Chippewa County International Airport

KCIU / CIU

Kincheloe, US

Last Updated
Jun 10, 09:56Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 28 min ago
09:56Z

☀️ Day
LIFR
Flight Rules
17°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 17°C
5 kt
280°
5 SM
Visibility
300 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1009 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KCIU 100956Z AUTO 28005KT 5SM BR OVC003 17/17 A2979 RMK AO2 CIG 002V005 SLP085 T01720172

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 800 ft
OVC 300 ft AGL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
300 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,100 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

LIFR

Chippewa County International Airport is currently reporting low IFR (LIFR) conditions with overcast skies at 300 feet and 5 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west (280°) at 5 knots. Runway 27 is favored with a 5-knot headwind and 1-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 5 SM. The ceiling is very low at 300 feet AGL (overcast), well below circling minimums at most airports.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 17°C (63°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 20 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

Current conditions require an instrument rating, IFR-equipped aircraft, and an IFR clearance. Check approach minimums carefully as conditions may be below CAT I ILS minimums. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

QNH
1009 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
982 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (800 ft)
Pressure Alt
928 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,360 ft
ISA Deviation: +3.6°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KCIU 101013Z 1010/1106 VRB03KT 4SM BR OVC003 FM101400 30005KT P6SM BKN025 FM102000 16006KT P6SM SCT100 FM110100 15008KT P6SM VCSH BKN040
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
10:23Z BASE
+0h
LIFR VRB 3 kt
Visibility: 4SM
Ceiling: 300 ft
Mist
14:00Z FM101400
+4h
MVFR 300° 5 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 2,500 ft
20:00Z FM102000
+10h
VFR 160° 6 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
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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
CIU
09
27 ✈️
16
34

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 09/27
Active: 27
5,000 ft 75 ft ASP 90°
4.9 kt 0.9 kt
10° angle
16/34 7,201 ft 200 ft CON 150°
3.2 kt 3.8 kt
130° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KCIU

9,668 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
43%
MVFR
30.8%
IFR
14.8%
LIFR
11.5%

Chippewa County International Airport is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 43% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 26.3% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NW averaging 9.4 knots, with gusts recorded up to 33 knots. Temperature extremes range from -28°C to 28°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. Low visibility conditions (below 3 SM) occur in 7.6% of weather observations. The best months for VFR flying are June, May, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NW (315°)
Average Speed: 9.4 kt
Maximum Recorded: 33 kt
Calm Winds: 6.8%
Direction Distribution:
E
11.9%
N
11.1%
S
9.5%
W
17.3%
NE
4%
NW
18%
SE
14.9%
SW
6.5%

Temperature Range

Average: -0.1°C
Range: -28°C to 28°C
-28°C 28°C

Visibility

Average: 8.2 SM
Below 3 SM: 7.6%
Fog Frequency: 7.4%

Best Months for VFR

June May October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 09/27
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.7 kt
Runway 16/34
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.2 kt

Statistics computed from 9,668 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Chippewa County International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KCIU
IATA Code: CIU
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 800 ft MSL

Location

City: Kincheloe
Country: US
Latitude: 46.247707°
Longitude: -84.471379°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 09/27
Length: 5,000 ft
Width: 75 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 16/34
Length: 7,201 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About Chippewa County International Airport

Overview

Chippewa County International Airport serves the Kincheloe area in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, situated at an elevation of 800 feet MSL. The airport provides medium-sized facility capabilities with two substantial runways supporting diverse aviation operations. Its international designation suggests potential for broader transportation and logistical functions in the region.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at KCIU demonstrate significant variability, with Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and Marginal VFR conditions each representing 37% of observed periods. Temperature ranges extensively from -22°C to 28°C, creating challenging seasonal transitions for pilots. Prevailing westerly winds averaging 9 knots with occasional gusts up to 29 knots characterize the airport's wind profile.

Notable Features

The airport features two runways with complementary lengths and surfaces: Runway 09/27 is 5,000 feet of asphalt, while Runway 16/34 offers an extended 7,201-foot concrete surface. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with consistent average crosswind conditions around 5.1-5.3 knots. Visibility averages 7.9 statute miles, with occasional reduced conditions including fog events affecting 6.7% of observations.

Approach Considerations

September through November represent the most consistently favorable VFR months for operations. Pilots should anticipate potential reduced visibility scenarios, with 8.6% of observations showing visibility below 3 statute miles. The balanced runway configuration and predictable wind patterns provide flexibility for approach and departure planning across different 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.