Mason City Municipal Airport

KMCW / MCW

Mason City, US

Last Updated
Jun 10, 17:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 58 min ago
17:53Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
27°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 23°C
18 kt
210° G24 kt
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1002 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KMCW 101753Z AUTO 21018G24KT 10SM FEW019 27/23 A2959 RMK AO2 RAE36 SLP003 P0001 60005 T02670233 10289 20250 58012

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,213 ft
FEW 1,900 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
1,900 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,113 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Mason City Municipal Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with few clouds at 1,900 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south-southwest (210°) at 18 knots with gusts to 24 knots. Runway 18/36 is favored with a 16-knot headwind and 9-knot crosswind component (gusting to 12 knots crosswind). Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 1,900 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 27°C (81°F) with a dewpoint of 23°C. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread suggests high humidity and potential for visibility restrictions, especially during cooling periods.

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: Thunderstorm Rain, Light Thunderstorm Rain, Light Showers Rain. Winds are forecast to reach up to 20 knots during the period. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 8 to 20 knots. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Thunderstorm Rain between 18:00Z and 21:00Z. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 00:00Z and 02:00Z. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Thunderstorm Rain between 13:00Z and 16:00Z.

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
1002 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
962 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,213 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,551 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 3,282 ft (High - Reduced Performance)
ISA Deviation: +14.4°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KMCW 101729Z 1018/1118 21020G30KT P6SM SCT020 BKN130 TEMPO 1018/1021 4SM TSRA BKN022CB FM102300 25015G23KT P6SM FEW045 FEW190 PROB30 1100/1102 P6SM -TSRA BKN035CB FM110300 30009KT P6SM FEW070 FEW240 FM111300 17008KT P6SM -SHRA SCT025 BKN029 PROB30 1113/1116 4SM TSRA BKN025CB
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
18:51Z BASE
+0h
VFR 210° 20 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 13,000 ft
23:00Z FM102300
+5h
VFR 250° 15 kt
Visibility: >6SM
00:00Z PROB30
+6h
MVFR
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 3,500 ft
Light Thunderstorm Rain
03:00Z FM110300
+9h
VFR 300° 9 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
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
MCW
12
30
18 ✈️
36

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
12/30 5,502 ft 150 ft ASP 124°
1.3 kt 18.0 kt
86° angle
✈️ 18/36
Active: 18
6,501 ft 150 ft ASP 179°
15.6 kt 9.0 kt
30° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KMCW

8,222 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
68.9%
MVFR
19.1%
IFR
7.5%
LIFR
4.5%

Mason City Municipal Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 68.9% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 12% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NW averaging 11.4 knots, with gusts recorded up to 44 knots. Temperature extremes range from -28°C to 33°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are October, May, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NW (315°)
Average Speed: 11.4 kt
Maximum Recorded: 44 kt
Calm Winds: 6.7%
Direction Distribution:
N
9.5%
NE
3.8%
E
7.2%
SE
13.2%
S
17.7%
SW
6.4%
W
10.9%
NW
24.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 4.1°C
Range: -28°C to 33°C
-28°C 33°C

Visibility

Average: 9.1 SM
Below 3 SM: 3.8%
Fog Frequency: 5.9%

Best Months for VFR

October May September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 12/30
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.6 kt
Runway 18/36
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 7 kt

Statistics computed from 8,222 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Mason City Municipal Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KMCW
IATA Code: MCW
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,213 ft MSL

Location

City: Mason City
Country: US
Latitude: 43.159801°
Longitude: -93.329716°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 12/30
Length: 5,502 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 18/36
Length: 6,501 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Mason City Municipal Airport

Overview

Mason City Municipal Airport serves the north-central Iowa region, positioned strategically in Cerro Gordo County. Located at 43.159801, -93.329716 with an elevation of 1,213 feet MSL, this medium-sized airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for the Mason City metropolitan area and surrounding communities.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect predominantly VFR conditions, with 64.3% of observations presenting clear flying weather. Seasonal temperature variations are significant, ranging from -28°C to 33°C, with an average of 2.1°C. Wind patterns are predominantly northwest at 315°, averaging 11.2 knots with occasional gusts up to 36 knots, and calm conditions occurring 7.2% of the time.

Notable Features

The airport features two asphalt runways: Runway 12/30 measuring 5,502 feet and Runway 18/36 extending 6,501 feet. Both runways demonstrate excellent wind alignment, with 100% favorable wind coverage. Crosswind components are moderate, averaging 4.9 knots on 12/30 and 7.2 knots on 18/36, providing consistent operational flexibility.

Approach Considerations

September through November represent the most consistent VFR months, offering optimal flying conditions. Visibility averages 8.7 statute miles, with only 6% of observations showing conditions below 3 miles. Pilots should be prepared for occasional fog (8.8% of observations) and plan approaches accordingly, leveraging the airport's well-aligned runways.

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.