Moshoeshoe I International Airport

FXMM / MSU

Mazenod, LS

Last Updated
Apr 22, 14:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Stale 16 hours ago
14:00Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
19°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 7°C
4 kt
270°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR FXMM 221400Z 27004KT 9999 FEW035 19/07 Q1023

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 5,348 ft
FEW 3,500 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
3,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
8,848 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Moshoeshoe I International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with few clouds at 3,500 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility. Note: This observation is 15.8 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west (270°) at 4 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 3,500 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 19°C (66°F) with a dewpoint of 7°C, indicating relatively dry conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Light Thunderstorm Rain. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 12:00Z and 18:00Z.

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.

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF FXMM 230340Z 2306/2406 08004KT 9999 FEW025 SCT070 TX19/2311Z TN09/2402Z BECMG 2312/2314 36010KT PROB30 TEMPO 2312/2318 -TSRA FEW035CB
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
05:45Z BASE
+0h
VFR 80° 4 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
12:00Z BECMG
+7h
VFR 360° 10 kt
12:00Z PROB30 TEMPO
+7h
MVFR
Light 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
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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
XMM
04
22
11
29 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
04/22 10,498 ft 148 ft ASP 15°
1.0 kt 3.9 kt
105° angle
✈️ 11/29
Active: 29
3,314 ft 75 ft ASP 85°
3.8 kt 1.4 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 - FXMM

815 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
91.5%
MVFR
8.3%
IFR
0%
LIFR
0.1%

Moshoeshoe I International Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 91.5% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the N averaging 6.6 knots. Calm conditions occur 17.8% of the time. Temperature extremes range from 10°C to 43°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are September, January, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: N (0°)
Average Speed: 6.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 21 kt
Calm Winds: 17.8%
Direction Distribution:
N
26.4%
NE
7.6%
E
4.4%
SE
0.9%
S
5.4%
SW
3.3%
W
24.8%
NW
9.2%

Temperature Range

Average: 21.6°C
Range: 10°C to 43°C
10°C 43°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.1%

Best Months for VFR

September January October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 04/22
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.6 kt
Runway 11/29
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.2 kt

Statistics computed from 815 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Moshoeshoe I International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: FXMM
IATA Code: MSU
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 5,348 ft MSL

Location

City: Mazenod
Country: LS
Latitude: -29.462299°
Longitude: 27.552500°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-2

Runway Information

Runway 04/22
Length: 10,498 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 11/29
Length: 3,314 ft
Width: 75 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Moshoeshoe I International Airport

Overview

Moshoeshoe I International Airport serves the Lesotho region, situated in Mazenod at a significant elevation of 5,348 feet mean sea level. The airport features two asphalt runways, with the primary runway 04/22 offering an extensive 10,498-foot length, capable of handling medium-sized aircraft operations.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at the airport are predominantly favorable for visual flight rules (VFR), with 95.2% of observations supporting VFR operations. Prevailing westerly winds average 6.9 knots, with temperatures ranging from 10°C to 32°C and an average of 21.4°C. September, October, and January represent the most consistently good VFR flying months.

Notable Features

The airport's high elevation at 5,348 feet MSL requires careful performance calculations for aircraft. Both runways demonstrate excellent wind alignment, with 100% favorable wind conditions and minimal crosswind averages of 5 knots for runway 04/22 and 4.1 knots for runway 11/29. The consistently clear visibility, averaging 10 statute miles, supports reliable visual navigation.

Approach Considerations

Pilots should anticipate predictable westerly winds when planning approaches, with minimal wind variability. The extensive length of runway 04/22 provides significant operational flexibility, particularly for aircraft requiring longer takeoff and landing distances at this high-elevation airport. Consistent weather patterns and low crosswind conditions support straightforward landing and departure operations.

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.