La Palma Airport

GCLA / SPC

Sta Cruz de la Palma, La Palma Island, ES

Last Updated
Apr 22, 11:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 24 min ago
11:00Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
19°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 14°C
2 kt
Variable
10+ km
Visibility
3,200 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR GCLA 221100Z VRB02KT 9999 BKN032 19/14 Q1015

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 107 ft
BKN 3,200 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
3,200 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,307 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

La Palma Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 3,200 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are calm, presenting no crosswind concerns for any runway.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 3200 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 19°C (66°F) with a dewpoint of 14°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period. Expected weather includes: Drizzle. There is a 40% probability of VFR conditions between 09:00Z and 20:00Z. There is a 40% probability of VFR conditions with Drizzle between 09:00Z and 21:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight.

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 GCLA 220800Z 2209/2309 33006KT 9999 BKN035 TX21/2214Z TN16/2306Z PROB40 TEMPO 2209/2220 03010KT PROB40 TEMPO 2209/2221 DZ
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
11:24Z BASE
+0h
VFR 330° 6 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 3,500 ft

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
CLA
36
18

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
36/18 7,218 ft 148 ft ASP 359° 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 - GCLA

10,058 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
86.1%
MVFR
12.8%
IFR
1%
LIFR
0.1%

La Palma Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 86.1% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the N averaging 9.2 knots, with gusts recorded up to 32 knots. Temperatures typically range between 12°C and 32°C with an average of 19.9°C. The best months for VFR flying are December, September, January.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: N (0°)
Average Speed: 9.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 32 kt
Calm Winds: 0.6%
Direction Distribution:
N
48.4%
NE
8%
E
1.7%
SE
1.5%
S
4.3%
SW
2.3%
W
13.2%
NW
19.8%

Temperature Range

Average: 19.9°C
Range: 12°C to 32°C
12°C 32°C

Visibility

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

Best Months for VFR

December September January

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 36/18
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.5 kt

Statistics computed from 10,058 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

La Palma Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: GCLA
IATA Code: SPC
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 107 ft MSL

Location

City: Sta Cruz de la Palma, La Palma Island
Country: ES
Latitude: 28.626499°
Longitude: -17.755600°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+1

Runway Information

Runway 36/18
Length: 7,218 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About La Palma Airport

Overview

La Palma Airport serves Sta Cruz de la Palma on La Palma Island, a medium-sized airport situated at 107 feet above mean sea level. The airport supports regional and inter-island aviation operations in the Canary Islands archipelago, providing critical transportation infrastructure for this Atlantic Ocean island region.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly VFR conditions 88.7% of the time, with excellent visibility averaging 10 statute miles. Wind patterns are consistently from the north at an average of 8.6 knots, with occasional gusts up to 32 knots, making for generally stable flying conditions. December, January, and September represent the most favorable VFR months with optimal meteorological parameters.

Notable Features

Located at coordinates 28.626499, -17.755600, the airport features a single asphalt runway (36/18) measuring 7,218 feet in length. The terrain surrounding the airport likely presents typical island topographical challenges, with potential orographic wind effects due to the island's volcanic landscape and coastal positioning.

Approach Considerations

The single runway (36/18) demonstrates highly favorable wind alignment, with 100% wind compatibility and a modest average crosswind of only 3.5 knots. Pilots can expect consistent runway conditions with minimal wind-related approach complications, particularly during the statistically optimal VFR months of December, January, and September.

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.