Centennial Airport

KAPA / APA

Denver, US

Last Updated
May 14, 21:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 8 min ago
21:53Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
29°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: -4°C
3 kt
Variable
10 SM
Visibility
22,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1011 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KAPA 142153Z VRB03KT 10SM SCT130 BKN220 29/M04 A2986 RMK AO2 SLP024 T02891044

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 5,885 ft
SCT 13,000 ft AGL
BKN 22,000 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
13,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
18,885 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
22,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
27,885 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Centennial Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 22,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the variable directions at 3 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 22000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 29°C (84°F) with a dewpoint of -4°C, indicating very dry 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 24 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period.

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.

QNH
1011 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
815 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (5,885 ft)
Pressure Alt
5,953 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 9,045 ft (High - Reduced Performance)
ISA Deviation: +25.8°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KAPA 141722Z 1418/1518 30010G18KT P6SM FEW100 BKN140 BKN220 FM141900 33010G18KT P6SM SCT100 SCT140 SCT200 FM142300 36010KT P6SM FEW100 SCT200 FM150200 05008KT P6SM FEW110 SCT200 FM150500 13008KT P6SM FEW120 FEW200 FM150700 19008KT P6SM SKC FM151400 12008KT P6SM SKC FM151600 10009KT P6SM FEW200
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
22:00Z BASE
+0h
VFR 300° 10 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 14,000 ft
23:00Z FM142300
+1h
VFR 360° 10 kt
Visibility: >6SM
02:00Z FM150200
+4h
VFR 50° 8 kt
Visibility: >6SM
05:00Z FM150500
+7h
VFR 130° 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
  • • Hover for exact values and timestamps
  • • Click legend items to toggle data series
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  • • Units automatically converted to preferences
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
APA
10
28
17L
35R
17R
35L

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
10/28 4,800 ft 75 ft ASP 110° No wind data
17L/35R 10,001 ft 100 ft ASP 178° No wind data
17R/35L 7,001 ft 75 ft ASP 178° 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 - KAPA

6,586 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
88.4%
MVFR
6%
IFR
4.3%
LIFR
1.3%

Centennial Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 88.4% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 7.8 knots, with gusts recorded up to 34 knots. Temperature extremes range from -18°C to 32°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are February, November, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 7.8 kt
Maximum Recorded: 34 kt
Calm Winds: 8.2%
Direction Distribution:
N
13.7%
NE
7.5%
E
7.1%
SE
11.2%
S
21.5%
SW
13.7%
W
8.9%
NW
8.1%

Temperature Range

Average: 8.5°C
Range: -18°C to 32°C
-18°C 32°C

Visibility

Average: 9.7 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.6%
Fog Frequency: 1.5%

Best Months for VFR

February November October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 10/28
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.7 kt
Runway 17L/35R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.2 kt
Runway 17R/35L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.2 kt

Statistics computed from 6,586 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Centennial Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KAPA
IATA Code: APA
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 5,885 ft MSL

Location

City: Denver
Country: US
Latitude: 39.570099°
Longitude: -104.848999°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+7

Runway Information

Runway 10/28
Length: 4,800 ft
Width: 75 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 17L/35R
Length: 10,001 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 17R/35L
Length: 7,001 ft
Width: 75 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Centennial Airport

Overview

Centennial Airport serves the Denver metropolitan area as a medium-sized airport situated at 5,885 feet mean sea level. Located near Denver, the airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for general aviation, business, and corporate flight operations. Its strategic position in the Front Range region makes it an important transportation hub for Colorado.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions 90.1% of the time, with minimal periods of instrument meteorological conditions. Temperature ranges from -14°C to 32°C, creating diverse flying environments throughout the year. Prevailing winds from the south at an average of 7.4 knots, with occasional gusts up to 32 knots, provide consistent wind conditions for pilots.

Notable Features

Centennial Airport features three asphalt runways with significant length variations, offering flexibility for different aircraft types. The longest runway (17L/35R) extends 10,001 feet, while the shortest (10/28) is 4,800 feet long. The high elevation of 5,885 feet MSL requires pilots to consider density altitude effects, particularly during warmer months.

Approach Considerations

All three runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with modest average crosswind components ranging from 4-5.4 knots. October, November, and September represent the most consistently favorable VFR months for operations. Pilots should anticipate excellent visibility, with an average of 9.7 statute miles and minimal fog occurrence (0.2% of observations).

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.