MacDill Air Force Base

KMCF / MCF

Tampa, US

Last Updated
Jul 27, 12:55Z

Military Airport

Restricted

This is a U.S. military installation. Civil aircraft operations are generally prohibited without prior authorization.

Access Notes:

Most military airfields closed to civil traffic; some joint-use exceptions exist

Consult official AIP (FAA AIP GEN 3.3) for current access procedures and restrictions.

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 24 min ago
12:55Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
30°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 25°C
5 kt
270°
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1013 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KMCF 271255Z 27005KT 10SM VCTS SCT050 SCT190 30/25 A2992 RMK AO2A SLP134 T02960247

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 14 ft
SCT 5,000 ft AGL
SCT 19,000 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
5,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,014 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
19,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
19,014 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

MacDill Air Force Base is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with scattered clouds at 5,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west (270°) at 5 knots. Runway 22 is favored with a 3-knot headwind and 4-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: scattered at 5,000 ft, scattered at 19,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 30°C (86°F) with a dewpoint of 25°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 28 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast between 11:00Z and 13:00Z. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 14:00Z and 20:00Z. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast between 11:00Z and 15:00Z.

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
1013 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1013 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (14 ft)
Pressure Alt
22 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,825 ft
ISA Deviation: +15.0°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF AMD KMCF 271100Z 2711/2815 24009KT 9999 FEW050 SCT080 QNH2992INS TEMPO 2711/2713 VCTS BKN040CB BECMG 2713/2714 27010G15KT 9999 VCTS SCT040CB BKN050 QNH2990INS TEMPO 2714/2720 VRB10G15KT -TSRA BKN030CB BECMG 2722/2723 27009KT 9999 NSW FEW060 QNH2984INS BECMG 2810/2811 27009KT 9999 FEW060 SCT150 QNH2985INS TEMPO 2811/2815 VCTS FEW060CB BKN080 TX34/2720Z TN28/2809Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
13:19Z BASE
+0h
VFR 240° 9 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
14:00Z TEMPO
+1h
MVFR VRB 10 kt
Ceiling: 3,000 ft
Light Thunderstorm Rain
22:00Z BECMG
+9h
VFR 270° 9 kt
Visibility: 10+ km

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
MCF
04
22 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 04/22
Active: 22
11,421 ft 151 ft ASP 40°
3.2 kt 3.8 kt
50° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KMCF

9,531 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
83.9%
MVFR
9.8%
IFR
3.2%
LIFR
3%

MacDill Air Force Base enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 83.9% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the NE averaging 7.3 knots, with gusts recorded up to 35 knots. Calm conditions occur 15% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -1°C to 77°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are June, July, May.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NE (45°)
Average Speed: 7.3 kt
Maximum Recorded: 35 kt
Calm Winds: 15%
Direction Distribution:
E
16.8%
N
8.1%
S
9.6%
W
8%
NE
17.5%
NW
10%
SE
7.7%
SW
7.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 22.3°C
Range: -1°C to 77°C
-1°C 77°C

Visibility

Average: 9.7 SM
Below 3 SM: 0.9%
Fog Frequency: 5.1%

Best Months for VFR

June July May

Runway Wind Analysis

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

Statistics computed from 9,531 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

MacDill Air Force Base - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KMCF
IATA Code: MCF
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 14 ft MSL

Location

City: Tampa
Country: US
Latitude: 27.849300°
Longitude: -82.521202°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 04/22
Length: 11,421 ft
Width: 151 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About MacDill Air Force Base

MacDill Air Force Base is a military facility. Civilian access may be restricted or require Prior Permission (PPR). Pilots should consult the US AIP for current access procedures and restrictions.

Overview

MacDill Air Force Base (KMCF) is located in Tampa, Florida, serving as a critical military aviation hub. The base sits at a low elevation of 14 ft MSL, situated in the central-western Florida coastal region. It primarily supports military operations and provides strategic air mobility capabilities for the United States Armed Forces.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect predominantly VFR conditions, with 81.3% of observations showing clear weather. The prevailing winds are from the northeast (45°) at an average of 6.9 knots, with occasional stronger gusts up to 22 knots. Temperature variations are significant, ranging from 1°C to 77°C, which can impact aircraft performance and fuel requirements.

Notable Features

The airport features a single runway (04/22) extending 11,421 feet with an asphalt surface. The runway demonstrates excellent wind alignment, with favorable wind conditions 100% of the time. Visibility is typically excellent, averaging 9.6 statute miles, with only 1.5% of observations showing visibility below 3 miles.

Approach Considerations

Runway 04/22 offers consistent wind conditions with an average crosswind of just 3.5 knots. September, October, and November represent the most favorable VFR months for operations. Pilots should be prepared for occasional fog (8.7% of observations) and be aware of the potential for rapidly changing weather conditions typical of the Florida coastal environment.

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.