Columbia Regional Airport

KCOU / COU

Columbia, US

Last Updated
May 15, 03:54Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Aging 1 hour ago
03:54Z

🌅 Dawn
VFR
Flight Rules
18°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 8°C
10 kt
150°
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1013 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KCOU 150354Z AUTO 15010KT 10SM CLR 18/08 A2991 RMK AO2 SLP125 T01780078 $

Weather Briefing

VFR

Columbia Regional 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-southeast (150°) at 10 knots. Runway 13/31 is favored with a 9-knot headwind and 3-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

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

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 18°C (64°F) with a dewpoint of 8°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. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 07:00Z and 10:00Z.

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
1013 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
983 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (889 ft)
Pressure Alt
897 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,470 ft
ISA Deviation: +4.8°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KCOU 142329Z 1500/1524 15010KT P6SM BKN090 FM150700 16010KT P6SM BKN100 PROB30 1507/1510 4SM -TSRA OVC060CB FM151600 17011G20KT P6SM SCT150 FM152300 18009KT P6SM BKN120
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
04:57Z BASE
+0h
VFR 150° 10 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 9,000 ft
07:00Z FM150700
+3h
VFR 160° 10 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 10,000 ft
07:00Z PROB30
+3h
MVFR
Visibility: 4SM
Ceiling: 6,000 ft
Light Thunderstorm Rain
16:00Z FM151600
+12h
VFR 170° 11 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
COU
02
20
13 ✈️
31

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
02/20 6,501 ft 150 ft CON 21°
6.3 kt 7.8 kt
129° angle
✈️ 13/31
Active: 13
5,500 ft 100 ft Concrete 135°
9.4 kt 3.4 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 - KCOU

6,486 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
79.3%
MVFR
9.7%
IFR
5.8%
LIFR
5.2%

Columbia Regional Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 79.3% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 11% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 8.7 knots, with gusts recorded up to 32 knots. Temperature extremes range from -21°C to 36°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are May, February, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 8.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 32 kt
Calm Winds: 4.7%
Direction Distribution:
N
10.9%
NE
7.6%
E
10.7%
SE
11.9%
S
19.4%
SW
10.5%
W
12.3%
NW
12.1%

Temperature Range

Average: 9.5°C
Range: -21°C to 36°C
-21°C 36°C

Visibility

Average: 9.4 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.7%
Fog Frequency: 2.8%

Best Months for VFR

May February September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 02/20
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.3 kt
Runway 13/31
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.3 kt

Statistics computed from 6,486 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Columbia Regional Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KCOU
IATA Code: COU
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 889 ft MSL

Location

City: Columbia
Country: US
Latitude: 38.818100°
Longitude: -92.219597°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 02/20
Length: 6,501 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 13/31
Length: 5,500 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: Concrete
ILS: No

About Columbia Regional Airport

Overview

Columbia Regional Airport serves central Missouri as a medium-sized airport located in Columbia, situated at 889 feet above mean sea level. The airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for the region, supporting both general aviation and regional commercial operations with two concrete runways accommodating various aircraft types.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at KCOU demonstrate significant variability, with Visual Flight Rules (VFR) predominating at 77.3% of observations. Pilots can expect prevailing southerly winds averaging 7.9 knots, with temperature ranges spanning from -17°C to 36°C, creating diverse flying environments throughout the year. September, October, and January typically offer the most consistent VFR conditions.

Notable Features

The airport features two concrete runways: Runway 02/20 measuring 6,501 feet and Runway 13/31 measuring 5,500 feet. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with modest average crosswind components of 5.2 knots and 4.5 knots respectively. The airport's moderate elevation and geographical positioning provide relatively stable approach characteristics.

Approach Considerations

Given the prevailing southerly winds, pilots should anticipate potential approaches from southern quadrants. Visibility averages 9.4 statute miles, with only 2% of observations presenting visibility below 3 statute miles and occasional fog events at 4.3%. Instrument meteorological conditions occur in approximately 12.1% of observations, suggesting potential need for alternative planning during certain periods.

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.