Charlottesville Albemarle Airport

KCHO / CHO

Charlottesville, US

Last Updated
Jun 10, 14:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Aging 1 hour ago
14:53Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
26°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 21°C
12 kt
200°
10 SM
Visibility
11,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1015 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KCHO 101453Z 20012KT 10SM BKN110 26/21 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP142 T02560211 58008

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 639 ft
BKN 11,000 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
11,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
11,639 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Charlottesville Albemarle Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 11,000 feet and 10 SM visibility. Note: This observation is 1.1 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south-southwest (200°) at 12 knots. Runway 21 is favored with a 12-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 11000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 26°C (79°F) with a dewpoint of 21°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 23 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain, Light Thunderstorm Rain, Mist, Mist. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Light Thunderstorm Rain, Mist between 18:00Z and 20:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. The forecast indicates conditions may deteriorate. Ensure you have fuel reserves and a viable alternate airport.

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

QNH
1015 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
994 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (639 ft)
Pressure Alt
587 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 2,060 ft
ISA Deviation: +12.3°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KCHO 101314Z 1013/1112 21007KT 6SM -SHRA SCT008 OVC100 FM101500 22008KT P6SM BKN025 FM101800 21009KT P6SM SCT025 BKN040 PROB30 1018/1020 4SM -TSRA BR BKN030CB FM110800 22003KT 5SM BR FEW210
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
15:57Z BASE
+0h
VFR 210° 7 kt
Visibility: 6SM
Ceiling: 10,000 ft
Light Showers Rain
18:00Z FM101800
+3h
VFR 210° 9 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 4,000 ft
18:00Z PROB30
+3h
MVFR
Visibility: 4SM
Ceiling: 3,000 ft
Light Thunderstorm Rain, Mist

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
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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
CHO
03
21 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 03/21
Active: 21
6,001 ft 150 ft ASP 22°
11.8 kt 2.1 kt
10° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KCHO

7,404 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
77.4%
MVFR
10.7%
IFR
7%
LIFR
4.9%

Charlottesville Albemarle Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 77.4% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 11.9% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 6.3 knots. Calm conditions occur 29% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -15°C to 36°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are June, October, January.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 6.3 kt
Maximum Recorded: 24 kt
Calm Winds: 29%
Direction Distribution:
E
3.7%
N
10.5%
S
22.5%
W
4.8%
NE
12.5%
NW
6.7%
SE
2.2%
SW
8.1%

Temperature Range

Average: 10.5°C
Range: -15°C to 36°C
-15°C 36°C

Visibility

Average: 9.2 SM
Below 3 SM: 3.4%
Fog Frequency: 2.3%

Best Months for VFR

June October January

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 03/21
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2.7 kt

Statistics computed from 7,404 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Charlottesville Albemarle Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KCHO
IATA Code: CHO
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 639 ft MSL

Location

City: Charlottesville
Country: US
Latitude: 38.138599°
Longitude: -78.452904°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 03/21
Length: 6,001 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Charlottesville Albemarle Airport

Overview

Charlottesville Albemarle Airport serves the central Virginia region as a medium-sized airport located near Charlottesville. Situated at 639 feet above mean sea level, the airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for the local area, supporting general aviation and regional transportation needs.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at KCHO are predominantly VFR, with 78.9% of observations showing favorable visual flight rules. The airport experiences moderate wind conditions, with a prevailing southerly wind at 180° and an average speed of 6.1 knots. Temperature ranges from -11°C to 31°C, with October, January, and November typically offering the most stable flying conditions.

Notable Features

The airport features a single runway (03/21) measuring 6,001 feet with an asphalt surface. Pilots can expect consistent wind alignment, with 100% runway favorable wind conditions and an average crosswind of just 2.8 knots. Calm wind conditions occur 32.9% of the time, providing predictable landing and takeoff scenarios.

Approach Considerations

With an average visibility of 9.2 statute miles and only 2.7% of observations showing visibility below 3 miles, approaches are generally straightforward. Fog is present in only 2.1% of observations, and instrument conditions (IFR or LIFR) occur less than 10% of the time, suggesting reliable visual approach opportunities for most operations.

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.