KMSL/MSL METAR & TAF Northwest Alabama Regional Airport

Muscle Shoals, AlabamaElevation 551 ftMedium airport

CURRENT STATUS

VFR30 min old

No ceiling, visibility 10 SM.

FLIGHT CATEGORY

VFR

ceiling & visibility

WIND

110@5

steady

VISIBILITY

10 SM

16.1 km

CEILING

None

no BKN/OVC layer

DENSITY ALT

1,082 ft

+531 ft vs field

CURRENT METAR

Decoded observation

Observed 2153Z (4:53 PM local) · 30 min old

KMSL is currently VFR. Winds are from the east at 5 knots. Visibility is 10 statute miles. There is no ceiling.

WIND

110° at 5 kt

Steady.

VISIBILITY

10 statute miles

16.1 km, good.

CEILING & SKY

CLR

FEW and SCT layers are not ceilings.

TEMP / DEWPOINT

22°C / 8°C

72°F / 46°F. 14°C spread.

ALTIMETER

30.35 inHg

1027.8 hPa, above standard.

WEATHER & HAZARDS

No significant hazards

No precipitation or obscuration reported.

Codes in this report: AUTO CLR RMK AO2

Hover or tap any group for a plain-English explanation.

REMARKS: DECODED

AO2

automated station with a precipitation discriminator (can tell rain from snow)

SLP274

sea-level pressure 1027.4 hPa

T02220083

precise temperature 22.2°C, dew point 8.3°C

station needs maintenance

TERMINAL AERODROME FORECAST

TAF timeline

Issued 1720Z (12:20 PM local) · valid to 1800Z (1:00 PM local)

KMSL forecast starts VFR at 18Z. Conditions are roughly steady over the period.

VFR

1800Z1:00 PM2248Z5:48 PM0336Z10:36 PM0824Z3:24 AM1312Z8:12 AM1800Z1:00 PM

Codes in this report: P6SM SKC

Tap any group to decode it.

FAA: no delays reported at MSL.

Source: FAA System Operations (ASWS). Operational status only; verify with official FAA sources and NOTAMs.

SUGGESTED RISK · TRAINING USE

Suggested risk level: Low

›No significant weather concerns in the current report.

A suggested risk level for training and situational awareness only, not a go/no-go authority. Verify with official sources and apply your personal minimums.

FORECAST & PILOT NOTES · SUPPLEMENTAL

Extended forecast and pilot notes

Current aviation conditions show flight category VFR, wind from 110° at 5 kt, visibility 10 SM, ceiling none. Forecast suggests this afternoon sunny, high near 75F, low near 45F, 0% chance of precipitation. Key risks: no significant hazards are highlighted right now, but always confirm against an official briefing.

Day	Conditions	Temp F	Wind	Gusts	Precip
This Afternoon	Sunny	75/45	E 4 kt	–	0%
Monday	Partly Sunny	75/45	E 4 kt	–	0%
Tuesday	Partly Sunny	76/47	ESE 4 kt	–	0%
Wednesday	Mostly Sunny	77/47	SE 4 kt	–	0%
Thursday	Sunny	78/49	SE 4 kt	–	0%
Friday	Mostly Sunny	79/56	ESE 4 kt	–	8%
Saturday	Slight Chance Rain Showers	79/59	SE 9 kt	–	73%

Source: National Weather Service (office HUN). Forecast issued 2223Z.

Radar

Radar data: NOAA/NWS MRMS composite reflectivity. For situational awareness only, not a substitute for an official weather briefing.

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RUNWAYS & WIND

2 runways · crosswind ranking

ON-FIELD METAR

READING THE BARB · SWIPE FOR MORE →

Calm

5 kt

10 kt

15 kt

20 kt

25 kt

30 kt

35 kt

40 kt

45 kt

50 kt

65 kt

75 kt

100 kt

105 kt

Half feather = 5 kt, full = 10 kt, filled pennant = 50 kt; add them up. The staff points the direction the wind blows from.

WIND USED

110° at 5 kt

Components computed from the current on-field METAR wind.

RECOMMENDED

RWY 125 kt headwind · no crosswind

RUNWAYS BY WIND · best end

HEAD

5 kt

CROSS

calm

BEST

HEAD

2 kt

CROSS

5 kt L

HEAD

2 kt tail

CROSS

5 kt R

HEAD

5 kt tail

CROSS

calm

Components are estimates from the current METAR wind and runway heading. Verify with the Chart Supplement and NOTAMs.

RUNWAYS

Runway detail & declared distances

2 runways · longest 6,693 ft

12/30

Dimensions

6,694 x 150 ft

Surface

Asphalt (good)

Edge lights

HIGH

RWY 12114°T

REILYes

VGSIPAPI (P4R)

Traffic patternLeft

RWY 30294°T

ILSILS

Approach lightsMALSR

Traffic patternLeft

18/36

Dimensions

4,000 x 100 ft

Surface

Asphalt (fair)

Edge lights

MED

RWY 18181°T

VGSIPAPI (P4L)

Traffic patternLeft

RWY 361°T

VGSIPAPI (P4L)

Traffic patternLeft

Runway data from the FAA NASR dataset (effective 2026-06-11). Verify with the current Chart Supplement and NOTAMs.

FIELD CONDITIONS

Performance & density altitude

Density altitude

1,082 ft

Pressure altitude

121 ft

Field elevation

551 ft MSL

Temperature

22°C (72°F)

Dewpoint

8°C (46°F)

Altimeter

30.35 inHg

Density altitude estimates how the aircraft performs versus standard atmosphere. Higher density altitude reduces climb performance and increases takeoff distance.

DAYLIGHT & NIGHT

Sun & logging windows

Sunset

2304Z 6:04 PM

Sunrise

1205Z 7:05 AM

Loggable night

2329Z (6:29 PM local) → 1139Z (6:39 AM local)

end of evening to start of morning civil twilight

Position lights required

2304Z (6:04 PM local) → 1205Z (7:05 AM local)

sunset to sunrise (91.209)

Night passenger currency

0004Z (7:04 PM local) → 1105Z (6:05 AM local)

1 hr after sunset to 1 hr before sunrise (61.57(b))

FAA definitions, shown in Zulu with airport-local time. Verify for your operation.

AIRPORT INFORMATION

Facility & services

Northwest Alabama Regional Airport is in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Field elevation 551 ft MSL. Airport facts are drawn from OurAirports and the FAA NASR dataset.

OPERATIONS & CONTACT

OwnershipPublicly owned

UseOpen to the public

TypeMedium airport

Airline serviceYes

ManagerBARRY GRIFFITH

Manager phone256-383-2270

AttendedDaily, 0600–1800

CHARTS & AIRSPACE

ICAO / IATAKMSL / MSL

SectionalATLANTA

Center (ARTCC)MEMPHIS

Flight service (AFSS)ANNISTON

RegionAlabama

CountryUnited States

Coordinates34.7451, -87.6130

Distance from city1 NM E

SERVICES & LIGHTING

Fuel100LL · Jet A

Control towerNon-towered

Field lightingSee remarks

BeaconSunset to sunrise · White-green (lighted land airport)

CTAF123.050

UNICOM123.050

FREQUENCIES

Communications

119.425

ASOS

120.8

MEMPHIS CNTR

CNTR

122.2

ANNISTON RDO

RDO

123.05

CTAF/UNICOM

UNIC

123.050

CTAF

123.050

UNICOM

Not all tower/ground/approach frequencies are in our datasets. Verify with the FAA Chart Supplement.

AIRCRAFT ACTIVITY

KMSL traffic patterns

2026-06-12 to 2026-10-23, 70 days observed · data 2026-10-23

High confidence

TRAFFIC VOLUME (30-DAY)

AVG LANDINGS/DAY

8.8

AVG OPS/DAY

15.6

Operations trend (18 days)

Busiest day: Fri · Busiest month: Sep

FLEET MIX

Piston single 43%Unknown 22%Jet 21%Helicopter 8%Twin 3%Airliner 2%Other 1%Turboprop 1%

Mostly small piston aircraft.

TOP AIRCRAFT TYPES

›C172 (Piston single) · ~26 landings/mo

›P28A (Piston single) · ~9 landings/mo

›E145 (Jet) · ~5 landings/mo

›E135 (Unknown) · ~5 landings/mo

›C150 (Piston single) · ~4 landings/mo

LIKELY BASED AIRCRAFT

Low-confidence estimate

Aircraft likely based near this airport (estimate), mostly single-engine piston aircraft.

›C172 (Piston single)

›P28A (Piston single)

›C150 (Piston single)

›TEX2 (Unknown)

›SR22 (Piston single)

This is an estimate based on repeated flight patterns, not registration data. Do not rely on it to identify specific aircraft or owners.

Data limitations (4)

›ADS-B coverage is incomplete; counts are an observed lower bound, not official totals.

›Some aircraft do not transmit usable ADS-B and are not counted.

›Aircraft types and based estimates are inferred and may be wrong.

›This is not official ATC, FAA, or airport data.

NEARBY AIRPORTS

Weather reference stations

Current flight category at nearby reporting stations.

KDCU Pryor Field Regional Airport

33 NM E

VFR

KHSV Huntsville International Airport

42 NM E

VFR

KHUA Redstone Army Air Field

46 NM E

VFR

KCRX Roscoe Turner Airport

50 NM W

VFR

KMRC Maury County Airport

53 NM NE

VFR

KFYM Fayetteville Municipal Airport

55 NM E

VFR

AIRPORT REMARKS

Operational remarks

›EXC THANKSGIVING, CHRISTMAS, AND NEW YEARS DAY

›GCO AVBL ON FREQ 121.725 FOR MEMPHIS ARTCC (ZME).

›LNDG FEE FOR ACR OVER 12,500 LBS.

›TWY A IS THE PREF TWY FOR ACR & CHTR OPNS USING THE ACR RAMP.

›LNDG FEE & PAX FAC CHRG FOR UNSKED ACR & CHTR OPNS.

›PCR VALUE: 430/F/B/X/T

›PCR VALUE: 470/F/C/X/T

›FUEL AVBL NIGHTS CALL 256-383-2270. AVGAS 100LL SELF SERVE AVBL 24 HRS.

›NO GA PARKING ON ACR RAMP.

›FOR CD IF UNA VIA GCO CTC MEMPHIS ARTCC AT 901-368-8453/8449.

›ACTVT MALSR RWY 30; REIL RWY 12; PAPI RWY 12; PAPI RWY 18 & 36; HIRL RWY 12/30; MIRL RWY 18/36 - CTAF.

›CALM WIND RWY.

›RWY 18/36 NOT AVBL FOR PART 121/PART 380 OPS WITH SKED PAX CARRYING OPS MORE THAN 9 PAX SEATS AND NON-SKED PAX CARRYING OPS MORE THAN 30 PAX SEATS.

›PPR FOR UNSKED ACR & CHTR OPNS WITH MORE THAN 30 PSGR SEATS; CALL AMGR (256) 381-2869, EXT 101 OR FAX (256) 381-2915.

›EXT. 101.

OFFICIAL LINKS & SOURCES

↗Official METAR on AviationWeather.gov

↗Search NOTAMs (official FAA NOTAM Search)

↗Wikipedia

↗KMSL on OurAirports

FREQUENTLY ASKED

Does KMSL have a METAR?

Yes. KMSL has a current METAR observation, decoded into plain English on this page.

Does KMSL have a TAF?

Yes, a TAF is issued for KMSL; the decoded forecast timeline is shown above.

What is the field elevation at KMSL?

KMSL sits at 551 ft MSL, which factors into the density-altitude estimate on this page.

Is this an official preflight weather briefing for KMSL?

No. wxdecoder.com is for education and situational awareness only. It is not an official weather briefing or a substitute for official sources, NOTAM review, and pilot judgment.

This app is for aviation weather education, training, and situational awareness only. It is not a substitute for an official weather briefing, approved flight-planning software, flight service, dispatch procedures, current FAA regulations, or pilot judgment. Always verify weather with official sources before flight.