Fort Smith Regional Airport

KFSM / FSM

Fort Smith, US

Last Updated
Jul 5, 03:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 11 min ago
03:53Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
27°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 20°C
23 kt
350° G32 kt
10 SM
Visibility
7,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1017 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KFSM 050353Z AUTO 35023G32KT 10SM SCT027 BKN070 27/20 A3004 RMK AO2 PK WND 35032/0349 LTG DSNT SW-N SLP165 T02720200 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 469 ft
SCT 2,700 ft AGL
BKN 7,000 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
2,700 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,169 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
7,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
7,469 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Fort Smith Regional Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 7,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the north (350°) at 23 knots with gusts to 32 knots. Runway 01/19 is favored with a 22-knot headwind and 8-knot crosswind component (gusting to 11 knots crosswind). Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 7000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 27°C (81°F) with a dewpoint of 20°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Thunderstorm Rain. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Thunderstorm Rain between 05:00Z and 07:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. Gusty conditions may exceed demonstrated crosswind components for many general aviation aircraft. Check your aircraft's limitations. 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
1017 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1001 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (469 ft)
Pressure Alt
357 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,910 ft
ISA Deviation: +12.9°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KFSM 042335Z 0500/0524 11011KT P6SM BKN250 FM050400 34008KT P6SM VCSH SCT050 BKN090 TEMPO 0505/0507 VRB15G25KT 3SM TSRA BKN040CB FM051000 34005KT P6SM SCT050 BKN100 FM051500 32005KT P6SM SCT050 BKN250
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
04:04Z BASE
+0h
VFR 110° 11 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 25,000 ft
05:00Z TEMPO
+1h
MVFR VRB 15 kt
Visibility: 3SM
Ceiling: 4,000 ft
Thunderstorm Rain
10:00Z FM051000
+6h
VFR 340° 5 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 10,000 ft
15:00Z FM051500
+11h
VFR 320° 5 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 25,000 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
FSM
01 ✈️
19
07
25

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 01/19
Active: 01
5,002 ft 150 ft ASP 21°
21.6 kt 7.9 kt
20° angle
07/25 8,000 ft 150 ft ASP 81°
0.4 kt 23.0 kt
91° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KFSM

7,882 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
81%
MVFR
12.8%
IFR
3.6%
LIFR
2.6%

Fort Smith Regional Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 81% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the E averaging 6.8 knots, with gusts recorded up to 33 knots. Calm conditions occur 16.7% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -15°C to 36°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are July, March, February.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: E (90°)
Average Speed: 6.8 kt
Maximum Recorded: 33 kt
Calm Winds: 16.7%
Direction Distribution:
E
24.1%
N
6.2%
S
8.1%
W
7.6%
NE
17.4%
NW
7.1%
SE
6.3%
SW
6.6%

Temperature Range

Average: 16.6°C
Range: -15°C to 36°C
-15°C 36°C

Visibility

Average: 9.5 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.1%
Fog Frequency: 1.5%

Best Months for VFR

July March February

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 01/19
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.6 kt
Runway 07/25
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.6 kt

Statistics computed from 7,882 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Fort Smith Regional Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KFSM
IATA Code: FSM
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 469 ft MSL

Location

City: Fort Smith
Country: US
Latitude: 35.336601°
Longitude: -94.367401°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 01/19
Length: 5,002 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 07/25
Length: 8,000 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Fort Smith Regional Airport

Overview

Fort Smith Regional Airport serves the Arkansas-Oklahoma border region as a medium-sized airport located at 35.336601, -94.367401. Situated at 469 feet above mean sea level, the airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for the Fort Smith metropolitan area and surrounding regions. Its two paved runways support diverse general aviation and commercial operations.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at KFSM are predominantly favorable, with VFR conditions present 80.4% of the time. The airport experiences mild temperature variations ranging from -10°C to 36°C, with an average of 14.3°C. Wind patterns are consistently easterly at an average of 6.4 knots, with calm conditions occurring 20% of the time. September, October, and January represent the most consistent VFR flying months.

Notable Features

The airport features two asphalt runways: Runway 01/19 measuring 5,002 feet and Runway 07/25 extending 8,000 feet. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with minimal crosswind challenges averaging 4.7 knots on 01/19 and 3 knots on 07/25. Average visibility consistently exceeds 9.5 statute miles, supporting reliable visual navigation.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect excellent approach conditions with only 4.3% of observations requiring IFR procedures. Low instrument meteorological conditions (LIFR) are rare, occurring in just 2.7% of observations. Fog is minimal, affecting only 2.8% of recorded periods, and visibility drops below 3 statute miles in only 1% of cases. The consistent easterly winds provide predictable approach and departure patterns.

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.