Moshoeshoe I International Airport

FXMM / MSU

Mazenod, LS

Last Updated
May 14, 13:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Stale 16 hours ago
13:00Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
18°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 7°C
0 kt
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1027 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR FXMM 141300Z 00000KT 9999 FEW035 18/07 Q1027 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 5,348 ft
FEW 3,500 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
3,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
8,848 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Moshoeshoe I International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with few clouds at 3,500 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility. Note: This observation is 15.8 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are calm, presenting no crosswind concerns for any runway.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 3,500 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 18°C (64°F) with a dewpoint of 7°C, indicating relatively dry conditions.

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
1027 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
849 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (5,348 ft)
Pressure Alt
4,936 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 6,580 ft
ISA Deviation: +13.7°C

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
XMM
04
22
11
29

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
04/22 10,498 ft 148 ft ASP 15°
0.0 kt 0.0 kt
15° angle
11/29 3,314 ft 75 ft ASP 85°
0.0 kt 0.0 kt
85° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - FXMM

936 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
90.6%
MVFR
9.3%
IFR
0%
LIFR
0.1%

Moshoeshoe I International Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 90.6% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the N averaging 6.8 knots. Calm conditions occur 18.7% of the time. Temperature extremes range from 5°C to 43°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are September, January, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: N (0°)
Average Speed: 6.8 kt
Maximum Recorded: 28 kt
Calm Winds: 18.7%
Direction Distribution:
N
26.7%
NE
7.3%
E
4.4%
SE
0.7%
S
4.8%
SW
3.7%
W
24.2%
NW
9.4%

Temperature Range

Average: 20.6°C
Range: 5°C to 43°C
5°C 43°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.1%

Best Months for VFR

September January October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 04/22
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.7 kt
Runway 11/29
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.2 kt

Statistics computed from 936 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Moshoeshoe I International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: FXMM
IATA Code: MSU
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 5,348 ft MSL

Location

City: Mazenod
Country: LS
Latitude: -29.462299°
Longitude: 27.552500°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-2

Runway Information

Runway 04/22
Length: 10,498 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 11/29
Length: 3,314 ft
Width: 75 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Moshoeshoe I International Airport

Overview

Moshoeshoe I International Airport serves the Lesotho region, situated in Mazenod at a significant elevation of 5,348 feet mean sea level. The airport features two asphalt runways, with the primary runway 04/22 offering an extensive 10,498-foot length, capable of handling medium-sized aircraft operations.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at the airport are predominantly favorable for visual flight rules (VFR), with 95.2% of observations supporting VFR operations. Prevailing westerly winds average 6.9 knots, with temperatures ranging from 10°C to 32°C and an average of 21.4°C. September, October, and January represent the most consistently good VFR flying months.

Notable Features

The airport's high elevation at 5,348 feet MSL requires careful performance calculations for aircraft. Both runways demonstrate excellent wind alignment, with 100% favorable wind conditions and minimal crosswind averages of 5 knots for runway 04/22 and 4.1 knots for runway 11/29. The consistently clear visibility, averaging 10 statute miles, supports reliable visual navigation.

Approach Considerations

Pilots should anticipate predictable westerly winds when planning approaches, with minimal wind variability. The extensive length of runway 04/22 provides significant operational flexibility, particularly for aircraft requiring longer takeoff and landing distances at this high-elevation airport. Consistent weather patterns and low crosswind conditions support straightforward landing and departure 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.