Charleston International Airport

KCHS / CHS

Charleston, US

Last Updated
Jul 5, 02:56Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Aging 1 hour ago
02:56Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
27°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 23°C
8 kt
190°
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1016 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KCHS 050256Z 19008KT 10SM CLR 27/23 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP154 T02720228 51010

Weather Briefing

VFR

Charleston International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with clear skies and 10 SM visibility. Note: This observation is 1.1 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (190°) at 8 knots. Runway 21 is favored with a 8-knot headwind and 3-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. Skies are clear with unlimited ceiling.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 27°C (81°F) with a dewpoint of 23°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. Expected weather includes: Light Thunderstorm Rain. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 18:00Z and 21:00Z.

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
1016 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1014 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (46 ft)
Pressure Alt
-37 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,414 ft
ISA Deviation: +12.1°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KCHS 042335Z 0500/0524 17008KT P6SM SKC FM050400 VRB03KT P6SM FEW020 FM051330 22006KT P6SM SCT030 FM051700 18010KT P6SM SCT050 PROB30 0518/0521 6SM -TSRA BKN050CB
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
03:58Z BASE
+0h
VFR 170° 8 kt
Visibility: >6SM
04:00Z FM050400
+1h
VFR VRB 3 kt
Visibility: >6SM
13:00Z FM051330
+10h
VFR 220° 6 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°
7.5 kt 2.7 kt
20° angle
15/33 9,001 ft 200 ft CON 147°
5.9 kt 5.5 kt
43° 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.