Centennial Airport

KAPA / APA

Denver, US

Last Updated
Mar 4, 18:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 54 min ago
18:53Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
12°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: -7°C
3 kt
Variable
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1017 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KAPA 041853Z VRB03KT 10SM FEW030 12/M07 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP148 T01221067

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 5,885 ft
FEW 3,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
3,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
8,885 ft AMSL
QNH
1017 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
821 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (5,885 ft)
Pressure Alt
5,773 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 6,825 ft
ISA Deviation: +8.8°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KAPA 041736Z 0418/0518 06005KT P6SM FEW150 FM042300 11007KT P6SM SKC FM050300 16010KT P6SM SKC FM050600 19008KT P6SM SKC FM051400 23007KT P6SM SCT220
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
19:46Z BASE
+0h
VFR 60° 5 kt
Visibility: >6SM
23:00Z FM042300
+4h
VFR 110° 7 kt
Visibility: >6SM
03:00Z FM050300
+8h
VFR 160° 10 kt
Visibility: >6SM
06:00Z FM050600
+11h
VFR 190° 8 kt
Visibility: >6SM

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
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
APA
10
28
17L
35R
17R
35L

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
10/28 4,800 ft 75 ft ASP 110° No wind data
17L/35R 10,001 ft 100 ft ASP 178° No wind data
17R/35L 7,001 ft 75 ft ASP 178° No wind data
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KAPA

4,559 observations | Sep 2025 - Mar 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
90.8%
MVFR
5.1%
IFR
3.4%
LIFR
0.8%

Centennial Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 90.8% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 7.5 knots, with gusts recorded up to 34 knots. Temperature extremes range from -18°C to 32°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are February, November, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 7.5 kt
Maximum Recorded: 34 kt
Calm Winds: 8.8%
Direction Distribution:
N
12.3%
NE
6.9%
E
6.8%
SE
12.4%
S
22.3%
SW
13.2%
W
9%
NW
8.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 7.8°C
Range: -18°C to 32°C
-18°C 32°C

Visibility

Average: 9.7 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.5%
Fog Frequency: 0.2%

Best Months for VFR

February November October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 10/28
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.4 kt
Runway 17L/35R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.1 kt
Runway 17R/35L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.1 kt

Statistics computed from 4,559 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Mar 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Centennial Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KAPA
IATA Code: APA
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 5,885 ft MSL

Location

City: Denver
Country: US
Latitude: 39.570099°
Longitude: -104.848999°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+7

Runway Information

Runway 10/28
Length: 4,800 ft
Width: 75 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 17L/35R
Length: 10,001 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 17R/35L
Length: 7,001 ft
Width: 75 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Centennial Airport

Overview

Centennial Airport serves the Denver metropolitan area as a medium-sized airport situated at 5,885 feet mean sea level. Located near Denver, the airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for general aviation, business, and corporate flight operations. Its strategic position in the Front Range region makes it an important transportation hub for Colorado.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions 90.1% of the time, with minimal periods of instrument meteorological conditions. Temperature ranges from -14°C to 32°C, creating diverse flying environments throughout the year. Prevailing winds from the south at an average of 7.4 knots, with occasional gusts up to 32 knots, provide consistent wind conditions for pilots.

Notable Features

Centennial Airport features three asphalt runways with significant length variations, offering flexibility for different aircraft types. The longest runway (17L/35R) extends 10,001 feet, while the shortest (10/28) is 4,800 feet long. The high elevation of 5,885 feet MSL requires pilots to consider density altitude effects, particularly during warmer months.

Approach Considerations

All three runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with modest average crosswind components ranging from 4-5.4 knots. October, November, and September represent the most consistently favorable VFR months for operations. Pilots should anticipate excellent visibility, with an average of 9.7 statute miles and minimal 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.