City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport

KCOS / COS

Colorado Springs, US

Last Updated
Jul 5, 07:54Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 19 min ago
07:54Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
16°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 7°C
6 kt
10°
10 SM
Visibility
25,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1027 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KCOS 050754Z 01006KT 10SM BKN250 16/07 A3032 RMK AO2 SLP185 T01560067 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 6,187 ft
BKN 25,000 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
25,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
31,187 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 25,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the north (10°) at 6 knots. Runway 35 is favored with a 6-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 25000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 16°C (61°F) with a dewpoint of 7°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

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. Winds are forecast to reach up to 25 knots during the period. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 5 to 25 knots. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 21:00Z 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
1027 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
821 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (6,187 ft)
Pressure Alt
5,775 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 7,380 ft
ISA Deviation: +13.4°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KCOS 050520Z 0506/0606 VRB05KT P6SM SCT120 SCT200 FM050800 VRB05KT P6SM SKC FM051600 15007KT P6SM SKC FM052100 17011G21KT P6SM SCT120 PROB30 0521/0524 VRB25G40KT -TSRA BKN080CB FM060000 14010KT P6SM SKC
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
08:12Z BASE
+0h
VFR VRB 5 kt
Visibility: >6SM
16:00Z FM051600
+8h
VFR 150° 7 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
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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
COS
12
30 ✈️
17L
35R ✈️
17R
35L ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 12/30
Active: 30
8,269 ft 150 ft ASP 135°
2.1 kt 5.6 kt
70° angle
✈️ 17L/35R
Active: 35R
13,501 ft 150 ft CON 180°
5.6 kt 2.1 kt
20° angle
✈️ 17R/35L
Active: 35L
11,022 ft 150 ft ASP 180°
5.6 kt 2.1 kt
20° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KCOS

7,772 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
87.3%
MVFR
6.5%
IFR
3.9%
LIFR
2.2%

City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 87.3% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the N averaging 9.3 knots, with gusts recorded up to 41 knots. Temperature extremes range from -21°C to 37°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are September, July, February.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: N (0°)
Average Speed: 9.3 kt
Maximum Recorded: 41 kt
Calm Winds: 5.7%
Direction Distribution:
E
9.6%
N
23%
S
15.5%
W
5.4%
NE
9.3%
NW
12%
SE
13.7%
SW
5.9%

Temperature Range

Average: 10°C
Range: -21°C to 37°C
-21°C 37°C

Visibility

Average: 9.7 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.2%
Fog Frequency: 1.1%

Best Months for VFR

September July February

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 12/30
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.1 kt
Runway 17L/35R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.6 kt
Runway 17R/35L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.6 kt

Statistics computed from 7,772 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KCOS
IATA Code: COS
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 6,187 ft MSL

Location

City: Colorado Springs
Country: US
Latitude: 38.805801°
Longitude: -104.700996°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+7

Runway Information

Runway 12/30
Length: 8,269 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 17L/35R
Length: 13,501 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 17R/35L
Length: 11,022 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport

Overview

Colorado Springs Municipal Airport serves as a critical aviation hub located in central Colorado at an elevation of 6,187 feet MSL. Situated in El Paso County, the airport supports medium-level commercial, military, and general aviation operations with three substantial runways. Its strategic location provides access to the Front Range urban corridor and proximity to significant military installations.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly VFR conditions, with 90.6% of observations indicating clear flying weather and minimal restrictions. Temperature ranges from -18°C to 29°C create varied atmospheric conditions, while prevailing northerly winds averaging 8.5 knots support consistent flight operations. Seasonal variations are most favorable during September, October, and November, offering optimal VFR flying conditions.

Notable Features

High-altitude terrain significantly influences airport operations, with the 6,187-foot elevation requiring careful performance calculations for aircraft. All three runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, minimizing crosswind challenges for pilots. The airport's substantial runway lengths (8,269ft, 13,501ft, and 11,022ft) accommodate diverse aircraft types and provide operational flexibility.

Approach Considerations

Pilots should anticipate moderate crosswind conditions averaging 4-5.6 knots across runways, with maximum recorded wind speeds reaching 38 knots. Visibility typically exceeds 9.8 statute miles, with only 1.3% of observations reporting visibility below 3 miles. The consistent wind patterns and extensive runway options provide multiple safe approach and departure alternatives.

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.