Puerto Cabezas Airport

MNPC / PUZ

Puerto Cabezas, NI

Last Updated
May 14, 20:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 39 min ago
20:00Z

🌙 Night
MVFR
Flight Rules
32°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 27°C
12 kt
80°
7 km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1009 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR MNPC 142000Z 08012KT 7000 SCT016 32/27 Q1009 HZ

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 52 ft
SCT 1,600 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
1,600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,652 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Puerto Cabezas Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with scattered clouds at 1,600 feet and 7 km visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east (80°) at 12 knots. Runway 09/27 is favored with a 12-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 7 km, below VFR minimums in some airspace classifications. Check local requirements before departing VFR. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: scattered at 1,600 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 32°C (90°F) with a dewpoint of 27°C, indicating moderate moisture 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 remain MVFR throughout the forecast period. Expected weather includes: Haze, Vicinity Rain. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Vicinity Rain between 21:00Z and 02:00Z. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Haze between 06:00Z and 14:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

QNH
1009 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1007 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (52 ft)
Pressure Alt
180 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 2,232 ft (High - Reduced Performance)
ISA Deviation: +17.1°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF MNPC 141530Z 1418/1518 08010KT 7000 HZ SCT016 TEMPO 1421/1502 07006KT 6000 VCRA BKN017 TEMPO 1506/1514 34004KT 6000 HZ SCT018
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
20:39Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 80° 10 kt
Visibility: 7 km
Haze
21:00Z TEMPO
+1h
MVFR 70° 6 kt
Visibility: 6 km
Ceiling: 1,700 ft
Vicinity Rain
06:00Z TEMPO
+10h
MVFR 340° 4 kt
Visibility: 6 km
Haze

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
NPC
09 ✈️
27

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 09/27
Active: 09
8,130 ft 167 ft ASP 92°
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 - MNPC

2,939 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
0.2%
MVFR
94.9%
IFR
4.7%
LIFR
0.1%

Puerto Cabezas Airport is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 0.2% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 4.8% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the E averaging 8.2 knots, with gusts recorded up to 38 knots. The climate is relatively stable with temperatures averaging 27.9°C (range: 18°C to 33°C). The best months for VFR flying are February, May, January.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: E (90°)
Average Speed: 8.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 38 kt
Calm Winds: 7.2%
Direction Distribution:
N
28%
NE
13%
E
45%
SE
1.5%
S
0.7%
SW
0.1%
W
0.3%
NW
4.2%

Temperature Range

Average: 27.9°C
Range: 18°C to 33°C
18°C 33°C

Visibility

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

Best Months for VFR

February May January

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 09/27
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.3 kt

Statistics computed from 2,939 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Puerto Cabezas Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: MNPC
IATA Code: PUZ
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 52 ft MSL

Location

City: Puerto Cabezas
Country: NI
Latitude: 14.047200°
Longitude: -83.386703°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 09/27
Length: 8,130 ft
Width: 167 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Puerto Cabezas Airport

Overview

Puerto Cabezas Airport serves the eastern coastal region of Nicaragua, located at 14.047200, -83.386703 with an elevation of 52 feet MSL. This medium-sized airport provides critical transportation infrastructure for the Puerto Cabezas area, supporting regional and local aviation operations.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Puerto Cabezas are predominantly MVFR, with 93.5% of observations in this category. The prevailing winds are from the east at an average of 7.4 knots, with temperature ranges between 19°C and 33°C. January, October, and November offer the most favorable VFR conditions for pilots.

Notable Features

The airport features a single runway (09/27) measuring 8,130 feet with an asphalt surface. Its coastal location suggests potential for rapidly changing maritime weather conditions, despite consistently good visibility averaging 10 statute miles. Wind variability includes occasional gusts up to 26 knots, though calm conditions occur 8.1% of the time.

Approach Considerations

Runway 09/27 demonstrates 100% favorable wind alignment, with an average crosswind of just 4 knots. Pilots can expect minimal wind-related approach challenges, particularly during peak VFR months. The relatively low elevation and consistent weather patterns make this a straightforward operational environment for most aircraft.

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.