WxDecoder

KSMO/SMO METAR & TAF Santa Monica Municipal Airport

Santa Monica, CaliforniaElevation 170 ftMedium airport
CURRENT STATUS
VFR59 min old
No ceiling, visibility 10 SM.
FLIGHT CATEGORY
VFR
ceiling & visibility
WIND
350@4
steady
VISIBILITY
10 SM
16.1 km
CEILING
None
no BKN/OVC layer
DENSITY ALT
209 ft
+39 ft vs field
ACTIVE NWS ALERTS

Active weather alerts

Coastal Flood AdvisoryMinor · Expected · Likely
26 0112Z to 29 2000Z
San Luis Obispo County Beaches; Santa Barbara County Central Coast Beaches; Santa Barbara County Southwestern Coast; Santa Barbara County Southeastern Coast; Ventura County Beaches; Malibu Coast; Los Angeles County Beaches
* WHAT...Minor to moderate coastal flooding expected due to very high tides. * WHERE...Coastal areas of Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo Counties. * WHEN...From 5 AM Sunday to 1 PM PDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Minor to moderate flooding of sea water is likely over vulnerable low-lying coastal areas, especially around the time of high tide, including over beach parking lots,…
Take the necessary actions to protect flood-prone property. Do NOT drive around barricades or through water of unknown depth.

Alerts from the National Weather Service. For situational awareness only; always confirm against an official briefing.

CURRENT METAR

Decoded observation

Observed 1051Z (3:51 AM local) · 59 min old

KSMO is currently VFR. Winds are from the north at 4 knots. Visibility is 10 statute miles. There is no ceiling.

WIND
350° at 4 kt
Steady.
VISIBILITY
10 statute miles
16.1 km, good.
CEILING & SKY
CLR
FEW and SCT layers are not ceilings.
TEMP / DEWPOINT
16°C / 10°C
61°F / 50°F. 6°C spread.
ALTIMETER
30.04 inHg
1017.3 hPa, near 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)
SLP171
sea-level pressure 1017.1 hPa
T01610100
precise temperature 16.1°C, dew point 10.0°C
$
station needs maintenance
TERMINAL AERODROME FORECAST

TAF timeline

Issued 1132Z (4:32 AM local) · valid to 1200Z (5:00 AM local)

KSMO forecast starts VFR at 12Z. Conditions are roughly steady over the period.

VFR
VFR
VFR
1200Z5:00 AM1648Z9:48 AM2136Z2:36 PM0224Z7:24 PM0712Z12:12 AM1200Z5:00 AM

Codes in this report: P6SM SKC SCT

Tap any group to decode it.

FAA: no delays reported at SMO.

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 350° at 4 kt, visibility 10 SM, ceiling none. Forecast suggests monday sunny, high near 76F, low near 58F, 0% chance of precipitation. Key risks: no significant hazards are highlighted right now, but always confirm against an official briefing.

DayConditionsTemp FWindGustsPrecipPilot note
Monday Sunny 76/58 WNW 9 kt – 0%
Tuesday Mostly Sunny 75/58 SE 4 kt – 0%
Wednesday Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny 73/59 SE 9 kt – 0%
Thursday Mostly Cloudy 71/61 SE 9 kt – 15%
Friday Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny 69/60 SSE 9 kt – 21%
Saturday Chance Rain Showers 66/59 SE 9 kt – 49%
Sunday Chance Rain Showers 66 NE 9 kt – 48%

Source: National Weather Service (office LOX). Forecast issued 1149Z.

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
1 runway · crosswind ranking
ON-FIELD METAR
NESW0321 350°350°4 kt350°350° 4350°
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
350° at 4 kt
Components computed from the current on-field METAR wind.
RECOMMENDED
RWY 032 kt headwind · 3 kt crosswind
RUNWAYS BY WIND · best end
03
HEAD
2 kt
CROSS
3 kt L
BEST
21
HEAD
2 kt tail
CROSS
3 kt R
OK
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 3,500 ft

03/21
Dimensions
3,500 x 150 ft
Surface
Asphalt (good)
Edge lights
MED
RWY 0344°T
Landing length (LDA)3,500 ft
TORA / TODA / ASDA3,500 / 3,500 / 3,500 ft
VGSIPAPI (P4L)
Traffic patternRight
RWY 21224°T
Landing length (LDA)3,500 ft
TORA / TODA / ASDA3,500 / 3,500 / 3,500 ft
REILYes
VGSIPAPI (P4L)
Traffic patternLeft
H1
Dimensions
40 x 40 ft
Surface
Asphalt (good)
Edge lights
PERI
RWY H1

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
209 ft
Pressure altitude
50 ft
Field elevation
170 ft MSL
Temperature
16°C (61°F)
Dewpoint
10°C (50°F)
Altimeter
30.04 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
0108Z 6:08 PM
Sunrise
1407Z 7:07 AM
Loggable night
0133Z (6:33 PM local) → 1342Z (6:42 AM local)
end of evening to start of morning civil twilight
Position lights required
0108Z (6:08 PM local) → 1407Z (7:07 AM local)
sunset to sunrise (91.209)
Night passenger currency
0208Z (7:08 PM local) → 1307Z (6:07 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

Santa Monica Municipal Airport is in Santa Monica, California. Field elevation 170 ft MSL. Airport facts are drawn from OurAirports and the FAA NASR dataset.

OPERATIONS & CONTACT
OwnershipPublicly owned
UseOpen to the public
TypeMedium airport
ManagerSTELIOS MAKRIDES
Manager phone(310) 458-8692
AttendedContinuous (24 hours)
CHARTS & AIRSPACE
ICAO / IATAKSMO / SMO
SectionalLOS ANGELES
Center (ARTCC)LOS ANGELES
Flight service (AFSS)HAWTHORNE
RegionCalifornia
CountryUnited States
Coordinates34.0158, -118.4510
Distance from city3 NM E
SERVICES & LIGHTING
Fuel100LL · Jet A · UL94
Control towerTowered
Field lightingSee remarks
BeaconSunset to sunrise · White-green (lighted land airport)
CTAF120.100
UNICOM122.950
FREQUENCIES

Communications

124.3
SOCAL APP
APP
119.15
ATIS
ATIS
120.1
CTAF
CTAF
125.2
SOCAL DEP
DEP
121.9
GND
GND
120.1
TWR
TWR
122.95
UNICOM
UNIC
122.950
UNICOM
UNICOM

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

AIRCRAFT ACTIVITY

KSMO 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
101.8
AVG OPS/DAY
136.7
Activity trend over 18 days: rising, from 116 to 160 operations per dayOperations trend (18 days)

Busiest day: Fri · Busiest month: Sep

FLEET MIX
Unknown 45%Piston single 44%Turboprop 4%Jet 4%Helicopter 1%

Fleet composition unclear from available data.

TOP AIRCRAFT TYPES
›C172 (Piston single) · ~436 landings/mo
›SLG2 (Unknown) · ~380 landings/mo
›P28A (Piston single) · ~196 landings/mo
›SLG4 (Unknown) · ~158 landings/mo
›UNKN (Unknown) · ~122 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)
›SLG4 (Unknown)
›SLG2 (Unknown)
›SR20 (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.

KLAX Los Angeles International Airport
5 NM SE
VFR
KHHR Jack Northrop Field Hawthorne Municipal Airport
8 NM SE
VFR
KVNY Van Nuys Airport
12 NM N
VFR
KBUR Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport
12 NM N
VFR
KTOA Zamperini Field
14 NM SE
VFR
KWHP Whiteman Airport
15 NM N
VFR
AIRPORT REMARKS

Operational remarks

›CONS NOISE ORDINANCE IN EFCT CTC NOISE OFFICE FOR PROCS (310) 458-8692.
›ENG MAINT RUN-UP: JETS AND TURBOPROPS NORTH SIDE, WI 300 FT EAST OF TWY A4. PISTON SNGLS AND TWINS ON SOUTH SIDE, WI 300 FT EAST OF TWY B4. 0900-1700 ONLY.
›IF DEP NORTH, NO RIGHT TURNS BFR RCHG SHORELINE. RWY 03 DEP NO TURNS PRIOR TO 405 FREEWAY LCTD 1 MI EAST.
›VFR DEPS RWY 21 TURN LEFT 10 DEGS OVER SMO VOR THEN TURN RIGHT 225 DEGS
›PPR RQRD FOR DW ACFT IN EXCESS OF 60000 LBS CRTFYD MAX LDG WT, CTC AMGR 310-458-8692.
›NO TOUCH/GO, STOP/GO, OR LOW APCH PERMITTED ON SAT, SUN, HOLS; WEEKDAYS SS-0700.
›PURE JET AND STAGE II (WITH/WITHOUT HUSH KITS) PROHIBITED.
›IFR JETS & TURBOPROPS CTC GND PRIOR TO ENG START.
›TURBINE ACFT & ACFT OVER 12,000 LBS PROHIBITED ON SOUTH SIDE TSNT PKNG.
›TPA: 1200' AGL SINGLE-ENG; 1700' AGL TWIN-ENG.
›WHEN ATCT CLSD ACTVT REIL RWY 21; MIRL RWY 03/21 - CTAF.
›UL94 AVBL AT SELF-SERVE ISLAND.
›100LL FULL SVC ONLY.
›STELIOS.MAKRIDES@SANTAMONICA.GOV
›RWY 03/21 DEP END APPROX 1000 FT FM RESIDENTIAL HOMES. EXTENDED HIGH POWER SETTINGS ON RUN-UP OR DEP NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE COMMUNITY.
›INTXN DEPS AND FRMN LNDGS/DEPS PROHIBITED.
›HEL FLT TRNG OPN PROHIBITED; HEL OPNS APCH ARPT BDRY AT MIDFIELD AT OR ABOVE 900 FT MSL.
›FOR CD WHEN ATCT CLSD CTC SOCAL APCH AT 800-448-3724.
›ACFT MUST NOW EXIT THE RWY AT DSGND CONNECTOR TWYS. THE CONS RWY EXIT SYS IS NO LONGER AVBL.
›THE PAVED AREAS PRECDG THE RWY 3-21 THRS ARE NOT AVBL FOR LDG, TKOF, OR TAXI OPS. THE PAVED AREAS ARE NOW BLAST PADS CREATED FROM THE THRS' RELOCATION AND RWY LENGTH REDUCTION IN DECEMBER 2017.
›TSNT PRKG SOUTH SIDE, NEXT TO BCN.
›CURFEW: NO ENG STARTS, APU, OR TKOFS EXC PPR LIFEGUARD FLTS 2300-0700 MON-FRI AND 2300-0800 WKENDS.
›PPR EX-MIL ACFT CTC ARPT MGR (310) 458-8692.
›NOISE LMTS ALL ACFT: PURE JET AND STAGE II (WITH/WITHOUT HUSHKITS) PROHIBITED. MAX NOISE LIMIT 95.0 DBA SNGL EVENT NOISE EXPOSURE LEVEL (SENEL) RCRDD 2200 FT EXTDD CNTRLN.
OFFICIAL LINKS & SOURCES
↗Official METAR on AviationWeather.gov
↗Search NOTAMs (official FAA NOTAM Search)
↗Official airport website
↗Wikipedia
↗KSMO on OurAirports
FREQUENTLY ASKED
Does KSMO have a METAR?
Yes. KSMO has a current METAR observation, decoded into plain English on this page.
Does KSMO have a TAF?
Yes, a TAF is issued for KSMO; the decoded forecast timeline is shown above.
What is the field elevation at KSMO?
KSMO sits at 170 ft MSL, which factors into the density-altitude estimate on this page.
Is this an official preflight weather briefing for KSMO?
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.