Marquette/Sawyer International Airport

KSAW / MQT

Gwinn, US

Last Updated
May 15, 04:18Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 13 min ago
04:18Z

🌅 Dawn
VFR
Flight Rules
10°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: -1°C
11 kt
190°
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1013 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KSAW 150418Z AUTO 19011KT 10SM CLR 10/M01 A2990 RMK AO2

Weather Briefing

VFR

Marquette/Sawyer International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with clear skies and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (190°) at 11 knots. Runway 19 is favored with a 11-knot headwind and 0-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

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

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 10°C (50°F) with a dewpoint of -1°C, indicating relatively dry conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 21 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain.

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
1013 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
972 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,221 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,229 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 922 ft
ISA Deviation: -2.6°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KSAW 150309Z 1503/1524 19011KT P6SM FEW250 FM150700 20012G25KT P6SM OVC200 FM150800 20013G25KT P6SM OVC140 WS020/22040KT FM151100 19013G26KT 5SM -SHRA OVC060 FM151400 19014G27KT P6SM OVC070
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
04:30Z BASE
+0h
VFR 190° 11 kt
Visibility: >6SM
07:00Z FM150700
+3h
VFR 200° 12 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 20,000 ft
08:00Z FM150800
+4h
VFR 200° 13 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 14,000 ft
11:00Z FM151100
+7h
MVFR 190° 13 kt
Visibility: 5SM
Ceiling: 6,000 ft
Light Showers Rain

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
SAW
01
19 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 01/19
Active: 19
12,370 ft 150 ft PEM
11.0 kt 0.0 kt
0° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KSAW

9,142 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
61.6%
MVFR
22.6%
IFR
8.3%
LIFR
7.5%

Marquette/Sawyer International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 61.6% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 15.8% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 8.7 knots, with gusts recorded up to 118 knots. Temperature extremes range from -30°C to 29°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are May, October, November.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 8.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 118 kt
Calm Winds: 1.5%
Direction Distribution:
N
14.3%
NE
6.6%
E
2.8%
SE
3.3%
S
25.2%
SW
12.9%
W
15.1%
NW
18.3%

Temperature Range

Average: -1°C
Range: -30°C to 29°C
-30°C 29°C

Visibility

Average: 9 SM
Below 3 SM: 3.2%
Fog Frequency: 7.2%

Best Months for VFR

May October November

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 01/19
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.4 kt

Statistics computed from 9,142 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Marquette/Sawyer International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KSAW
IATA Code: MQT
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,221 ft MSL

Location

City: Gwinn
Country: US
Latitude: 46.353600°
Longitude: -87.395401°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 01/19
Length: 12,370 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: PEM
ILS: No

About Marquette/Sawyer International Airport

Overview

Marquette/Sawyer International Airport serves the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, located in Gwinn with an elevation of 1,221 feet MSL. As a medium-sized airport, it provides critical aviation infrastructure for the region, positioned at coordinates 46.353600, -87.395401 with a single substantial runway 01/19 measuring 12,370 feet in length.

Flying Conditions

Weather patterns at KSAW demonstrate significant variability, with visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailing 59% of the time. Temperature ranges from -28°C to 29°C, creating challenging winter and summer operational environments. Winds predominantly come from the south at an average of 8.6 knots, with occasional strong gusts up to 45 knots and calm periods occurring 1.6% of the time.

Notable Features

The airport's extended runway and strategic location in Michigan's Upper Peninsula make it suitable for diverse aviation operations. Visibility averages 8.9 statute miles, with occasional reduced conditions including fog (6.3% occurrence) and periods below 3 miles visibility. The runway alignment allows for excellent wind coverage, with favorable wind conditions present 100% of the time.

Approach Considerations

Pilots should anticipate potential challenging conditions, particularly during winter months when IFR and LIFR conditions combine for 16.2% of observations. Runway 01/19 experiences an average crosswind of 4.5 knots, with September, October, and November offering the most consistently favorable VFR conditions. The substantial 12,370-foot runway provides significant operational flexibility for various aircraft types.

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.