Charlottesville Albemarle Airport

KCHO / CHO

Charlottesville, US

Last Updated
Jul 4, 23:34Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 15 min ago
23:34Z

🌙 Night
MVFR
Flight Rules
22°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 21°C
7 kt
170° G18 kt
5 SM
Visibility
11,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1017 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

SPECI KCHO 042334Z 17007G18KT 5SM VCTS -RA BR BKN110 22/21 A3003 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT ALQDS P0004 T02220211

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 639 ft
BKN 11,000 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
11,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
11,639 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Charlottesville Albemarle Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with broken clouds at 11,000 feet and 5 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (170°) at 7 knots with gusts to 18 knots. Runway 21 is favored with a 5-knot headwind and 4-knot crosswind component (gusting to 12 knots crosswind).

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 5 SM. The ceiling is 11000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 22°C (72°F) with a dewpoint of 21°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 20 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: Heavy Thunderstorm Rain, Mist, Mist. Winds are forecast to reach up to 20 knots during the period. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 3 to 20 knots. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Heavy Thunderstorm Rain, Mist between 22:00Z and 23:00Z.

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. 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
1017 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
996 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (639 ft)
Pressure Alt
527 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,520 ft
ISA Deviation: +8.3°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KCHO 042158Z 0422/0518 21010G25KT P6SM VCSH SCT060 BKN250 TEMPO 0422/0423 21020G40KT 1SM +TSRA BR OVC030CB FM050200 18003KT P6SM FEW050 BKN100 FM050900 00000KT 3SM BR FEW001 SCT250 FM051200 14003KT P6SM FEW250
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
23:48Z BASE
+0h
VFR 210° 10 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 25,000 ft
02:00Z FM050200
+3h
VFR 180° 3 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 10,000 ft
09:00Z FM050900
+10h
MVFR
Visibility: 3SM
Mist

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
CHO
03
21 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 03/21
Active: 21
6,001 ft 150 ft ASP 22°
5.4 kt 4.5 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 - KCHO

8,050 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
78.3%
MVFR
10.3%
IFR
6.6%
LIFR
4.8%

Charlottesville Albemarle Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 78.3% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 11.4% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 6.3 knots. Calm conditions occur 29% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -15°C to 38°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are July, June, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 6.3 kt
Maximum Recorded: 24 kt
Calm Winds: 29%
Direction Distribution:
E
3.7%
N
10.4%
S
22.9%
W
4.8%
NE
12.2%
NW
6.6%
SE
2.3%
SW
8.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 11.6°C
Range: -15°C to 38°C
-15°C 38°C

Visibility

Average: 9.2 SM
Below 3 SM: 3.2%
Fog Frequency: 2.2%

Best Months for VFR

July June October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 03/21
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2.7 kt

Statistics computed from 8,050 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Charlottesville Albemarle Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KCHO
IATA Code: CHO
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 639 ft MSL

Location

City: Charlottesville
Country: US
Latitude: 38.138599°
Longitude: -78.452904°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 03/21
Length: 6,001 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Charlottesville Albemarle Airport

Overview

Charlottesville Albemarle Airport serves the central Virginia region as a medium-sized airport located near Charlottesville. Situated at 639 feet above mean sea level, the airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for the local area, supporting general aviation and regional transportation needs.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at KCHO are predominantly VFR, with 78.9% of observations showing favorable visual flight rules. The airport experiences moderate wind conditions, with a prevailing southerly wind at 180° and an average speed of 6.1 knots. Temperature ranges from -11°C to 31°C, with October, January, and November typically offering the most stable flying conditions.

Notable Features

The airport features a single runway (03/21) measuring 6,001 feet with an asphalt surface. Pilots can expect consistent wind alignment, with 100% runway favorable wind conditions and an average crosswind of just 2.8 knots. Calm wind conditions occur 32.9% of the time, providing predictable landing and takeoff scenarios.

Approach Considerations

With an average visibility of 9.2 statute miles and only 2.7% of observations showing visibility below 3 miles, approaches are generally straightforward. Fog is present in only 2.1% of observations, and instrument conditions (IFR or LIFR) occur less than 10% of the time, suggesting reliable visual approach opportunities for most operations.

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.