Jaffna International Airport

VCCJ / JAF

Jaffna, LK

Last Updated
May 15, 08:10Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Aging 1 hour ago
08:10Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
24°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 24°C
6 kt
220°
8 km
Visibility
8,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1004 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR VCCJ 150810Z 22006KT 8000 TSRA SCT016 SCT018CB OVC080 24/24 Q1004 NOSIG RMK CB N/E/S/W RMK: THE OBSERVATION POINT IS 20 KM FROM VCCJ

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 33 ft
SCT 1,600 ft AGL
SCT 1,800 ft AGL (CB)
OVC 8,000 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
1,600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,633 ft AMSL
SCT (CB)
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
1,800 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,833 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
8,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
8,033 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Jaffna International Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with overcast skies at 8,000 feet and 8 km visibility. Note: This observation is 1 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots. Runway 23 is favored with a 6-knot headwind and 1-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 8 km, below VFR minimums in some airspace classifications. Check local requirements before departing VFR. The ceiling is 8000 feet AGL (overcast), well above standard VFR minimums. Caution: cumulonimbus (thunderstorm) clouds reported at 1,800 ft AGL, indicating convective activity in the area.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 24°C (75°F) with a dewpoint of 24°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

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.

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

QNH
1004 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1003 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (33 ft)
Pressure Alt
311 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,399 ft
ISA Deviation: +9.1°C

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
CCJ
05
23 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 05/23
Active: 23
4,593 ft 98 ft ASP
5.9 kt 1.0 kt
10° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - VCCJ

1,306 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
91.1%
MVFR
8.9%
IFR
0%
LIFR
0%

Jaffna International Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 91.1% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the NE averaging 4.7 knots. Temperatures typically range between 19°C and 36°C with an average of 28.7°C. The best months for VFR flying are September, December, February.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NE (45°)
Average Speed: 4.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 19 kt
Calm Winds: 3.7%
Direction Distribution:
N
15.7%
NE
25.3%
E
10.6%
SE
4.5%
S
15%
SW
15.9%
W
5.3%
NW
4.1%

Temperature Range

Average: 28.7°C
Range: 19°C to 36°C
19°C 36°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0%

Best Months for VFR

September December February

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 05/23
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 1.9 kt

Statistics computed from 1,306 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Jaffna International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: VCCJ
IATA Code: JAF
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 33 ft MSL

Location

City: Jaffna
Country: LK
Latitude: 9.792330°
Longitude: 80.070099°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-5

Runway Information

Runway 05/23
Length: 4,593 ft
Width: 98 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Jaffna International Airport

Overview

Jaffna International Airport serves the northern peninsula of Sri Lanka, located at coordinates 9.792330, 80.070099. Situated at 33 ft mean sea level, this medium-sized airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for the Jaffna region. The airport features a single asphalt runway (05/23) measuring 4,593 feet in length.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Jaffna are predominantly Visual Flight Rules (VFR), with 91.9% of observations supporting clear operations. Winds are consistently from the northeast at 45 degrees, averaging 5.2 knots with occasional peaks to 19 knots. Temperature ranges between 19°C and 33°C, with an average of 27.9°C, creating generally stable flying conditions throughout the year.

Notable Features

The airport's low elevation of 33 ft MSL indicates a flat coastal terrain typical of northern Sri Lanka. Minimal terrain variations suggest straightforward visual and instrument approaches with few geographical obstacles. The consistent wind patterns and high percentage of VFR conditions make this a relatively predictable operating environment for pilots.

Approach Considerations

Runway 05/23 benefits from exceptionally favorable wind alignment, with 100% wind compatibility and minimal average crosswind of just 2 knots. Pilots will find September, January, and December offer the most consistent flying conditions. The exceptionally stable visibility (averaging 10 statute miles with zero recorded instances of fog) provides reliable approach and landing opportunities.

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.