Centennial Airport

KAPA / APA

Denver, US

Last Updated
Jul 26, 02:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 48 min ago
02:53Z

🌙 Night
LIFR
Flight Rules
29°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 10°C
7 kt
250°
0.203 km
Visibility
15,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1022 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KAPA 260253Z 25007KT 10SM FEW100 BKN150 BKN200 29/10 A3018 RMK AO2 WSHFT 0203 SLP127 VIRGA DSNT NW T02890100 53004

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 5,885 ft
FEW 10,000 ft AGL
BKN 15,000 ft AGL
BKN 20,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
10,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
15,885 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
15,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
20,885 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
20,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
25,885 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

LIFR

Centennial Airport is currently reporting low IFR (LIFR) conditions with broken clouds at 15,000 feet and 0.203 km visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west-southwest (250°) at 7 knots. Runway 28 is favored with a 6-knot headwind and 4-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is severely reduced to 0.203 km, likely due to fog, mist, or precipitation. Special VFR or an IFR clearance may be required. The ceiling is 15000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 29°C (84°F) with a dewpoint of 10°C, indicating very dry conditions. High temperatures at this elevation may result in significant density altitude effects. Pilots should calculate density altitude and adjust performance expectations accordingly.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 5 to 16 knots. There is a 30% probability of VFR conditions with Light Showers Rain between 00:00Z and 04:00Z. There is a 30% probability of VFR conditions with Light Showers Rain between 21:00Z and 00:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Current conditions require an instrument rating, IFR-equipped aircraft, and an IFR clearance. Check approach minimums carefully as conditions may be below CAT I ILS minimums.

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

QNH
1022 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
826 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (5,885 ft)
Pressure Alt
5,623 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 8,715 ft (High - Reduced Performance)
ISA Deviation: +25.8°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KAPA 252323Z 2600/2624 19012KT P6SM SCT100 BKN140 PROB30 2600/2604 VRB16G28KT -SHRA BKN100 FM260400 18010KT P6SM FEW100 SCT140 FM261400 VRB05KT P6SM FEW100 SCT140 FM261700 01008KT P6SM SCT100 SCT140 PROB30 2621/2624 VRB15G25KT -SHRA BKN100
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
03:40Z BASE
+0h
VFR 190° 12 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 14,000 ft
04:00Z FM260400
+1h
VFR 180° 10 kt
Visibility: >6SM
14:00Z FM261400
+11h
VFR VRB 5 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
APA
10
28 ✈️
17L
35R
17R
35L

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 10/28
Active: 28
4,800 ft 75 ft ASP 110°
6.1 kt 3.5 kt
30° angle
17L/35R 10,001 ft 100 ft ASP 178°
2.2 kt 6.7 kt
72° angle
17R/35L 7,001 ft 75 ft ASP 178°
2.2 kt 6.7 kt
72° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KAPA

8,459 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
88.3%
MVFR
5.7%
IFR
4.5%
LIFR
1.5%

Centennial Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 88.3% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 8 knots, with gusts recorded up to 34 knots. Temperature extremes range from -18°C to 37°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are February, July, November.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 8 kt
Maximum Recorded: 34 kt
Calm Winds: 7.9%
Direction Distribution:
E
7.8%
N
13.7%
S
22.4%
W
8%
NE
7.8%
NW
7.8%
SE
12%
SW
12.5%

Temperature Range

Average: 11.1°C
Range: -18°C to 37°C
-18°C 37°C

Visibility

Average: 9.7 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.5%
Fog Frequency: 1.2%

Best Months for VFR

February July November

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 10/28
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.9 kt
Runway 17L/35R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.2 kt
Runway 17R/35L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.2 kt

Statistics computed from 8,459 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Centennial Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KAPA
IATA Code: APA
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 5,885 ft MSL

Location

City: Denver
Country: US
Latitude: 39.570099°
Longitude: -104.848999°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+7

Runway Information

Runway 10/28
Length: 4,800 ft
Width: 75 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 17L/35R
Length: 10,001 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 17R/35L
Length: 7,001 ft
Width: 75 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Centennial Airport

Overview

Centennial Airport serves the Denver metropolitan area as a medium-sized airport situated at 5,885 feet mean sea level. Located near Denver, the airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for general aviation, business, and corporate flight operations. Its strategic position in the Front Range region makes it an important transportation hub for Colorado.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions 90.1% of the time, with minimal periods of instrument meteorological conditions. Temperature ranges from -14°C to 32°C, creating diverse flying environments throughout the year. Prevailing winds from the south at an average of 7.4 knots, with occasional gusts up to 32 knots, provide consistent wind conditions for pilots.

Notable Features

Centennial Airport features three asphalt runways with significant length variations, offering flexibility for different aircraft types. The longest runway (17L/35R) extends 10,001 feet, while the shortest (10/28) is 4,800 feet long. The high elevation of 5,885 feet MSL requires pilots to consider density altitude effects, particularly during warmer months.

Approach Considerations

All three runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with modest average crosswind components ranging from 4-5.4 knots. October, November, and September represent the most consistently favorable VFR months for operations. Pilots should anticipate excellent visibility, with an average of 9.7 statute miles and minimal fog occurrence (0.2% of observations).

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.