Cape Town International Airport

FACT / CPT

Cape Town, ZA

Last Updated
May 15, 08:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Aging 1 hour ago
08:00Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
16°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 15°C
1 kt
Variable
10+ km
Visibility
4,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1025 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR FACT 150800Z VRB01KT 9999 FEW024 BKN040 16/15 Q1025 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 151 ft
FEW 2,400 ft AGL
BKN 4,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
2,400 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,551 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
4,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,151 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Cape Town International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 4,000 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility. Note: This observation is 1 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are calm, presenting no crosswind concerns for any runway.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 4000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 16°C (61°F) with a dewpoint of 15°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 30 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. 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
1025 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1020 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (151 ft)
Pressure Alt
-202 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -46 ft
ISA Deviation: +1.3°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF AMD FACT 150530Z 1506/1612 35005KT 9999 FEW015 BKN030 TX20/1512Z TN10/1604Z FM151200 18010KT 9999 FEW030
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
09:01Z BASE
+0h
VFR 350° 5 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 3,000 ft
12:00Z FM151200
+3h
VFR 180° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km

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
ACT
01
19
16
34

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
01/19 10,502 ft 200 ft ASP 346° No wind data
16/34 5,581 ft 151 ft ASP 136° No wind data
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - FACT

6,312 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
85.3%
MVFR
6%
IFR
5.5%
LIFR
3.2%

Cape Town International Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 85.3% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 12.2 knots, with gusts recorded up to 43 knots. Temperature extremes range from 6°C to 41°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are December, November, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 12.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 43 kt
Calm Winds: 0.1%
Direction Distribution:
N
8.6%
NE
2.3%
E
1%
SE
6.4%
S
46.9%
SW
17.7%
W
3.5%
NW
13.5%

Temperature Range

Average: 19.6°C
Range: 6°C to 41°C
6°C 41°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 3.1%

Best Months for VFR

December November October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 01/19
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.7 kt
Runway 16/34
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.3 kt

Statistics computed from 6,312 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Cape Town International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: FACT
IATA Code: CPT
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 151 ft MSL

Location

City: Cape Town
Country: ZA
Latitude: -33.964802°
Longitude: 18.601700°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-1

Runway Information

Runway 01/19
Length: 10,502 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 16/34
Length: 5,581 ft
Width: 151 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Cape Town International Airport

Overview

Cape Town International Airport (FACT) serves as the primary airport for Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. Located at coordinates -33.964802, 18.601700, this large airport provides critical aviation infrastructure at an elevation of 151 feet mean sea level. The airport supports significant commercial and potentially regional aviation operations.

Flying Conditions

The airport features two paved runways: a primary runway 01/19 measuring 10,502 feet and a secondary runway 16/34 measuring 5,581 feet. These runway configurations provide flexibility for aircraft operations under varying wind conditions. Pilots should anticipate potential wind variations typical of coastal airport environments.

Notable Features

Cape Town's airport is situated in a coastal region with complex terrain surrounding the airport, including mountainous landscapes to the east and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The airport's significant runway length allows for accommodating large commercial aircraft. Terrain and coastal proximity will likely influence local meteorological conditions and approach dynamics.

Approach Considerations

With two runways oriented in different directions, pilots have multiple approach options based on prevailing wind conditions. The longer 01/19 runway provides substantial landing and takeoff capabilities for larger aircraft. Careful attention to wind direction and potential terrain-induced turbulence is recommended during approach and departure procedures.

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.