Juan Santamaría International Airport

MROC / SJO

San José (Alajuela), CR

Last Updated
Apr 22, 17:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 12 min ago
17:00Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
29°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 17°C
8 kt
250°
10+ km
Visibility
20,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1018 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR MROC 221700Z 25008KT 210V290 9999 FEW045 SCT100 BKN200 29/17 A3007 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 3,021 ft
FEW 4,500 ft AGL
SCT 10,000 ft AGL
BKN 20,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
4,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
7,521 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
10,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
13,021 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
20,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
23,021 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Juan Santamaría International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 20,000 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west-southwest (250°) at 8 knots. Runway 25 is favored with a 8-knot headwind and 0-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 20000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 29°C (84°F) with a dewpoint of 17°C, indicating relatively dry conditions. 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 24 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Showers Rain. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Showers Rain between 20:00Z and 23:00Z. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast between 00:00Z and 05:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. 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: 5,284 ft (High - Reduced Performance)
ISA Deviation: +20.0°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF MROC 221135Z 2212/2312 08008KT 9999 FEW030 TX31/2219Z TN19/2311Z BECMG 2216/2219 25010KT TEMPO 2220/2223 SHRA SCT020TCU TEMPO 2300/2305 BKN015
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
17:12Z BASE
+0h
VFR 80° 8 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
20:00Z TEMPO
+3h
MVFR
Showers Rain
00:00Z TEMPO
+7h
MVFR
Ceiling: 1,500 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
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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: 25
9,882 ft 151 ft ASP 69°
8.0 kt 0.0 kt
0° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - MROC

5,587 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
89.5%
MVFR
6.2%
IFR
2.6%
LIFR
1.8%

Juan Santamaría International Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 89.5% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the E averaging 9.7 knots. The climate is relatively stable with temperatures averaging 22.9°C (range: 16°C to 31°C). The best months for VFR flying are January, March, February.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: E (90°)
Average Speed: 9.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 29 kt
Calm Winds: 0.6%
Direction Distribution:
N
2.1%
NE
10%
E
58.7%
SE
5.9%
S
1.5%
SW
10.5%
W
8.9%
NW
1.9%

Temperature Range

Average: 22.9°C
Range: 16°C to 31°C
16°C 31°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 6%

Best Months for VFR

January March February

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 07/25
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.1 kt

Statistics computed from 5,587 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 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.