Mae Fah Luang - Chiang Rai International Airport

VTCT / CEI

Chiang Rai, TH

Last Updated
May 14, 23:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 47 min ago
23:00Z

🌙 Night
MVFR
Flight Rules
24°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 24°C
0 kt
8 km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1008 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR VTCT 142300Z 00000KT 8000 -RA FEW010 SCT030 24/24 Q1008 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,280 ft
FEW 1,000 ft AGL
SCT 3,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
1,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,280 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
3,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,280 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Mae Fah Luang - Chiang Rai International Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with scattered clouds at 3,000 feet and 8 km visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are calm, presenting no crosswind concerns for any runway.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 8 km, below VFR minimums in some airspace classifications. Check local requirements before departing VFR. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 1,000 ft, scattered at 3,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 24°C (75°F) with a dewpoint of 24°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 30 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Expected weather includes: Thunderstorm Rain. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Thunderstorm Rain between 20:00Z and 05:00Z. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Thunderstorm Rain between 07:00Z and 17:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours. 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
1008 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
965 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,280 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,438 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 2,825 ft
ISA Deviation: +11.6°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF VTCT 141700Z 1418/1524 24005KT 9999 SCT040 TEMPO 1420/1505 25010G20KT 4000 TSRA FEW018CB BKN025 BECMG 1504/1506 18005KT TEMPO 1507/1517 20010G20KT 4000 TSRA FEW020CB BKN030
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
23:46Z BASE
+0h
VFR 240° 5 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
04:00Z BECMG
+5h
VFR 180° 5 kt
07:00Z TEMPO
+8h
IFR 200° 10 kt
Visibility: 4 km
Ceiling: 3,000 ft
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
TCT
03
21

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
03/21 9,843 ft 148 ft ASP 29°
0.0 kt 0.0 kt
29° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - VTCT

5,557 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
73.3%
MVFR
21.3%
IFR
4.6%
LIFR
0.8%

Mae Fah Luang - Chiang Rai International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 73.3% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 5.4% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 4.2 knots. Calm conditions occur 18.5% of the time. Temperatures typically range between 8°C and 38°C with an average of 23.7°C. The best months for VFR flying are October, May, February.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 4.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 15 kt
Calm Winds: 18.5%
Direction Distribution:
N
11.8%
NE
12.7%
E
11.8%
SE
8%
S
8.8%
SW
7.4%
W
13.1%
NW
7.9%

Temperature Range

Average: 23.7°C
Range: 8°C to 38°C
8°C 38°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.9%

Best Months for VFR

October May February

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 03/21
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2.3 kt

Statistics computed from 5,557 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Mae Fah Luang - Chiang Rai International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: VTCT
IATA Code: CEI
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,280 ft MSL

Location

City: Chiang Rai
Country: TH
Latitude: 19.952299°
Longitude: 99.882896°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-7

Runway Information

Runway 03/21
Length: 9,843 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Mae Fah Luang - Chiang Rai International Airport

Overview

Mae Fah Luang - Chiang Rai International Airport serves the northernmost province of Thailand, providing international and domestic connectivity for the Chiang Rai region. Located at 1,280 feet MSL, the airport supports medium-sized aircraft operations with its single 9,843-foot asphalt runway positioned at 03/21.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at VTCT are predominantly favorable for visual flight, with 81.4% of observations reporting VFR conditions. The prevailing winds from the northeast at 45 degrees average 4.2 knots, with occasional peaks up to 15 knots. Temperature variations range from 8°C to 33°C, with an average of 22.6°C, presenting generally stable meteorological environments for aircraft operations.

Notable Features

The airport's elevation and geographic positioning in northern Thailand introduce potential terrain considerations for approaching and departing aircraft. The surrounding mountainous landscape of Chiang Rai province may influence local wind patterns and create localized turbulence, particularly during seasonal transitions. Runway 03/21 demonstrates consistent wind alignment, with 100% favorable wind conditions and minimal average crosswind of 2.1 knots.

Approach Considerations

October, November, and January represent the most consistent VFR months, offering optimal flying conditions with high visibility averaging 10 statute miles. Pilots should note minimal instances of reduced visibility, with fog occurring in only 1.6% of observations and no recorded visibility below 3 statute miles. The runway's orientation and wind characteristics suggest predictable approach and departure scenarios with minimal wind-related complexities.

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.