Charleston International Airport

KCHS / CHS

Charleston, US

Last Updated
Jul 6, 13:56Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 19 min ago
13:56Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
31°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 24°C
8 kt
240°
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1017 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KCHS 061356Z 24008KT 10SM SCT050 SCT250 31/24 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP167 T03110239

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 46 ft
SCT 5,000 ft AGL
SCT 25,000 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
5,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,046 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
25,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
25,046 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Charleston International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with scattered clouds at 5,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west-southwest (240°) at 8 knots. Runway 21 is favored with a 7-knot headwind and 4-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: scattered at 5,000 ft, scattered at 25,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 31°C (88°F) with a dewpoint of 24°C, indicating moderate moisture 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. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 20:00Z 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
1017 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1015 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (46 ft)
Pressure Alt
-67 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,864 ft
ISA Deviation: +16.1°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KCHS 061120Z 0612/0712 23004KT P6SM SCT250 FM061400 24008KT P6SM FEW040 SCT250 FM061900 20010G18KT P6SM SCT050 BKN200 TEMPO 0620/0624 VRB10G15KT 6SM -TSRA SCT050CB BKN070 FM070100 20007KT P6SM SCT050 SCT200
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
14:15Z BASE
+0h
VFR 230° 4 kt
Visibility: >6SM
19:00Z FM061900
+5h
VFR 200° 10 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 20,000 ft
20:00Z TEMPO
+6h
MVFR VRB 10 kt
Visibility: 6SM
Ceiling: 7,000 ft
Light Thunderstorm Rain
01:00Z FM070100
+11h
VFR 200° 7 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
CHS
03
21 ✈️
15
33

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 03/21
Active: 21
7,004 ft 150 ft ASP 24°
6.9 kt 4.0 kt
30° angle
15/33 9,001 ft 200 ft CON 147°
0.4 kt 8.0 kt
93° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KCHS

10,150 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
80.6%
MVFR
9.8%
IFR
5.9%
LIFR
3.7%

Charleston International Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 80.6% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 7.6 knots. Calm conditions occur 13.4% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -7°C to 37°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are July, April, November.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 7.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 30 kt
Calm Winds: 13.4%
Direction Distribution:
E
5.8%
N
15.3%
S
15.6%
W
12.2%
NE
12.2%
NW
8.3%
SE
5.8%
SW
11.4%

Temperature Range

Average: 16.8°C
Range: -7°C to 37°C
-7°C 37°C

Visibility

Average: 9.4 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.9%
Fog Frequency: 4%

Best Months for VFR

July April November

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 03/21
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4 kt
Runway 15/33
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.1 kt

Statistics computed from 10,150 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Charleston International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KCHS
IATA Code: CHS
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 46 ft MSL

Location

City: Charleston
Country: US
Latitude: 32.898602°
Longitude: -80.040497°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 03/21
Length: 7,004 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 15/33
Length: 9,001 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About Charleston International Airport

Overview

Charleston International Airport serves the Charleston metropolitan area in South Carolina, providing both commercial passenger and military aviation services. Located at an elevation of 46 feet MSL, the airport features two substantial runways capable of handling a wide range of aircraft operations. Its strategic coastal location makes it an important transportation hub for the southeastern United States.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect predominantly favorable flying conditions, with VFR conditions present 78.9% of the time. Temperature ranges from -6°C to 33°C, creating relatively stable operational environments throughout the year. Wind conditions are generally mild, with an average speed of 7.1 knots and a prevailing direction from the north, and calm conditions occurring 16.4% of the time.

Notable Features

The airport's two runways offer excellent operational flexibility, with Runway 15/33 providing an extended 9,001-foot concrete surface and Runway 03/21 offering a 7,004-foot asphalt runway. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with minimal average crosswind conditions (3.7kt for 03/21 and 4.8kt for 15/33). Visibility averages 9.3 statute miles, with limited instances of reduced visibility.

Approach Considerations

November, September, and January represent the best months for VFR operations, with consistently favorable weather conditions. Pilots should be aware of occasional reduced visibility, with fog present 4.9% of the time and visibility below 3 statute miles in 2.2% of observations. The airport's low elevation and coastal location suggest typical maritime meteorological influences that should be considered during flight planning.

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.