Rarotonga International Airport

NCRG / RAR

Avarua, CK

Last Updated
Feb 14, 11:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 8 min ago
11:00Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
25°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 24°C
4 kt
190°
10+ km
Visibility
4,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR NCRG 141100Z 19004KT 9999 SCT018 BKN040 25/24 Q1011

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 19 ft
SCT 1,800 ft AGL
BKN 4,000 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
1,800 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,819 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
4,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,019 ft AMSL

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF NCRG 140512Z 1406/1506 28009KT 9999 BKN020 PROB40 TEMPO 1406/1506 5000 TSRA BKN015 FEW017CB
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
11:08Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 280° 9 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 2,000 ft

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
CRG
08
26 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 08/26
Active: 26
7,638 ft 150 ft CON 90°
1.4 kt 3.8 kt
70° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - NCRG

3,624 observations | Sep 2025 - Feb 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
77.2%
MVFR
22.7%
IFR
0%
LIFR
0.1%

Rarotonga International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 77.2% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 0.1% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the E averaging 7.8 knots, with gusts recorded up to 43 knots. Temperatures typically range between 17°C and 38°C with an average of 25.5°C. The best months for VFR flying are September, February, November.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: E (90°)
Average Speed: 7.8 kt
Maximum Recorded: 43 kt
Calm Winds: 0.4%
Direction Distribution:
N
6.5%
NE
15.7%
E
47.1%
SE
12.7%
S
6.6%
SW
3.4%
W
4%
NW
3.5%

Temperature Range

Average: 25.5°C
Range: 17°C to 38°C
17°C 38°C

Visibility

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

Best Months for VFR

September February November

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 08/26
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.4 kt

Statistics computed from 3,624 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Feb 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Rarotonga International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: NCRG
IATA Code: RAR
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 19 ft MSL

Location

City: Avarua
Country: CK
Latitude: -21.202700°
Longitude: -159.806000°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+11

Runway Information

Runway 08/26
Length: 7,638 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About Rarotonga International Airport

Overview

Rarotonga International Airport serves as the primary aviation gateway to the Cook Islands, located in the South Pacific. Situated in Avarua, the airport is a medium-sized facility positioned at 19 feet above mean sea level, providing critical international and regional connectivity for this island nation.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Rarotonga are predominantly VFR, with 78.2% of observations indicating clear flying conditions. The airport experiences consistent easterly winds averaging 7.8 knots, with occasional stronger gusts up to 43 knots. Seasonal variations show optimal VFR conditions in September, January, and November, with stable temperature ranges between 17°C and 32°C.

Notable Features

The single runway (08/26) spans 7,638 feet with a concrete surface, oriented to take advantage of the prevailing easterly wind pattern. Its geographical location presents a unique Pacific island aviation environment, with surrounding maritime terrain potentially influencing local wind and approach dynamics. The airport's low elevation and consistent wind characteristics make it relatively predictable for instrument-rated pilots.

Approach Considerations

Runway 08/26 demonstrates highly favorable wind alignment, with 100% wind compatibility and minimal average crosswind of 3.1 knots. Pilots can expect excellent visibility conditions, with an average visibility of 10 statute miles and no significant fog occurrences. The consistent easterly wind makes eastern approaches (runway 08) typically most advantageous for landing 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.