Mason City Municipal Airport

KMCW / MCW

Mason City, US

Last Updated
May 15, 03:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 33 min ago
03:53Z

🌅 Dawn
VFR
Flight Rules
18°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 8°C
11 kt
140°
10 SM
Visibility
11,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1009 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KMCW 150353Z AUTO 14011KT 10SM FEW045 FEW085 BKN110 18/08 A2981 RMK AO2 RAB10E52 SLP085 P0001 T01780078

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,213 ft
FEW 4,500 ft AGL
FEW 8,500 ft AGL
BKN 11,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
4,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,713 ft AMSL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
8,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
9,713 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
11,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
12,213 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Mason City Municipal Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 11,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the southeast (140°) at 11 knots. Runway 12/30 is favored with a 10-knot headwind and 4-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 11000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 18°C (64°F) with a dewpoint of 8°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: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 00:00Z and 01:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. 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
1009 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
969 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,213 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,341 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,992 ft
ISA Deviation: +5.4°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KMCW 142341Z 1500/1524 17015G26KT P6SM BKN080 TEMPO 1500/1501 6SM -TSRA OVC035CB FM150200 16016G24KT P6SM BKN080 FM150800 18012KT P6SM SCT120 FM151200 20009KT P6SM FEW250 FM152000 23008KT P6SM FEW250
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
04:26Z BASE
+0h
VFR 170° 15 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 8,000 ft
08:00Z FM150800
+4h
VFR 180° 12 kt
Visibility: >6SM
12:00Z FM151200
+8h
VFR 200° 9 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
MCW
12 ✈️
30
18
36

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 12/30
Active: 12
5,502 ft 150 ft ASP 124°
10.3 kt 3.8 kt
20° angle
18/36 6,501 ft 150 ft ASP 179°
8.5 kt 6.9 kt
39° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KMCW

7,414 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
67.8%
MVFR
19.7%
IFR
7.9%
LIFR
4.6%

Mason City Municipal Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 67.8% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 12.5% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NW averaging 11.6 knots, with gusts recorded up to 44 knots. Temperature extremes range from -28°C to 33°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are May, October, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NW (315°)
Average Speed: 11.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 44 kt
Calm Winds: 6.6%
Direction Distribution:
N
10.4%
NE
3.7%
E
5.9%
SE
11.7%
S
17.3%
SW
6.3%
W
11.3%
NW
26.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 2.4°C
Range: -28°C to 33°C
-28°C 33°C

Visibility

Average: 9 SM
Below 3 SM: 4.1%
Fog Frequency: 6.3%

Best Months for VFR

May October September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 12/30
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.7 kt
Runway 18/36
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 7.1 kt

Statistics computed from 7,414 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Mason City Municipal Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KMCW
IATA Code: MCW
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,213 ft MSL

Location

City: Mason City
Country: US
Latitude: 43.159801°
Longitude: -93.329716°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 12/30
Length: 5,502 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 18/36
Length: 6,501 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Mason City Municipal Airport

Overview

Mason City Municipal Airport serves the north-central Iowa region, positioned strategically in Cerro Gordo County. Located at 43.159801, -93.329716 with an elevation of 1,213 feet MSL, this medium-sized airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for the Mason City metropolitan area and surrounding communities.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect predominantly VFR conditions, with 64.3% of observations presenting clear flying weather. Seasonal temperature variations are significant, ranging from -28°C to 33°C, with an average of 2.1°C. Wind patterns are predominantly northwest at 315°, averaging 11.2 knots with occasional gusts up to 36 knots, and calm conditions occurring 7.2% of the time.

Notable Features

The airport features two asphalt runways: Runway 12/30 measuring 5,502 feet and Runway 18/36 extending 6,501 feet. Both runways demonstrate excellent wind alignment, with 100% favorable wind coverage. Crosswind components are moderate, averaging 4.9 knots on 12/30 and 7.2 knots on 18/36, providing consistent operational flexibility.

Approach Considerations

September through November represent the most consistent VFR months, offering optimal flying conditions. Visibility averages 8.7 statute miles, with only 6% of observations showing conditions below 3 miles. Pilots should be prepared for occasional fog (8.8% of observations) and plan approaches accordingly, leveraging the airport's well-aligned runways.

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.