Chippewa County International Airport

KCIU / CIU

Kincheloe, US

Last Updated
Jul 5, 05:56Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 49 min ago
05:56Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
16°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 12°C
4 kt
20°
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1017 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KCIU 050556Z AUTO 02004KT 10SM CLR 16/12 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP168 T01560122 10228 20150 53002

Weather Briefing

VFR

Chippewa County International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with clear skies and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the north-northeast (20°) at 4 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

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

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 16°C (61°F) with a dewpoint of 12°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 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
1017 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
990 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (800 ft)
Pressure Alt
688 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,000 ft
ISA Deviation: +2.6°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KCIU 050536Z 0506/0606 04004KT P6SM FEW210
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
06:44Z BASE
+0h
VFR 40° 4 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
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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
CIU
09
27
16
34 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
09/27 5,000 ft 75 ft ASP 90°
1.4 kt 3.8 kt
70° angle
✈️ 16/34
Active: 34
7,201 ft 200 ft CON 150°
3.1 kt 2.6 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 - KCIU

10,414 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
44.8%
MVFR
29.6%
IFR
14.2%
LIFR
11.3%

Chippewa County International Airport is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 44.8% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 25.5% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NW averaging 9.3 knots, with gusts recorded up to 33 knots. Temperature extremes range from -28°C to 30°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. Low visibility conditions (below 3 SM) occur in 7.1% of weather observations. The best months for VFR flying are July, May, June.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NW (315°)
Average Speed: 9.3 kt
Maximum Recorded: 33 kt
Calm Winds: 6.7%
Direction Distribution:
E
11.9%
N
11.5%
S
9.4%
W
17.1%
NE
3.9%
NW
17.9%
SE
14.6%
SW
6.8%

Temperature Range

Average: 1.1°C
Range: -28°C to 30°C
-28°C 30°C

Visibility

Average: 8.3 SM
Below 3 SM: 7.1%
Fog Frequency: 6.9%

Best Months for VFR

July May June

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 09/27
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.6 kt
Runway 16/34
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.1 kt

Statistics computed from 10,414 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Chippewa County International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KCIU
IATA Code: CIU
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 800 ft MSL

Location

City: Kincheloe
Country: US
Latitude: 46.247707°
Longitude: -84.471379°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 09/27
Length: 5,000 ft
Width: 75 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 16/34
Length: 7,201 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About Chippewa County International Airport

Overview

Chippewa County International Airport serves the Kincheloe area in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, situated at an elevation of 800 feet MSL. The airport provides medium-sized facility capabilities with two substantial runways supporting diverse aviation operations. Its international designation suggests potential for broader transportation and logistical functions in the region.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at KCIU demonstrate significant variability, with Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and Marginal VFR conditions each representing 37% of observed periods. Temperature ranges extensively from -22°C to 28°C, creating challenging seasonal transitions for pilots. Prevailing westerly winds averaging 9 knots with occasional gusts up to 29 knots characterize the airport's wind profile.

Notable Features

The airport features two runways with complementary lengths and surfaces: Runway 09/27 is 5,000 feet of asphalt, while Runway 16/34 offers an extended 7,201-foot concrete surface. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with consistent average crosswind conditions around 5.1-5.3 knots. Visibility averages 7.9 statute miles, with occasional reduced conditions including fog events affecting 6.7% of observations.

Approach Considerations

September through November represent the most consistently favorable VFR months for operations. Pilots should anticipate potential reduced visibility scenarios, with 8.6% of observations showing visibility below 3 statute miles. The balanced runway configuration and predictable wind patterns provide flexibility for approach and departure planning across different meteorological conditions.

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.