Strong Southwest Winds Require Unusual MSP Runway Use

Strong and gusty winds out of the southwest today are causing unusual runway use at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP). 

Air Traffic Controllers assign runways that provide the greatest amount of headwind for aircraft takeoffs and landings, especially when wind speed exceeds 10 miles per hour.

Typically, the parallel runways (Runways 12L/30R and 12R/30L) are used most often at MSP. But, today aircraft have been directed to use Runway 22 because it is the best runway for the current wind blowing about 25 miles per hour from the southwest, with gusts exceeding 45 miles per hour at times. Runway use at MSP is expected to change as wind conditions change.  Air Traffic Control will transition to use of the parallel runways (Runways 30L/30R) as soon as the winds allow. 

View up-to-date runway use information and flight activity on the MAC FlightTracker.