Columbia Metropolitan Airport

KCAE / CAE

Columbia, US

Last Updated
Jul 27, 06:56Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 22 min ago
06:56Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
24°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 23°C
0 kt
8 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1011 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KCAE 270656Z 00000KT 8SM BCFG CLR 24/23 A2985 RMK AO2 SLP106 T02440233 $

Weather Briefing

VFR

Columbia Metropolitan Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with clear skies and 8 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

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

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 8 SM. Skies are clear with unlimited ceiling.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 24°C (75°F) with a dewpoint of 23°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 24 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Expected weather includes: Mist. Temporary LIFR conditions are forecast with Mist between 09:00Z and 13:00Z.

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.

QNH
1011 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1003 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (236 ft)
Pressure Alt
304 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,441 ft
ISA Deviation: +9.5°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KCAE 270520Z 2706/2806 VRB03KT P6SM SCT250 FM270800 00000KT 4SM BR SCT200 TEMPO 2709/2713 1SM BR BKN003 FM271400 30006KT P6SM SCT040 FM280000 VRB03KT P6SM SCT030 SCT200
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
07:17Z BASE
+0h
VFR VRB 3 kt
Visibility: >6SM
08:00Z FM270800
+1h
MVFR
Visibility: 4SM
Mist
09:00Z TEMPO
+2h
LIFR
Visibility: 1SM
Ceiling: 300 ft
Mist
14:00Z FM271400
+7h
VFR 300° 6 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
CAE
05
23
11
29

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
05/23 8,001 ft 150 ft PEM 45°
0.0 kt 0.0 kt
45° angle
11/29 8,601 ft 150 ft ASP 105°
0.0 kt 0.0 kt
105° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KCAE

9,425 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
81%
MVFR
11.2%
IFR
6%
LIFR
1.8%

Columbia Metropolitan Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 81% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the SW averaging 6.5 knots. Calm conditions occur 22.5% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -9°C to 37°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are July, November, April.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SW (225°)
Average Speed: 6.5 kt
Maximum Recorded: 29 kt
Calm Winds: 22.5%
Direction Distribution:
E
8.9%
N
7.8%
S
8.8%
W
16.3%
NE
8.8%
NW
6%
SE
4%
SW
17%

Temperature Range

Average: 17.5°C
Range: -9°C to 37°C
-9°C 37°C

Visibility

Average: 9.2 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.8%
Fog Frequency: 2.5%

Best Months for VFR

July November April

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 05/23
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.3 kt
Runway 11/29
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.3 kt

Statistics computed from 9,425 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Columbia Metropolitan Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KCAE
IATA Code: CAE
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 236 ft MSL

Location

City: Columbia
Country: US
Latitude: 33.938801°
Longitude: -81.119499°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 05/23
Length: 8,001 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: PEM
ILS: No
Runway 11/29
Length: 8,601 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Columbia Metropolitan Airport

Overview

Columbia Metropolitan Airport serves the Columbia metropolitan area in South Carolina, providing medium-level airport services for commercial, cargo, and general aviation operations. Located at an elevation of 236 feet MSL, the airport offers two substantial runways capable of handling a wide range of aircraft. Its strategic positioning in the southeastern United States makes it an important regional aviation hub.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect predominantly favorable Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions 80.5% of the time, with marginal and instrument conditions comprising the remaining 19.5%. Wind patterns are consistently from the west at an average of 6.3 knots, with occasional stronger gusts up to 25 knots. Temperature variations are significant, ranging from -7°C to 35°C, which can impact aircraft performance and fuel requirements.

Notable Features

The airport features two parallel runways with similar orientation: Runway 05/23 at 8,001 feet and Runway 11/29 at 8,601 feet, both providing excellent operational flexibility. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with minimal average crosswind components of 3.2 and 4.1 knots respectively. Visibility averages 9.1 statute miles, with occasional reduced visibility periods affecting approximately 6.7% of observations.

Approach Considerations

October, November, and September offer the most consistent VFR conditions for pilots. Calm wind conditions occur 28% of the time, allowing flexible runway selection. When planning approaches, pilots should anticipate potential reduced visibility during 4.3% of observations involving fog, and be prepared for potential instrument meteorological conditions during the remaining 19.5% of weather scenarios.

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.