Mason City Municipal Airport

KMCW / MCW

Mason City, US

Last Updated
Jul 4, 11:11Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 40 min ago
11:11Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
19°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 19°C
6 kt
160°
3 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1016 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

SPECI KMCW 041111Z AUTO 16006KT 3SM BR FEW002 19/19 A2999 RMK AO2 T01940194

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,213 ft
FEW 200 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
200 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,413 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Mason City Municipal Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with few clouds at 200 feet and 3 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots. Runway 18/36 is favored with a 6-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 3 SM, below VFR minimums in some airspace classifications. Check local requirements before departing VFR. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 200 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 19°C (66°F) with a dewpoint of 19°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 19 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.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further. 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
1016 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
976 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,213 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,131 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,902 ft
ISA Deviation: +6.4°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KMCW 041046Z 0411/0506 00000KT 2SM BR FEW002 SCT040 BKN050 FM041800 30007KT P6SM SCT120
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
11:50Z BASE
+0h
IFR
Visibility: 2SM
Ceiling: 5,000 ft
Mist
18:00Z FM041800
+7h
VFR 300° 7 kt
Visibility: >6SM

24-Hour Weather Evolution

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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
MCW
12
30
18 ✈️
36

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
12/30 5,502 ft 150 ft ASP 124°
4.9 kt 3.5 kt
36° angle
✈️ 18/36
Active: 18
6,501 ft 150 ft ASP 179°
5.6 kt 2.1 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 - KMCW

8,858 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
70%
MVFR
18.4%
IFR
7.4%
LIFR
4.2%

Mason City Municipal Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 70% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 11.6% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NW averaging 11.3 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 October, May, July.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NW (315°)
Average Speed: 11.3 kt
Maximum Recorded: 44 kt
Calm Winds: 6.8%
Direction Distribution:
E
7.2%
N
9.3%
S
17.2%
W
11.5%
NE
3.8%
NW
24%
SE
13.3%
SW
6.9%

Temperature Range

Average: 5.3°C
Range: -28°C to 33°C
-28°C 33°C

Visibility

Average: 9.1 SM
Below 3 SM: 3.6%
Fog Frequency: 5.5%

Best Months for VFR

October May July

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 12/30
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.6 kt
Runway 18/36
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 7 kt

Statistics computed from 8,858 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 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.