Centennial Airport

KAPA / APA

Denver, US

Last Updated
Jul 4, 15:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 12 min ago
15:53Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
25°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 8°C
12 kt
180° G23 kt
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1025 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KAPA 041553Z 18012G23KT 10SM FEW080 FEW130 FEW200 25/08 A3028 RMK AO2 PK WND 16026/1501 SLP171 T02500083

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 5,885 ft
FEW 8,000 ft AGL
FEW 13,000 ft AGL
FEW 20,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
8,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
13,885 ft AMSL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
13,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
18,885 ft AMSL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
20,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
25,885 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Centennial Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with few clouds at 8,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (180°) at 12 knots with gusts to 23 knots. Runway 17L/35R is favored with a 12-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component (gusting to 4 knots crosswind).

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 8,000 ft, few at 13,000 ft, few at 20,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 25°C (77°F) with a dewpoint of 8°C, indicating very dry 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: Smoke, Light Thunderstorm Rain. Winds are forecast to reach up to 20 knots during the period. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 8 to 20 knots. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 20:00Z and 22:00Z. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 22:00Z 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
1025 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
829 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (5,885 ft)
Pressure Alt
5,533 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 8,145 ft (High - Reduced Performance)
ISA Deviation: +21.8°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KAPA 041139Z 0412/0512 17008KT P6SM FU FEW220 FM041300 18013KT P6SM FU FEW130 FM041700 14008KT P6SM FU SCT220 FM042000 09008KT P6SM FU VCSH SCT120 BKN130 PROB30 0420/0422 VRB20G35KT -TSRA BKN080CB FM042200 16009KT P6SM FU VCSH SCT120 BKN130 PROB30 0422/0424 VRB20G35KT -TSRA BKN080CB FM050100 11009KT P6SM FU BKN250 FM050300 19008KT P6SM SCT250
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
16:04Z BASE
+0h
VFR 170° 8 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Smoke
17:00Z FM041700
+1h
VFR 140° 8 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Smoke
20:00Z FM042000
+4h
VFR 90° 8 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 13,000 ft
Smoke
20:00Z PROB30
+4h
MVFR VRB 20 kt
Ceiling: 8,000 ft
Light Thunderstorm Rain

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
APA
10
28
17L ✈️
35R
17R ✈️
35L

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
10/28 4,800 ft 75 ft ASP 110°
4.1 kt 11.3 kt
70° angle
✈️ 17L/35R
Active: 17L
10,001 ft 100 ft ASP 178°
11.8 kt 2.1 kt
10° angle
✈️ 17R/35L
Active: 17R
7,001 ft 75 ft ASP 178°
11.8 kt 2.1 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 - KAPA

7,931 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
87.9%
MVFR
6%
IFR
4.6%
LIFR
1.6%

Centennial Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 87.9% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 7.9 knots, with gusts recorded up to 34 knots. Temperature extremes range from -18°C to 34°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are February, November, July.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 7.9 kt
Maximum Recorded: 34 kt
Calm Winds: 8.1%
Direction Distribution:
E
7.6%
N
14.2%
S
21.6%
W
8.1%
NE
7.9%
NW
8%
SE
11.6%
SW
12.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 10.2°C
Range: -18°C to 34°C
-18°C 34°C

Visibility

Average: 9.7 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.6%
Fog Frequency: 1.3%

Best Months for VFR

February November July

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 10/28
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.8 kt
Runway 17L/35R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.2 kt
Runway 17R/35L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.2 kt

Statistics computed from 7,931 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Centennial Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KAPA
IATA Code: APA
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 5,885 ft MSL

Location

City: Denver
Country: US
Latitude: 39.570099°
Longitude: -104.848999°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+7

Runway Information

Runway 10/28
Length: 4,800 ft
Width: 75 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 17L/35R
Length: 10,001 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 17R/35L
Length: 7,001 ft
Width: 75 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Centennial Airport

Overview

Centennial Airport serves the Denver metropolitan area as a medium-sized airport situated at 5,885 feet mean sea level. Located near Denver, the airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for general aviation, business, and corporate flight operations. Its strategic position in the Front Range region makes it an important transportation hub for Colorado.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions 90.1% of the time, with minimal periods of instrument meteorological conditions. Temperature ranges from -14°C to 32°C, creating diverse flying environments throughout the year. Prevailing winds from the south at an average of 7.4 knots, with occasional gusts up to 32 knots, provide consistent wind conditions for pilots.

Notable Features

Centennial Airport features three asphalt runways with significant length variations, offering flexibility for different aircraft types. The longest runway (17L/35R) extends 10,001 feet, while the shortest (10/28) is 4,800 feet long. The high elevation of 5,885 feet MSL requires pilots to consider density altitude effects, particularly during warmer months.

Approach Considerations

All three runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with modest average crosswind components ranging from 4-5.4 knots. October, November, and September represent the most consistently favorable VFR months for operations. Pilots should anticipate excellent visibility, with an average of 9.7 statute miles and minimal fog occurrence (0.2% of observations).

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.