Christchurch International Airport

NZCH / CHC

Christchurch, NZ

Last Updated
Jun 15, 14:30Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 32 min ago
14:30Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
6°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 5°C
3 kt
300°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR NZCH 151430Z AUTO 30003KT 9999 FEW031/// 06/05 Q1027

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 123 ft
FEW 3,100 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
3,100 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,223 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Christchurch International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with few clouds at 3,100 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west-northwest (300°) at 3 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 3,100 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 6°C (43°F) with a dewpoint of 5°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 27 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours. 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.

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF NZCH 151403Z 1515/1618 26010KT 9999 -SHRA SCT015 BKN025 FM152100 32005KT 9999 SCT030 BECMG 1600/1602 05010KT BECMG 1607/1609 VRB02KT BECMG 1612/1614 29010KT
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
15:02Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 260° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 2,500 ft
Light Showers Rain
21:00Z FM152100
+6h
VFR 320° 5 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
00:00Z BECMG
+9h
VFR 50° 10 kt

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
ZCH
01
19
02
20
11
29 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
01/19 1,690 ft 229 ft GRS 37°
0.4 kt 3.0 kt
97° angle
02/20 10,787 ft 148 ft ASP 41°
0.6 kt 2.9 kt
101° angle
✈️ 11/29
Active: 29
5,587 ft 148 ft BIT 131°
3.0 kt 0.5 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 - NZCH

12,573 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
75.6%
MVFR
14.4%
IFR
5.5%
LIFR
4.5%

Christchurch International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 75.6% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 10% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NE averaging 8.4 knots, with gusts recorded up to 35 knots. Temperature extremes range from -2°C to 32°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are September, December, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NE (45°)
Average Speed: 8.4 kt
Maximum Recorded: 35 kt
Calm Winds: 1.5%
Direction Distribution:
N
10.1%
NE
23.6%
E
17%
SE
1.4%
S
11.6%
SW
14.2%
W
11.1%
NW
9.4%

Temperature Range

Average: 13.5°C
Range: -2°C to 32°C
-2°C 32°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 3.5%

Best Months for VFR

September December October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 01/19
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.3 kt
Runway 02/20
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.8 kt
Runway 11/29
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6 kt

Statistics computed from 12,573 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Christchurch International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: NZCH
IATA Code: CHC
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 123 ft MSL

Location

City: Christchurch
Country: NZ
Latitude: -43.489029°
Longitude: 172.532065°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-12

Runway Information

Runway 01/19
Length: 1,690 ft
Width: 229 ft
Surface: GRS
ILS: No
Runway 02/20
Length: 10,787 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 11/29
Length: 5,587 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: BIT
ILS: No

Nearby Airports

VFR MVFR IFR LIFR No Data

About Christchurch International Airport

Overview

Christchurch International Airport serves as a critical aviation hub in New Zealand's South Island, positioned near the city of Christchurch at an elevation of 123 feet mean sea level. The airport supports international and domestic operations with three distinct runways, offering significant operational flexibility for various aircraft types and configurations.

Flying Conditions

Located at coordinates -43.489029, 172.532065, the airport experiences variable weather conditions typical of New Zealand's temperate maritime climate. The multiple runway orientations (01/19, 02/20, and 11/29) provide options for managing crosswind and directional challenges, with runway lengths ranging from 1,690 feet to 10,787 feet to accommodate different aircraft requirements.

Notable Features

Christchurch International Airport features three runways with diverse surface compositions: grass (GRS), asphalt (ASP), and bitumen (BIT). The longest runway (02/20) at 10,787 feet provides substantial landing and takeoff capacity, suitable for large commercial and international aircraft operations.

Approach Considerations

Pilots should be prepared to utilize different runways based on wind direction, with runway 02/20 offering the most substantial operational capacity. The varied runway lengths and surface types provide strategic options for approach and landing, with the longest asphalt runway offering the most comprehensive operational capabilities for larger aircraft.

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.