Lake Cumberland Regional Airport

KSME / SME

Somerset, US

Last Updated
Apr 21, 18:15Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 9 min ago
18:15Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
25°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 5°C
11 kt
240° G16 kt
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1023 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KSME 211815Z AUTO 24011G16KT 10SM CLR 25/05 A3021 RMK AO2

Weather Briefing

VFR

Lake Cumberland Regional Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with clear skies and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west-southwest (240°) at 11 knots with gusts to 16 knots. Runway 23 is favored with a 11-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component (gusting to 3 knots crosswind).

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. Skies are clear with unlimited ceiling.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 25°C (77°F) with a dewpoint of 5°C, indicating very dry conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight.

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

QNH
1023 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
992 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (927 ft)
Pressure Alt
635 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 2,057 ft
ISA Deviation: +11.9°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KSME 211742Z 2118/2218 25010G19KT P6SM FEW250 FM220200 21006KT P6SM SCT250 FM220700 22005KT P6SM FEW250 WS020/26035KT FM221100 22005KT P6SM FEW050 FEW250 FM221500 26012G20KT P6SM FEW060 FEW200
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
18:24Z BASE
+0h
VFR 250° 10 kt
Visibility: >6SM
02:00Z FM220200
+8h
VFR 210° 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
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
SME
05
23 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 05/23
Active: 23
5,800 ft 100 ft ASP 43°
10.8 kt 1.9 kt
10° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KSME

14,719 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
79.6%
MVFR
15%
IFR
3.3%
LIFR
2.1%

Lake Cumberland Regional Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 79.6% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 5.4% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SW averaging 7.5 knots, with gusts recorded up to 42 knots. Calm conditions occur 36.5% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -15°C to 33°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are April, September, March.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SW (225°)
Average Speed: 7.5 kt
Maximum Recorded: 42 kt
Calm Winds: 36.5%
Direction Distribution:
N
7%
NE
7.8%
E
3.6%
SE
1.5%
S
10.8%
SW
13.5%
W
13%
NW
6.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 10.3°C
Range: -15°C to 33°C
-15°C 33°C

Visibility

Average: 9.4 SM
Below 3 SM: 0.9%
Fog Frequency: 1.3%

Best Months for VFR

April September March

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 05/23
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.7 kt

Statistics computed from 14,719 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Lake Cumberland Regional Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KSME
IATA Code: SME
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 927 ft MSL

Location

City: Somerset
Country: US
Latitude: 37.053398°
Longitude: -84.615898°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 05/23
Length: 5,800 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Lake Cumberland Regional Airport

Overview

Lake Cumberland Regional Airport serves Somerset, Kentucky as a medium-sized airport situated at 927 feet above mean sea level. Located in south-central Kentucky, the airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for the Lake Cumberland regional area, supporting general aviation and local transportation needs.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect predominantly favorable Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions, with 77.2% of observations showing clear weather. The airport experiences mild temperature variations between -14°C and 33°C, with an average temperature of 10.6°C. Wind patterns are predominantly westerly at 270 degrees, with an average speed of 7.2 knots and maximum gusts up to 24 knots.

Notable Features

The single runway 05/23 is a 5,800-foot asphalt surface with excellent wind alignment. The runway demonstrates consistent wind compatibility, with 100% favorable wind conditions and an average crosswind of only 3.7 knots. Calm wind conditions are frequent, occurring in 42.1% of observations.

Approach Considerations

September, October, and January represent the most consistently favorable flying months with optimal VFR conditions. Visibility averages 9.4 statute miles, with minimal instances of restricted visibility (below 3 miles in only 0.7% of observations). Pilots should be prepared for occasional fog, which occurs in 1.9% of observations.

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.