Lemhi County Airport

KSMN / SMN

Salmon, US

Last Updated
May 15, 02:56Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Stale 3 hours ago
02:56Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
17°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: -6°C
12 kt
310° G18 kt
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1012 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KSMN 150256Z AUTO 31012G18KT 10SM FEW120 17/M06 A2988 RMK AO2 SLP097 T01721061 53009

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 4,043 ft
FEW 12,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
12,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
16,043 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Lemhi County Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with few clouds at 12,000 feet and 10 SM visibility. Note: This observation is 2.8 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the northwest (310°) at 12 knots with gusts to 18 knots. Runway 35 is favored with a 9-knot headwind and 8-knot crosswind component (gusting to 12 knots crosswind).

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 12,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 17°C (63°F) with a dewpoint of -6°C, indicating very dry conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 20 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight.

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

QNH
1012 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
877 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (4,043 ft)
Pressure Alt
4,081 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 5,291 ft
ISA Deviation: +10.1°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KSMN 150334Z 1504/1524 31011KT P6SM SCT120 FM150500 VRB03KT P6SM BKN100
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
05:46Z BASE
+0h
VFR 310° 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
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
SMN
17
35 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 17/35
Active: 35
5,150 ft 60 ft ASP 188°
9.2 kt 7.7 kt
40° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KSMN

6,199 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
84%
MVFR
6.1%
IFR
3.1%
LIFR
6.8%

Lemhi County Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 84% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the N averaging 6.3 knots. Calm conditions occur 50.5% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -17°C to 29°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are May, October, March.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: N (0°)
Average Speed: 6.3 kt
Maximum Recorded: 28 kt
Calm Winds: 50.5%
Direction Distribution:
N
11.3%
NE
3%
E
4.2%
SE
7.7%
S
9.1%
SW
5.5%
W
3.6%
NW
5.1%

Temperature Range

Average: 4°C
Range: -17°C to 29°C
-17°C 29°C

Visibility

Average: 9.5 SM
Below 3 SM: 2.3%
Fog Frequency: 3.7%

Best Months for VFR

May October March

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 17/35
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.3 kt

Statistics computed from 6,199 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Lemhi County Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KSMN
IATA Code: SMN
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 4,043 ft MSL

Location

City: Salmon
Country: US
Latitude: 45.122233°
Longitude: -113.881960°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+8

Runway Information

Runway 17/35
Length: 5,150 ft
Width: 60 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

Nearby Airports

VFR MVFR IFR LIFR No Data

About Lemhi County Airport

Overview

Lemhi County Airport serves the Salmon, Idaho region as a medium-sized airport situated at an elevation of 4,043 feet MSL. Located at coordinates 45.122233, -113.881960, the airport provides critical aviation infrastructure in a mountainous region of the northwestern United States. Its single runway 17/35 offers 5,150 feet of asphalt surface for regional and general aviation operations.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Lemhi County Airport demonstrate significant variability, with visual flight rules (VFR) prevailing 77.8% of the time. Temperature ranges from -15°C to 28°C, creating diverse flying environments throughout the year. October, September, and November present the most consistently favorable VFR conditions, while visibility averages 9.2 statute miles with occasional reduced visibility periods.

Notable Features

The airport's high elevation and mountainous terrain demand careful navigation and performance planning. Wind patterns are predominantly from the north (0°), with an average speed of 5.7 knots and potential gusts up to 28 knots. Calm wind conditions occur 53.8% of the time, which provides relatively stable approach and departure environments.

Approach Considerations

Runway 17/35 demonstrates excellent wind alignment, with favorable wind conditions 100% of the time and an average crosswind of only 2.9 knots. Pilots should anticipate potential instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), as IFR and LIFR conditions combine for approximately 14.5% of observations. Careful preflight planning and awareness of seasonal weather variations are recommended for safe operations.

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.