Juan Santamaría International Airport

MROC / SJO

San José (Alajuela), CR

Last Updated
Jul 5, 04:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 26 min ago
04:00Z

🌙 Night
MVFR
Flight Rules
22°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 20°C
4 kt
340°
10+ km
Visibility
1,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1018 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR MROC 050400Z 34004KT 9999 3500SW BCFG FEW003 OVC130 22/20 A3006 TEMPO 5000 BR BKN010

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 3,021 ft
FEW 300 ft AGL
BKN 1,000 ft AGL
OVC 13,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
300 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,321 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
1,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,021 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
13,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
16,021 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Juan Santamaría International Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with overcast skies at 13,000 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the north-northwest (340°) at 4 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 1000 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 22°C (72°F) with a dewpoint of 20°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely. 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 20 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Expected weather includes: Mist, Rain. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Mist between 04:00Z and 09:00Z. Temporary VFR conditions are forecast with Rain between 18:00Z and 00:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours. 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
1018 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
917 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (3,021 ft)
Pressure Alt
2,879 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 4,444 ft
ISA Deviation: +13.0°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF MROC 050414Z 0504/0524 10007KT 9999 FEW030 TX28/0519Z TN20/0511Z TEMPO 0504/0509 30005KT 5000 BR BKN010 TEMPO 0518/0524 28005KT RA
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
04:26Z BASE
+0h
VFR 100° 7 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
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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
ROC
07 ✈️
25

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 07/25
Active: 07
9,882 ft 151 ft ASP 69°
0.0 kt 4.0 kt
90° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - MROC

7,530 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
88.6%
MVFR
6.4%
IFR
3.1%
LIFR
1.8%

Juan Santamaría International Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 88.6% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the E averaging 9.5 knots, with gusts recorded up to 110 knots. Temperatures typically range between 16°C and 39°C with an average of 23.2°C. The best months for VFR flying are July, January, March.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: E (90°)
Average Speed: 9.5 kt
Maximum Recorded: 110 kt
Calm Winds: 0.6%
Direction Distribution:
E
56.4%
N
2.3%
S
1.7%
W
10.3%
NE
10.5%
NW
2%
SE
5.7%
SW
10.5%

Temperature Range

Average: 23.2°C
Range: 16°C to 39°C
16°C 39°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 5.8%

Best Months for VFR

July January March

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 07/25
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4 kt

Statistics computed from 7,530 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Juan Santamaría International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: MROC
IATA Code: SJO
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 3,021 ft MSL

Location

City: San José (Alajuela)
Country: CR
Latitude: 9.993860°
Longitude: -84.208801°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 07/25
Length: 9,882 ft
Width: 151 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Juan Santamaría International Airport

Overview

Juan Santamaría International Airport serves as Costa Rica's primary international aviation hub, located near San José in the Alajuela province. As a large airport situated at 3021 feet mean sea level, it provides critical aviation infrastructure for both commercial and regional air transportation in Central America.

Flying Conditions

The airport's elevation of 3021 feet means pilots should anticipate higher density altitude conditions, particularly during warmer periods which can affect aircraft performance. Its geographic location in Central America suggests potential for variable weather patterns, with potential rapid atmospheric changes typical of mountainous tropical environments.

Notable Features

The single runway 07/25 measures 9882 feet in length, constructed with asphalt surface, providing substantial operational flexibility for a wide range of aircraft types. Its orientation suggests potential crosswind considerations, with runway heading aligned approximately east-west and positioned at coordinates 9.993860, -84.208801.

Approach Considerations

Pilots should be prepared for potential terrain-influenced wind variations given the airport's mountainous regional context. The substantial 9882-foot runway length provides significant margin for most commercial and regional aircraft operations, allowing flexible approach and landing strategies across various meteorological conditions.

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.