Muskrat Dam Airport

CZMD / MSA

Muskrat Dam, CA

Last Updated
Jun 26, 20:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 48 min ago
20:00Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
26°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 7°C
3 kt
120°
9 SM
Visibility
11,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1015 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR CZMD 262000Z AUTO 12003KT 110V230 9SM TS BKN110 BKN130 BKN160 26/07 A2998 RMK LTNG DIST NE E SE SLP159 DENSITY ALT 2300FT

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 911 ft
BKN 11,000 ft AGL
BKN 13,000 ft AGL
BKN 16,000 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
11,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
11,911 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
13,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
13,911 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
16,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
16,911 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Muskrat Dam Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 11,000 feet and 9 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east-southeast (120°) at 3 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 9 SM. The ceiling is 11000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 26°C (79°F) with a dewpoint of 7°C, indicating very dry conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 3 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Thunderstorm Rain, Mist, Light Showers Rain, Thunderstorm Rain, Mist, FCST, FCST. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 3 to 15 knots. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Thunderstorm Rain, Mist between 19:00Z and 21:00Z. There is a 40% probability of MVFR conditions with Thunderstorm Rain, Mist between 19:00Z and 21:00Z. Temporary VFR conditions are forecast with Light Showers Rain between 21:00Z and 22:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. 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
1015 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
985 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (911 ft)
Pressure Alt
859 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 2,398 ft
ISA Deviation: +12.8°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF AMD CZMD 261950Z 2619/2622 21006KT P6SM SCT080 TEMPO 2619/2621 VRB08G20KT 6SM TSRA BR BKN060CB PROB40 2619/2621 VRB15G28KT 5SM TSRA BR BKN050CB FM262100 VRB03KT P6SM SCT080 TEMPO 2621/2622 P6SM -SHRA BKN080 PROB30 2621/2622 VRB12G25KT 5SM TSRA BR BKN050CB RMK FCST BASED ON AUTO OBS. NXT FCST BY 271000Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
20:47Z BASE
+0h
VFR 210° 6 kt
Visibility: >6SM
21:00Z FM262100
+1h
VFR VRB 3 kt
Visibility: >6SM
21:00Z TEMPO
+1h
VFR
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 8,000 ft
Light Showers Rain
21:00Z PROB30
+1h
MVFR VRB 12 kt
Visibility: 5SM
Ceiling: 5,000 ft
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist, FCST, FCST

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
ZMD
05
23 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 05/23
Active: 23
3,500 ft 100 ft GRVL
1.0 kt 2.8 kt
110° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - CZMD

5,399 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
64.9%
MVFR
25.4%
IFR
8.3%
LIFR
1.4%

Muskrat Dam Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 64.9% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 9.7% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 6.7 knots. Temperature extremes range from -39°C to 31°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are June, September, March.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 6.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 22 kt
Calm Winds: 5.6%
Direction Distribution:
N
8.8%
NE
10.9%
E
7%
SE
3%
S
11.3%
SW
20.6%
W
21.5%
NW
11.2%

Temperature Range

Average: -6°C
Range: -39°C to 31°C
-39°C 31°C

Visibility

Average: 8.4 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.7%
Fog Frequency: 0.3%

Best Months for VFR

June September March

Runway Wind Analysis

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

Statistics computed from 5,399 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Muskrat Dam Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: CZMD
IATA Code: MSA
Type: small airport
Status: active
Elevation: 911 ft MSL

Location

City: Muskrat Dam
Country: CA
Latitude: 53.441399°
Longitude: -91.762802°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 05/23
Length: 3,500 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: GRVL
ILS: No

Nearby Airports

VFR MVFR IFR LIFR No Data

About Muskrat Dam Airport

Muskrat Dam Airport (CZMD/MSA) is located in Muskrat Dam, CA at an elevation of 911 feet MSL. The airport has 1 runway (05/23), with the longest at 3,500 feet.

Weather Profile

With VFR conditions only 64.9% of the time based on 5,399 observations, CZMD requires careful weather planning. IFR conditions occur in 9.7% of reports, and instrument proficiency is advisable for regular operations here.

Wind Patterns & Runway Selection

Prevailing winds at CZMD come from the W (270°) with an average speed of 6.7 knots. Runway 05/23 offers the lowest average crosswind component at 3.5 knots, making it the preferred choice in typical wind conditions.

Seasonal Considerations

The best months for VFR operations are June, September, March, when clear skies are most prevalent. Temperatures at the field range from -39°C (-38°F) to 31°C (88°F), averaging -6°C (21°F). Cold weather operations require attention to aircraft preheating, de-icing, and cold-soaked fuel management. Altimeter settings typically range from 29 to 30.62 inHg (982-1037 hPa).

Data Sources: Airport data from OurAirports.com. Weather statistics derived from 5,399 official METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Pilots should always verify current conditions through official channels before flight.

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.