Santa Maria Airport

SBSM / RIA

Santa Maria, BR

Last Updated
Jul 26, 20:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 19 min ago
20:00Z

🌙 Night
MVFR
Flight Rules
20°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 19°C
3 kt
190°
10+ km
Visibility
1,200 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR SBSM 262000Z 19003KT 9999 SCT007 BKN012 BKN020 20/19 Q1014

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 287 ft
SCT 700 ft AGL
BKN 1,200 ft AGL
BKN 2,000 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
700 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
987 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
1,200 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,487 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
2,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,287 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Santa Maria Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with broken clouds at 1,200 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (190°) at 3 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 1200 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 20°C (68°F) with a dewpoint of 19°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 12 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: Thunderstorm Rain. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Thunderstorm Rain between 18:00Z and 21:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further. 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.

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF SBSM 261500Z 2618/2706 23005KT 9999 SCT025 FEW035TCU TX20/2618Z TN16/2706Z TEMPO 2618/2621 3000 TSRA BKN025 FEW035CB BECMG 2700/2702 08005KT SCT040 RMK PEQ
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
20:18Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 230° 5 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
00:00Z BECMG
+4h
VFR 80° 5 kt

24-Hour Weather Evolution

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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
BSM
02
20 ✈️
11
29 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 02/20
Active: 20
4,638 ft 98 ft ASP
3.0 kt 0.5 kt
10° angle
✈️ 11/29
Active: 29
8,839 ft 148 ft CON
0.5 kt 3.0 kt
100° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - SBSM

5,772 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
78.4%
MVFR
11.1%
IFR
5.5%
LIFR
5%

Santa Maria Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 78.4% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 10.5% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the E averaging 5.5 knots. Temperature extremes range from 0°C to 38°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are January, November, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: E (90°)
Average Speed: 5.5 kt
Maximum Recorded: 30 kt
Calm Winds: 4.2%
Direction Distribution:
E
36%
N
5.2%
S
5.1%
W
12.1%
NE
8.5%
NW
3.5%
SE
21%
SW
4.4%

Temperature Range

Average: 20.6°C
Range: 0°C to 38°C
0°C 38°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 4.6%

Best Months for VFR

January November September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 02/20
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.5 kt
Runway 11/29
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2 kt

Statistics computed from 5,772 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Santa Maria Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: SBSM
IATA Code: RIA
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 287 ft MSL

Location

City: Santa Maria
Country: BR
Latitude: -29.711399°
Longitude: -53.688202°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+4

Runway Information

Runway 02/20
Length: 4,638 ft
Width: 98 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 11/29
Length: 8,839 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About Santa Maria Airport

Overview

Santa Maria Airport serves the Rio Grande do Sul region in Brazil, located at coordinates -29.711399, -53.688202 with an elevation of 287 feet MSL. As a medium-sized airport, it provides critical aviation infrastructure for regional transportation and supports various flight operations. The airport features two runways: a 4,638-foot asphalted runway (02/20) and a longer 8,839-foot concrete runway (11/29).

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Santa Maria Airport are predominantly VFR, with 87.2% of observations indicating favorable visual flight conditions. The prevailing wind blows from the east at an average of 6.1 knots, with occasional gusts up to 23 knots. Temperature ranges from 6°C to 38°C, with an average of 22.8°C, creating generally stable flying conditions throughout the year.

Notable Features

Both runways demonstrate excellent wind alignment, with 100% favorable wind coverage. The longer runway 11/29 experiences minimal crosswind, averaging just 2.1 knots, while runway 02/20 has a slightly higher average crosswind of 5.1 knots. Visibility is consistently good, with an average of 10 statute miles and rare instances of reduced visibility.

Approach Considerations

January, September, and November represent the best months for VFR flying at Santa Maria Airport. Pilots should anticipate east-trending winds and expect minimal meteorological disruptions, with only 3.7% of observations indicating IFR conditions. The airport's dual runway configuration provides flexibility for approaches, with the longer 11/29 runway offering optimal landing options.

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.