Cavern City Air Terminal

KCNM / CNM

Carlsbad, US

Last Updated
Jun 15, 16:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 13 min ago
16:53Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
24°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 18°C
4 kt
110°
10 SM
Visibility
2,300 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1022 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KCNM 151653Z AUTO 11004KT 10SM BKN023 24/18 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP167 T02440178

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 3,295 ft
BKN 2,300 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
2,300 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,595 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Cavern City Air Terminal is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with broken clouds at 2,300 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east-southeast (110°) at 4 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 2300 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 24°C (75°F) with a dewpoint of 18°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.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 20 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further.

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

QNH
1022 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
912 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (3,295 ft)
Pressure Alt
3,033 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 4,904 ft
ISA Deviation: +15.6°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KCNM 151626Z 1516/1612 14008KT P6SM BKN040 FM160200 16008KT P6SM FEW040 SCT200
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
17:06Z BASE
+0h
VFR 140° 8 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 4,000 ft
02:00Z FM160200
+9h
VFR 160° 8 kt
Visibility: >6SM

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
CNM
03
21
08 ✈️
26
14L
32R
14R
32L

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
03/21 7,854 ft 150 ft ASP 44°
1.6 kt 3.7 kt
66° angle
✈️ 08/26
Active: 08
5,333 ft 75 ft ASP 90°
3.5 kt 2.0 kt
30° angle
14L/32R 4,615 ft 150 ft ASP 156°
2.8 kt 2.9 kt
46° angle
14R/32L 5,839 ft 100 ft ASP 154°
2.9 kt 2.8 kt
44° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KCNM

6,683 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
94.2%
MVFR
3.2%
IFR
1.5%
LIFR
1.1%

Cavern City Air Terminal enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 94.2% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 9 knots, with gusts recorded up to 38 knots. Temperature extremes range from -7°C to 39°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are January, March, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 9 kt
Maximum Recorded: 38 kt
Calm Winds: 9.4%
Direction Distribution:
E
5.4%
N
11.7%
S
18.1%
W
17.3%
NE
5%
NW
7.8%
SE
17%
SW
8.1%

Temperature Range

Average: 17.9°C
Range: -7°C to 39°C
-7°C 39°C

Visibility

Average: 9.8 SM
Below 3 SM: 0.4%
Fog Frequency: 0.7%

Best Months for VFR

January March October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 03/21
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.1 kt
Runway 08/26
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.6 kt
Runway 14L/32R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.4 kt
Runway 14R/32L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.4 kt

Statistics computed from 6,683 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Cavern City Air Terminal - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KCNM
IATA Code: CNM
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 3,295 ft MSL

Location

City: Carlsbad
Country: US
Latitude: 32.337502°
Longitude: -104.263000°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+7

Runway Information

Runway 03/21
Length: 7,854 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 08/26
Length: 5,333 ft
Width: 75 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 14L/32R
Length: 4,615 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 14R/32L
Length: 5,839 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Cavern City Air Terminal

Overview

Cavern City Air Terminal serves the Carlsbad, New Mexico region as a medium-sized airport located at 3,295 feet above mean sea level. The airport features four runways ranging from 4,615 to 7,854 feet in length, providing flexible operational capabilities for various aircraft types. Its strategic location in the southwestern United States supports regional transportation and local aviation needs.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at KCNM are predominantly favorable for visual flight, with 95% of observations reporting VFR conditions. The airport experiences a wide temperature range from -7°C to 37°C, with an average of 15.5°C. Prevailing winds from the west (270°) average 8.1 knots, with occasional gusts up to 37 knots, and calm conditions occurring 12.9% of the time.

Notable Features

The airport's four asphalt runways offer multiple landing and takeoff options aligned with different wind directions. All runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind coverage, with modest average crosswind components ranging from 4.7 to 5.6 knots. The high elevation of 3,295 feet MSL may impact aircraft performance, particularly during warmer temperatures.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect excellent visibility averaging 9.8 statute miles, with minimal instances of restricted visibility (below 3SM in only 0.7% of observations). January, September, and October represent the best months for VFR flying, based on historical weather data. The multiple runway configurations provide flexibility for approach and departure procedures relative to prevailing wind 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.