Cape Town International Airport

FACT / CPT

Cape Town, ZA

Last Updated
Mar 4, 10:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 27 min ago
10:00Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
24°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 14°C
13 kt
180°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1012 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR FACT 041000Z 18013KT 150V250 9999 FEW035 24/14 Q1012 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 151 ft
FEW 3,500 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
3,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,651 ft AMSL
QNH
1012 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1007 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (151 ft)
Pressure Alt
189 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,305 ft
ISA Deviation: +9.3°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF FACT 040400Z 0406/0512 22005KT CAVOK TX26/0412Z TN16/0504Z FM040900 18012KT CAVOK FM041800 VRB02KT 9999 SCT040 PROB30 TEMPO 0500/0505 3000 BR NSC FM050800 30010KT 9999 BKN030
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
10:26Z BASE
+0h
VFR 220° 5 kt
Visibility: >10km
18:00Z FM041800
+8h
VFR VRB 2 kt
Visibility: 10+ km

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
  • • Hover for exact values and timestamps
  • • Click legend items to toggle data series
  • • Zoom and pan for detailed analysis
  • • Units automatically converted to preferences
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
ACT
01
19 ✈️
16
34

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 01/19
Active: 19
10,502 ft 200 ft ASP 346°
12.8 kt 2.3 kt
10° angle
16/34 5,581 ft 151 ft ASP 136°
9.4 kt 9.0 kt
44° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - FACT

4,318 observations | Sep 2025 - Mar 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
88.5%
MVFR
4.9%
IFR
4.4%
LIFR
2.2%

Cape Town International Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 88.5% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 12.9 knots, with gusts recorded up to 43 knots. Temperatures typically range between 6°C and 36°C with an average of 20.2°C. The best months for VFR flying are March, December, November.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 12.9 kt
Maximum Recorded: 43 kt
Calm Winds: 0%
Direction Distribution:
N
5.4%
NE
1.2%
E
0.6%
SE
7%
S
54.3%
SW
18.8%
W
2.3%
NW
10.5%

Temperature Range

Average: 20.2°C
Range: 6°C to 36°C
6°C 36°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 2%

Best Months for VFR

March December November

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 01/19
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.6 kt
Runway 16/34
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.5 kt

Statistics computed from 4,318 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Mar 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Cape Town International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: FACT
IATA Code: CPT
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 151 ft MSL

Location

City: Cape Town
Country: ZA
Latitude: -33.964802°
Longitude: 18.601700°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-1

Runway Information

Runway 01/19
Length: 10,502 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 16/34
Length: 5,581 ft
Width: 151 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Cape Town International Airport

Overview

Cape Town International Airport (FACT) serves as the primary airport for Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. Located at coordinates -33.964802, 18.601700, this large airport provides critical aviation infrastructure at an elevation of 151 feet mean sea level. The airport supports significant commercial and potentially regional aviation operations.

Flying Conditions

The airport features two paved runways: a primary runway 01/19 measuring 10,502 feet and a secondary runway 16/34 measuring 5,581 feet. These runway configurations provide flexibility for aircraft operations under varying wind conditions. Pilots should anticipate potential wind variations typical of coastal airport environments.

Notable Features

Cape Town's airport is situated in a coastal region with complex terrain surrounding the airport, including mountainous landscapes to the east and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The airport's significant runway length allows for accommodating large commercial aircraft. Terrain and coastal proximity will likely influence local meteorological conditions and approach dynamics.

Approach Considerations

With two runways oriented in different directions, pilots have multiple approach options based on prevailing wind conditions. The longer 01/19 runway provides substantial landing and takeoff capabilities for larger aircraft. Careful attention to wind direction and potential terrain-induced turbulence is recommended during approach and departure procedures.

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.