Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet County Airport

KPLN / PLN

Pellston, US

Last Updated
Jun 10, 13:27Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 24 min ago
13:27Z

☀️ Day
IFR
Flight Rules
18°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 18°C
5 kt
280°
10 SM
Visibility
500 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1008 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

SPECI KPLN 101327Z AUTO 28005KT 10SM OVC005 18/18 A2977 RMK AO2 T01830178

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 721 ft
OVC 500 ft AGL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,221 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

IFR

Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet County Airport is currently reporting instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions with overcast skies at 500 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west (280°) at 5 knots. Runway 32 is favored with a 4-knot headwind and 3-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 500 feet AGL (overcast). Only precision approaches may be usable depending on minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 18°C (64°F) with a dewpoint of 18°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 24 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, Light Showers Rain, Mist.

Pilot Recommendations

An instrument rating and IFR flight plan are required. Verify that destination and alternate approach minimums are above current and forecast conditions. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours. 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
1008 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
984 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (721 ft)
Pressure Alt
879 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,412 ft
ISA Deviation: +4.4°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KPLN 101127Z 1012/1112 VRB04KT 1 1/2SM BR BKN003 FM101400 VRB04KT P6SM BKN003 FM101600 VRB04KT P6SM SCT019 FM101800 24005KT P6SM BKN060 FM110300 14004KT 5SM -SHRA BR VCTS BKN018CB FM110700 21008G20KT 4SM BR BKN019
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
13:50Z BASE
+0h
LIFR VRB 4 kt
Visibility: 1/2SM
Ceiling: 300 ft
Mist
14:00Z FM101400
+1h
LIFR VRB 4 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 300 ft
16:00Z FM101600
+3h
VFR VRB 4 kt
Visibility: >6SM
18:00Z FM101800
+5h
VFR 240° 5 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 6,000 ft

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
PLN
05
23
14
32 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
05/23 5,395 ft 150 ft ASP 44°
2.8 kt 4.1 kt
124° angle
✈️ 14/32
Active: 32
6,512 ft 150 ft ASP 134°
3.8 kt 3.2 kt
40° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KPLN

9,510 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
53.8%
MVFR
30.3%
IFR
11.4%
LIFR
4.5%

Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet County Airport is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 53.8% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 15.9% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NW averaging 9.2 knots, with gusts recorded up to 33 knots. Calm conditions occur 20.8% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -29°C to 30°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. Low visibility conditions (below 3 SM) occur in 6.8% of weather observations. The best months for VFR flying are May, October, June.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NW (315°)
Average Speed: 9.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 33 kt
Calm Winds: 20.8%
Direction Distribution:
N
7.3%
NE
3.5%
E
7.7%
SE
9.8%
S
7.4%
SW
6.1%
W
16.1%
NW
21.2%

Temperature Range

Average: 1.5°C
Range: -29°C to 30°C
-29°C 30°C

Visibility

Average: 8.3 SM
Below 3 SM: 6.8%
Fog Frequency: 4.9%

Best Months for VFR

May October June

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 05/23
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 7.1 kt
Runway 14/32
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.4 kt

Statistics computed from 9,510 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet County Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KPLN
IATA Code: PLN
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 721 ft MSL

Location

City: Pellston
Country: US
Latitude: 45.570900°
Longitude: -84.796700°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 05/23
Length: 5,395 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 14/32
Length: 6,512 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet County Airport

Overview

Pellston Regional Airport serves Emmet County in northern Michigan, located near the scenic northwestern lower peninsula. As a medium-sized airport with two substantial runways, it provides critical aviation infrastructure for the region, supporting general aviation, potential commercial traffic, and local transportation needs.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect highly variable weather conditions, with visual flight rules (VFR) prevailing 49.9% of the time and marginal VFR conditions occurring 36.1% of observations. Temperature ranges dramatically from -21°C to 30°C, with an average of 1.7°C, indicating significant seasonal temperature fluctuations that can impact aircraft performance and operations.

Notable Features

Situated at 721 feet mean sea level, the airport features two asphalt runways with substantial lengths: Runway 05/23 at 5,395 feet and Runway 14/32 at 6,512 feet. Prevailing winds from the northwest (315°) average 9.3 knots, with calm conditions occurring 22.7% of the time, providing generally stable wind environments for pilots.

Approach Considerations

Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with Runway 05/23 experiencing an average crosswind of 7.5 knots and Runway 14/32 experiencing a lower average crosswind of 4.1 knots. September, October, and November represent the most consistently favorable VFR months, offering optimal flying conditions for pilots planning regional 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.