Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport

VCRI / HRI

Mattala, LK

Last Updated
Apr 23, 05:10Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 43 min ago
05:10Z

🌅 Dawn
MVFR
Flight Rules
28°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 26°C
5 kt
270°
9 km
Visibility
1,800 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR VCRI 230510Z 27005KT 210V320 9000 -SHRA BKN018 28/26 Q1009

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 157 ft
BKN 1,800 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
1,800 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,957 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with broken clouds at 1,800 feet and 9 km visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west (270°) at 5 knots. Runway 23 is favored with a 4-knot headwind and 3-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 9 km. The ceiling is 1800 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 28°C (82°F) with a dewpoint of 26°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours.

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

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
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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
CRI
05
23 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 05/23
Active: 23
11,483 ft 197 ft Asphalt
3.8 kt 3.2 kt
40° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - VCRI

3,728 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
82%
MVFR
17.2%
IFR
0.7%
LIFR
0.1%

Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 82% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the NE averaging 6.9 knots. Temperatures typically range between 19°C and 36°C with an average of 27.6°C. The best months for VFR flying are April, September, March.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NE (45°)
Average Speed: 6.9 kt
Maximum Recorded: 21 kt
Calm Winds: 2.3%
Direction Distribution:
N
14.9%
NE
29.3%
E
8.1%
SE
6.9%
S
7.6%
SW
9%
W
16.6%
NW
5.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 27.6°C
Range: 19°C to 36°C
19°C 36°C

Visibility

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

Best Months for VFR

April September March

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 05/23
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3 kt

Statistics computed from 3,728 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: VCRI
IATA Code: HRI
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 157 ft MSL

Location

City: Mattala
Country: LK
Latitude: 6.284467°
Longitude: 81.124128°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-5

Runway Information

Runway 05/23
Length: 11,483 ft
Width: 197 ft
Surface: Asphalt
ILS: No

About Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport

Overview

Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport is a large international airport located in southeastern Sri Lanka, positioned near the city of Mattala at coordinates 6.284467, 81.124128. The airport sits at an elevation of 157 feet above mean sea level and serves as a strategic aviation facility in the region. Its single runway (05/23) extends 11,483 feet in length, constructed with an asphalt surface.

Flying Conditions

The airport's location in southeastern Sri Lanka suggests potential for variable tropical weather conditions with potential seasonal wind shifts. Pilots should anticipate potential crosswind scenarios on the 05/23 runway, given its single directional orientation. The moderate elevation of 157 feet MSL indicates minimal terrain-related performance considerations for most aircraft.

Notable Features

The runway's substantial 11,483-foot length accommodates a wide range of aircraft types and provides significant operational flexibility. Its asphalt construction offers a stable surface suitable for heavy commercial and cargo operations. The airport's geographic position suggests potential for complex local atmospheric interactions typical of coastal and inland transitional zones.

Approach Considerations

Runway 05/23 provides a single approach option with significant runway length, allowing considerable margin for landing and takeoff performance. Pilots should carefully assess prevailing wind conditions given the runway's single directional alignment. Standard instrument approach procedures will be critical for safe operations, particularly during periods of reduced visibility or challenging 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.