McClellan-Palomar Airport

KCRQ / CLD

Carlsbad, US

Last Updated
May 15, 09:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 13 min ago
09:53Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
17°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 13°C
5 kt
110°
10 SM
Visibility
1,600 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1015 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KCRQ 150953Z AUTO 11005KT 10SM OVC016 17/13 A2996 RMK AO2 SLP143 T01670128

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 331 ft
OVC 1,600 ft AGL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
1,600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,931 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

McClellan-Palomar Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with overcast skies at 1,600 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east-southeast (110°) at 5 knots. Runway 06/24 is favored with a 3-knot headwind and 4-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 1600 feet AGL (overcast), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 17°C (63°F) with a dewpoint of 13°C. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread suggests high humidity and potential for visibility restrictions, especially during cooling periods.

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.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

QNH
1015 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1004 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (331 ft)
Pressure Alt
279 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 598 ft
ISA Deviation: +2.7°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KCRQ 150520Z 1506/1606 VRB03KT P6SM OVC015 FM151700 21005KT P6SM SCT020 FM151900 24008KT P6SM FEW025 FM160200 VRB04KT P6SM BKN015
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
10:05Z BASE
+0h
MVFR VRB 3 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 1,500 ft
17:00Z FM151700
+7h
VFR 210° 5 kt
Visibility: >6SM
19:00Z FM151900
+9h
VFR 240° 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
  • • Zoom and pan for detailed analysis
  • • 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
CRQ
06 ✈️
24

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 06/24
Active: 06
4,897 ft 150 ft ASP 79°
3.2 kt 3.8 kt
50° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KCRQ

7,217 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
69.6%
MVFR
17.1%
IFR
7.3%
LIFR
6%

McClellan-Palomar Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 69.6% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 13.3% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 5.3 knots. Calm conditions occur 36.9% of the time. Temperatures typically range between 6°C and 31°C with an average of 16.4°C. The best months for VFR flying are February, April, March.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 5.3 kt
Maximum Recorded: 24 kt
Calm Winds: 36.9%
Direction Distribution:
N
2%
NE
4.5%
E
10.8%
SE
7.6%
S
6.5%
SW
8.7%
W
20.8%
NW
2.1%

Temperature Range

Average: 16.4°C
Range: 6°C to 31°C
6°C 31°C

Visibility

Average: 9.3 SM
Below 3 SM: 2.1%
Fog Frequency: 4.3%

Best Months for VFR

February April March

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 06/24
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2.5 kt

Statistics computed from 7,217 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

McClellan-Palomar Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KCRQ
IATA Code: CLD
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 331 ft MSL

Location

City: Carlsbad
Country: US
Latitude: 33.128300°
Longitude: -117.279999°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+8

Runway Information

Runway 06/24
Length: 4,897 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About McClellan-Palomar Airport

Overview

McClellan-Palomar Airport serves the coastal region of Carlsbad, California, located at 33.128300, -117.279999 with an elevation of 331 feet MSL. As a medium airport, it provides critical aviation infrastructure for the San Diego metropolitan area, supporting various general aviation and local transportation needs.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly VFR conditions 67.2% of the time, with moderate visibility averaging 8.9 statute miles. Seasonal variations show best VFR conditions in December, January, and October, while wind patterns are consistently westerly at 270 degrees with an average speed of 5.1 knots and occasional peaks up to 21 knots. Temperature ranges from 6°C to 27°C, with an average of 16.4°C.

Notable Features

Runway 06/24 is the primary operational surface, measuring 4,897 feet with an asphalt surface. The airport demonstrates favorable wind alignment, with 100% runway compatibility and minimal average crosswind of 2.7 knots. Calm wind conditions occur 39.6% of the time, providing consistent and predictable flying environments.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect generally stable approach conditions with westerly winds. The runway demonstrates excellent wind alignment, minimizing crosswind challenges during landings and takeoffs. Low IFR conditions occur in 8.5% of observations, with occasional fog reported in 7.1% of meteorological records, suggesting potential instrument approach considerations.

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.