Lake Cumberland Regional Airport

KSME / SME

Somerset, US

Last Updated
May 15, 11:35Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 11 min ago
11:35Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
6°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 6°C
0 kt
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1019 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KSME 151135Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 06/06 A3010 RMK AO2

Weather Briefing

VFR

Lake Cumberland Regional Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with clear skies and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

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

Visibility & Ceiling

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

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 6°C (43°F) with a dewpoint of 6°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. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Expected weather includes: Mist. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Mist between 07:00Z and 10:00Z.

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. 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
1019 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
988 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (927 ft)
Pressure Alt
755 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -103 ft
ISA Deviation: -7.1°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KSME 150520Z 1506/1606 00000KT P6SM SKC TEMPO 1507/1510 5SM BR FM151000 00000KT 2SM BR SKC FM151300 20004KT P6SM FEW100 FEW250
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
11:45Z BASE
+0h
VFR
Visibility: >6SM
13:00Z FM151300
+2h
VFR 200° 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
Chart Features
  • • Hover for exact values and timestamps
  • • Click legend items to toggle data series
  • • Zoom and pan for detailed analysis
  • • Units automatically converted to preferences
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
SME
05
23

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
05/23 5,800 ft 100 ft ASP 43°
0.0 kt 0.0 kt
43° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KSME

16,429 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
80.7%
MVFR
14.2%
IFR
3.1%
LIFR
2%

Lake Cumberland Regional Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 80.7% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the SW averaging 7.5 knots, with gusts recorded up to 42 knots. Calm conditions occur 36.5% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -15°C to 33°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are May, September, April.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SW (225°)
Average Speed: 7.5 kt
Maximum Recorded: 42 kt
Calm Winds: 36.5%
Direction Distribution:
N
7.3%
NE
8%
E
3.4%
SE
1.4%
S
10.7%
SW
13.5%
W
12.9%
NW
6.2%

Temperature Range

Average: 10.9°C
Range: -15°C to 33°C
-15°C 33°C

Visibility

Average: 9.4 SM
Below 3 SM: 0.8%
Fog Frequency: 1.3%

Best Months for VFR

May September April

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 05/23
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.6 kt

Statistics computed from 16,429 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Lake Cumberland Regional Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KSME
IATA Code: SME
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 927 ft MSL

Location

City: Somerset
Country: US
Latitude: 37.053398°
Longitude: -84.615898°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 05/23
Length: 5,800 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Lake Cumberland Regional Airport

Overview

Lake Cumberland Regional Airport serves Somerset, Kentucky as a medium-sized airport situated at 927 feet above mean sea level. Located in south-central Kentucky, the airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for the Lake Cumberland regional area, supporting general aviation and local transportation needs.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect predominantly favorable Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions, with 77.2% of observations showing clear weather. The airport experiences mild temperature variations between -14°C and 33°C, with an average temperature of 10.6°C. Wind patterns are predominantly westerly at 270 degrees, with an average speed of 7.2 knots and maximum gusts up to 24 knots.

Notable Features

The single runway 05/23 is a 5,800-foot asphalt surface with excellent wind alignment. The runway demonstrates consistent wind compatibility, with 100% favorable wind conditions and an average crosswind of only 3.7 knots. Calm wind conditions are frequent, occurring in 42.1% of observations.

Approach Considerations

September, October, and January represent the most consistently favorable flying months with optimal VFR conditions. Visibility averages 9.4 statute miles, with minimal instances of restricted visibility (below 3 miles in only 0.7% of observations). Pilots should be prepared for occasional fog, which occurs in 1.9% of observations.

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.