Colombo Ratmalana Airport

VCCC / RML

Colombo, LK

Last Updated
Apr 18, 07:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 40 min ago
07:00Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
34°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 24°C
7 kt
230°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1009 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR VCCC 180700Z 23007KT 9999 FEW016 FEW018TCU 34/24 Q1009 A2980 RMK TCU SE

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 22 ft
FEW 1,600 ft AGL
FEW 1,800 ft AGL (TCU)
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
1,600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,622 ft AMSL
🌤️
FEW (TCU)
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
1,800 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,822 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Colombo Ratmalana Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with few clouds at 1,600 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the southwest (230°) at 7 knots. Runway 22 is favored with a 7-knot headwind and 1-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 1,600 ft, few at 1,800 ft (TCU). Caution: towering cumulus clouds reported at 1,800 ft AGL, indicating convective activity in the area.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 34°C (93°F) with a dewpoint of 24°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions. High temperatures at this elevation may result in significant density altitude effects. Pilots should calculate density altitude and adjust performance expectations accordingly.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight.

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

QNH
1009 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1008 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (22 ft)
Pressure Alt
150 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 2,435 ft (High - Reduced Performance)
ISA Deviation: +19.0°C

24-Hour Weather Evolution

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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
CCC
04
22 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 04/22
Active: 22
6,013 ft 100 ft ASP 33°
6.9 kt 1.2 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 - VCCC

2,261 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
71.3%
MVFR
25.5%
IFR
3%
LIFR
0.1%

Colombo Ratmalana Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 71.3% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 3.1% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 5.7 knots. The climate is relatively stable with temperatures averaging 29.3°C (range: 22°C to 35°C). The best months for VFR flying are September, October, April.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 5.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 20 kt
Calm Winds: 0.8%
Direction Distribution:
N
22.7%
NE
13.8%
E
1.4%
SE
0.8%
S
1.4%
SW
24%
W
24.8%
NW
10.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 29.3°C
Range: 22°C to 35°C
22°C 35°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.1%

Best Months for VFR

September October April

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 04/22
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2.9 kt

Statistics computed from 2,261 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Colombo Ratmalana Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: VCCC
IATA Code: RML
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 22 ft MSL

Location

City: Colombo
Country: LK
Latitude: 6.821990°
Longitude: 79.886200°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-5

Runway Information

Runway 04/22
Length: 6,013 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Colombo Ratmalana Airport

Overview

Colombo Ratmalana Airport is a medium-sized airport located in Colombo, Sri Lanka, serving the metropolitan area at an elevation of 22 feet MSL. Positioned at coordinates 6.821990, 79.886200, the airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for the region's transportation needs.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Ratmalana are predominantly visual flight rules (VFR), with 73.8% of observations supporting clear conditions and only 3.7% requiring instrument flight rules. The airport experiences consistent winds from the north at an average of 5.8 knots, with temperatures ranging between 22°C and 34°C, averaging 28.9°C.

Notable Features

The single runway 04/22 is 6,013 feet long with an asphalt surface, accommodating medium-sized aircraft operations. Wind conditions are highly favorable, with 100% of observations supporting runway alignment and an average crosswind of just 2.9 knots, providing stable approach and departure environments.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect optimal flying conditions during September, October, and January, which represent the best VFR months. The prevailing northerly winds and minimal crosswind make runway 04/22 consistently accessible, with excellent visibility averaging 10 statute miles and negligible 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.