Columbia Metropolitan Airport

KCAE / CAE

Columbia, US

Last Updated
Jul 5, 01:56Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 40 min ago
01:56Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
31°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 19°C
5 kt
250°
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1014 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KCAE 050156Z 25005KT 10SM SCT100 31/19 A2994 RMK AO2 SLP133 T03060194

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 236 ft
SCT 10,000 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
10,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
10,236 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Columbia Metropolitan Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with scattered clouds at 10,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots. Runway 23 is favored with a 5-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: scattered at 10,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 31°C (88°F) with a dewpoint of 19°C, indicating relatively 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 fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Light Thunderstorm Rain. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 19:00Z and 00:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. 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
1014 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1006 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (236 ft)
Pressure Alt
214 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 2,191 ft
ISA Deviation: +16.5°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KCAE 042334Z 0500/0524 14007KT P6SM SCT070 FM050300 18004KT P6SM SCT250 FM051600 23007KT P6SM SCT060 PROB30 0519/0524 3SM -TSRA SCT060CB
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
02:35Z BASE
+0h
VFR 140° 7 kt
Visibility: >6SM
03:00Z FM050300
+1h
VFR 180° 4 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
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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
Active: 23
8,001 ft 150 ft PEM 45°
4.7 kt 1.7 kt
20° angle
11/29 8,601 ft 150 ft ASP 105°
4.1 kt 2.9 kt
145° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KCAE

8,769 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
80.3%
MVFR
11.6%
IFR
6.2%
LIFR
1.9%

Columbia Metropolitan Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 80.3% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 6.5 knots. Calm conditions occur 22.8% 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: W (270°)
Average Speed: 6.5 kt
Maximum Recorded: 29 kt
Calm Winds: 22.8%
Direction Distribution:
E
9%
N
8.1%
S
8.7%
W
16.2%
NE
9.1%
NW
6.3%
SE
3.9%
SW
16%

Temperature Range

Average: 16.7°C
Range: -9°C to 37°C
-9°C 37°C

Visibility

Average: 9.2 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.9%
Fog Frequency: 2.6%

Best Months for VFR

July November April

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 05/23
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.4 kt
Runway 11/29
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.3 kt

Statistics computed from 8,769 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.