Massena International Airport Richards Field

KMSS / MSS

Massena, US

Last Updated
Jun 15, 07:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 52 min ago
07:53Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
14°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 13°C
5 kt
250°
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1003 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KMSS 150753Z AUTO 25005KT 10SM SCT090 14/13 A2963 RMK AO2 SLP034 T01440133

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 215 ft
SCT 9,000 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
9,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
9,215 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Massena International Airport Richards Field is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with scattered clouds at 9,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots. Runway 23 is favored with a 5-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: scattered at 9,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 14°C (57°F) with a dewpoint of 13°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

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. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours.

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

QNH
1003 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
996 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (215 ft)
Pressure Alt
523 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 455 ft
ISA Deviation: -0.6°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KMSS 150537Z 1506/1606 25007KT P6SM FEW008 FM151400 27011G18KT P6SM FEW050 FM152200 26007KT P6SM SCT040
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
08:44Z BASE
+0h
VFR 250° 7 kt
Visibility: >6SM
14:00Z FM151400
+6h
VFR 270° 11 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
MSS
05
23 ✈️
09
27 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 05/23
Active: 23
5,601 ft 100 ft ASP 31°
4.7 kt 1.7 kt
20° angle
✈️ 09/27
Active: 27
4,000 ft 100 ft ASP 76°
4.7 kt 1.7 kt
20° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KMSS

8,547 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
61.2%
MVFR
26.9%
IFR
8.8%
LIFR
3.1%

Massena International Airport Richards Field typically experiences VFR conditions 61.2% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 11.9% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SW averaging 8.6 knots. Calm conditions occur 17.2% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -29°C to 31°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are May, June, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SW (225°)
Average Speed: 8.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 29 kt
Calm Winds: 17.2%
Direction Distribution:
E
7.4%
N
4.1%
S
6%
W
18.5%
NE
14.5%
NW
6.6%
SE
1.1%
SW
24.5%

Temperature Range

Average: 1.8°C
Range: -29°C to 31°C
-29°C 31°C

Visibility

Average: 8.6 SM
Below 3 SM: 4.9%
Fog Frequency: 1.5%

Best Months for VFR

May June September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 05/23
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.5 kt
Runway 09/27
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.8 kt

Statistics computed from 8,547 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Massena International Airport Richards Field - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KMSS
IATA Code: MSS
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 215 ft MSL

Location

City: Massena
Country: US
Latitude: 44.936157°
Longitude: -74.844304°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 05/23
Length: 5,601 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 09/27
Length: 4,000 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Massena International Airport Richards Field

Overview

Massena International Airport Richards Field serves the northern New York region, located near the Canadian border at coordinates 44.936157, -74.844304. Situated at an elevation of 215 feet MSL, this medium airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for St. Lawrence County. The airport features two asphalt runways capable of handling a variety of aircraft operations.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect predominantly VFR conditions 56% of the time, with MVFR conditions occurring 29.4% of observations. Temperature variations are significant, ranging from -26°C to 28°C, with an average of 0.9°C. Wind patterns are consistently southwesterly at 225°, averaging 8.6 knots, with calm conditions present 20.7% of the time and occasional gusts up to 29 knots.

Notable Features

The airport's two runways offer flexible operational capabilities: Runway 05/23 measures 5,601 feet, while Runway 09/27 is 4,000 feet long. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignments, with minimal average crosswind components of 3.7 and 4.6 knots respectively. Visibility typically remains excellent, averaging 8.4 statute miles with only 6.1% of observations showing reduced visibility.

Approach Considerations

September, October, and December represent the best VFR months for operations at Massena International Airport. Pilots should anticipate predominantly southwestern wind patterns when planning approaches. The consistent wind characteristics and low average crosswind speeds provide relatively straightforward landing conditions across both primary 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.