N
15.9%
S
12%
W
13.7%
NE
8.3%
NW
16.6%
SE
6.5%
SW
7.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 15.1°C
Range: -8°C to 38°C
-8°C 38°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 8.8%

Best Months for VFR

November January February

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 13/31
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.2 kt

Statistics computed from 7,733 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Ástor Piazzola International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: SAZM
IATA Code: MDQ
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 72 ft MSL

Location

City: Mar del Plata
Country: AR
Latitude: -37.934200°
Longitude: -57.573300°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+4

Runway Information

Runway 13/31
Length: 7,218 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Ástor Piazzola International Airport

Overview

Ástor Piazzola International Airport serves Mar del Plata, Argentina, as a key medium-sized airport located at coordinates -37.934200, -57.573300. Situated at an elevation of 72 feet mean sea level, the airport provides critical transportation infrastructure for the coastal urban region. Its single runway (13/31) spans 7,218 feet with an asphalt surface, supporting regional and potentially some international commercial operations.

Flying Conditions

Mar del Plata's coastal location suggests variable meteorological conditions typical of maritime environments. Pilots should anticipate potential wind shear and rapid weather transitions due to proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. The airport's moderate elevation and coastal positioning likely generate dynamic wind patterns that could affect approach and departure procedures.

Notable Features

The airport's runway orientation (13/31) indicates a northwest-southeast alignment, which may interact significantly with local terrain and coastal wind patterns. Its asphalt runway configuration suggests the ability to handle medium-sized aircraft typical of regional and domestic routes. The 7,218-foot runway length provides substantial operational flexibility for most commercial and regional aircraft types.

Approach Considerations

Runway 31 appears to be the primary approach direction given the airport's geographical orientation. Pilots should prepare for potential crosswind conditions due to the airport's coastal location. Standard instrument approach procedures will be crucial given the airport's maritime environment and potential for rapidly changing meteorological conditions.

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.