Cairns International Airport

YBCS / CNS

Cairns, AU

Last Updated
Mar 4, 21:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 34 min ago
21:00Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
24°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 22°C
5 kt
220°
10+ km
Visibility
3,600 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR YBCS 042100Z AUTO 22005KT 190V270 9999 -SHRA BKN036 OVC043 24/22 Q1002

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 10 ft
BKN 3,600 ft AGL
OVC 4,300 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
3,600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,610 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
4,300 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,310 ft AMSL

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF YBCS 042024Z 0421/0518 18009KT 9999 -SHRA SCT025 FM042300 16014KT 9999 -SHRA SCT030 BECMG 0512/0514 17014KT 6000 SHRA BKN025 TEMPO 0421/0502 3000 SHRA BKN012 TEMPO 0502/0518 15020G35KT 1000 +SHRA BKN008 SCT025TCU PROB30 TEMPO 0515/0518 VRB30G45KT 0500 +TSRA BKN005 SCT020CB
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
21:33Z BASE
+0h
VFR 180° 9 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Light Showers Rain
23:00Z FM042300
+2h
VFR 160° 14 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Light Showers Rain
02:00Z TEMPO
+5h
LIFR 150° 20 kt
Visibility: 1 km
Ceiling: 800 ft
Heavy Showers Rain

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
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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
BCS
12
30 ✈️
15 ✈️
33

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 12/30
Active: 30
3,035 ft 60 ft ASP 126°
0.9 kt 4.9 kt
80° angle
✈️ 15/33
Active: 15
10,489 ft 148 ft ASP 156°
1.7 kt 4.7 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 - YBCS

8,948 observations | Sep 2025 - Mar 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
79.4%
MVFR
18%
IFR
2.1%
LIFR
0.5%

Cairns International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 79.4% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 2.6% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 7.6 knots. Temperatures typically range between 17°C and 35°C with an average of 26.7°C. The best months for VFR flying are November, October, March.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 7.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 27 kt
Calm Winds: 7.5%
Direction Distribution:
N
7.9%
NE
8.5%
E
8%
SE
23.1%
S
29.7%
SW
2.3%
W
9.4%
NW
3.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 26.7°C
Range: 17°C to 35°C
17°C 35°C

Visibility

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

Best Months for VFR

November October March

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 12/30
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.6 kt
Runway 15/33
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.4 kt

Statistics computed from 8,948 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Mar 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Cairns International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: YBCS
IATA Code: CNS
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 10 ft MSL

Location

City: Cairns
Country: AU
Latitude: -16.878921°
Longitude: 145.749480°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-10

Runway Information

Runway 12/30
Length: 3,035 ft
Width: 60 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 15/33
Length: 10,489 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

Nearby Airports

VFR MVFR IFR LIFR No Data

About Cairns International Airport

Overview

Cairns International Airport serves as a critical aviation hub in northeastern Queensland, Australia, connecting regional, domestic, and international traffic. Located at 10 feet mean sea level near the coastal city of Cairns, the airport supports medium-sized aircraft operations with two asphalt runways. Its strategic position makes it a key gateway for tourism and commercial aviation in the tropical North Queensland region.

Flying Conditions

The airport demonstrates predominantly favorable VFR conditions, with 80.7% of observations indicating visual flight rules are suitable. Wind patterns are consistently from the south at an average of 7.8 knots, with temperatures ranging between 17°C and 35°C, averaging 26.4°C. Both runways offer 100% favorable wind alignment, with minimal crosswind challenges averaging 3.5-4.8 knots.

Notable Features

Situated at coordinates -16.878921, 145.749480, Cairns International Airport is characterized by its low elevation and tropical coastal environment. The two runways—12/30 (3,035 ft) and 15/33 (10,489 ft)—provide flexibility for different aircraft types and operational requirements. The longer runway (15/33) offers substantial landing and takeoff capabilities for larger aircraft.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect consistently good visibility averaging 10 statute miles, with extremely rare instances of reduced visibility. October through December represent the best VFR months, providing optimal flying conditions. The uniform wind patterns and minimal crosswind conditions suggest straightforward approach and departure procedures for most aircraft categories.

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.