KCHS/CHS METAR & TAF Charleston International Airport
Charleston, South CarolinaElevation 46 ftLarge airport
CURRENT STATUS
VFRMore than 1 hour old
No ceiling, visibility 10 SM.
FLIGHT CATEGORY
VFR
ceiling & visibility
WIND
050@9
steady
VISIBILITY
10 SM
16.1 km
CEILING
None
no BKN/OVC layer
DENSITY ALT
261 ft
+215 ft vs field
ACTIVE NWS ALERTS
Active weather alerts
Rip Current Statement
25 2337Z to 27 0000Z
Coastal Colleton; Charleston
* WHAT...For the High Rip Current Risk, dangerous rip currents.
For the High Surf Advisory, large breaking waves of 4 to 6 feet
in the surf zone. For the Coastal Flood Advisory, up to one half
foot of inundation above ground level expected along shorelines
and tidal waterways (7.1 to 7.3 feet Mean Lower Low Water at
Charleston). For the Coastal Flood Watch, one to two feet of
inundation above grou…
If travel is required, allow extra time as some roads may be
closed. Do not drive around barricades or through water of
unknown depth. Take the necessary actions to protect flood-prone
property.
Visit water.weather.gov for additional water level and flood
impact information.
Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to
dangerous surf conditions.
Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and
float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a
direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the
shore and call or wave for help.
Coastal Flood Watch
26 0900Z to 26 1500Z
Coastal Colleton; Charleston
* WHAT...For the High Rip Current Risk, dangerous rip currents.
For the High Surf Advisory, large breaking waves of 4 to 6 feet
in the surf zone. For the Coastal Flood Advisory, up to one half
foot of inundation above ground level expected along shorelines
and tidal waterways (7.1 to 7.3 feet Mean Lower Low Water at
Charleston). For the Coastal Flood Watch, one to two feet of
inundation above grou…
If travel is required, allow extra time as some roads may be
closed. Do not drive around barricades or through water of
unknown depth. Take the necessary actions to protect flood-prone
property.
Visit water.weather.gov for additional water level and flood
impact information.
Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to
dangerous surf conditions.
Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and
float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a
direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the
shore and call or wave for help.
High Surf Advisory
25 2337Z to 26 2100Z
Coastal Colleton; Charleston
* WHAT...For the High Rip Current Risk, dangerous rip currents.
For the High Surf Advisory, large breaking waves of 4 to 6 feet
in the surf zone. For the Coastal Flood Advisory, up to one half
foot of inundation above ground level expected along shorelines
and tidal waterways (7.1 to 7.3 feet Mean Lower Low Water at
Charleston). For the Coastal Flood Watch, one to two feet of
inundation above grou…
If travel is required, allow extra time as some roads may be
closed. Do not drive around barricades or through water of
unknown depth. Take the necessary actions to protect flood-prone
property.
Visit water.weather.gov for additional water level and flood
impact information.
Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to
dangerous surf conditions.
Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and
float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a
direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the
shore and call or wave for help.
Coastal Flood Advisory
25 2337Z to 26 0200Z
Coastal Colleton; Charleston
* WHAT...For the High Rip Current Risk, dangerous rip currents.
For the High Surf Advisory, large breaking waves of 4 to 6 feet
in the surf zone. For the Coastal Flood Advisory, up to one half
foot of inundation above ground level expected along shorelines
and tidal waterways (7.1 to 7.3 feet Mean Lower Low Water at
Charleston). For the Coastal Flood Watch, one to two feet of
inundation above grou…
If travel is required, allow extra time as some roads may be
closed. Do not drive around barricades or through water of
unknown depth. Take the necessary actions to protect flood-prone
property.
Visit water.weather.gov for additional water level and flood
impact information.
Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to
dangerous surf conditions.
Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and
float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a
direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the
shore and call or wave for help.
Alerts from the National Weather Service. For situational awareness only; always confirm against an official briefing.
CURRENT METAR
Decoded observation
KCHS is currently VFR. Winds are from the northeast at 9 knots. Visibility is 10 statute miles. There is no ceiling.
WIND
50° at 9 kt
Steady.
VISIBILITY
10 statute miles
16.1 km, good.
CEILING & SKY
FEW070
FEW and SCT layers are not ceilings.
TEMP / DEWPOINT
20°C / 12°C
68°F / 54°F. 8°C spread.
ALTIMETER
30.31 inHg
1026.4 hPa, above standard.
WEATHER & HAZARDS
No significant hazards
No precipitation or obscuration reported.
REMARKS: DECODED
AO2
automated station with a precipitation discriminator (can tell rain from snow)
SLP263
sea-level pressure 1026.3 hPa
T02000117
precise temperature 20.0°C, dew point 11.7°C
$
station needs maintenance
TERMINAL AERODROME FORECAST
TAF timeline
KCHS forecast starts VFR at 00Z. Conditions are roughly steady over the period.
0000Z8:00 PM0448Z12:48 AM0936Z5:36 AM1424Z10:24 AM1912Z3:12 PM0000Z8:00 PM
FAA: no delays reported at CHS.
Source: FAA System Operations (ASWS). Operational status only; verify with official FAA sources and NOTAMs.
SUGGESTED RISK · TRAINING USE
Suggested risk level: Low
›No significant weather concerns in the current report.
A suggested risk level for training and situational awareness only, not a go/no-go authority. Verify with official sources and apply your personal minimums.
FORECAST & PILOT NOTES · SUPPLEMENTAL
Extended forecast and pilot notes
Current aviation conditions show flight category VFR, wind from 50° at 9 kt, visibility 10 SM, ceiling none. Forecast suggests tonight clear, low near 52F, 0% chance of precipitation. Key risks: no significant hazards are highlighted right now, but always confirm against an official briefing.
| Day | Conditions | Temp F | Wind | Gusts | Precip | Pilot note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tonight | Clear | 52 | NE 12 kt | 22 kt | 0% | |
| Monday | Sunny | 75/50 | NE 9 kt | – | 0% | |
| Tuesday | Sunny | 76/55 | NE 6 kt | – | 0% | |
| Wednesday | Mostly Sunny | 77/62 | NE 11 kt | – | 5% | |
| Thursday | Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers | 78/60 | NE 10 kt | – | 15% | |
| Friday | Sunny | 79/61 | NE 9 kt | – | 6% | |
| Saturday | Mostly Sunny | 79/63 | NE 10 kt | – | 12% | |
| Sunday | Chance Rain Showers | 80 | E 6 kt | – | 39% |
Source: National Weather Service (office CHS). Forecast issued 2358Z.
Radar
Radar data: NOAA/NWS MRMS composite reflectivity. For situational awareness only, not a substitute for an official weather briefing.
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Visit David ClarkRUNWAYS & WIND
2 runways · crosswind ranking
WIND USED
050° at 9 kt
Components computed from the current on-field METAR wind.
RECOMMENDED
RWY 038 kt headwind · 4 kt crosswind
RUNWAYS BY WIND · best end
03
HEAD
8 kt
CROSS
4 kt R
33
HEAD
1 kt
CROSS
9 kt R
15
HEAD
1 kt tail
CROSS
9 kt L
21
HEAD
8 kt tail
CROSS
4 kt L
Components are estimates from the current METAR wind and runway heading. Verify with the Chart Supplement and NOTAMs.
RUNWAYS
Runway detail & declared distances
15/33
RWY 15147°T
ILSILS
Approach lightsALSF2
VGSIPAPI (P4L)
Traffic patternLeft
RWY 33327°T
ILSILS
Approach lightsMALSR
VGSIPAPI (P4L)
Traffic patternLeft
03/21
RWY 0324°T
REILYes
VGSIPAPI (P4L)
Traffic patternLeft
RWY 21204°T
REILYes
VGSIPAPI (P4L)
Traffic patternLeft
Runway data from the FAA NASR dataset (effective 2026-06-11). Verify with the current Chart Supplement and NOTAMs.
FIELD CONDITIONS
Performance & density altitude
Density altitude
261 ft
Pressure altitude
-344 ft
Field elevation
46 ft MSL
Temperature
20°C (68°F)
Dewpoint
12°C (54°F)
Altimeter
30.31 inHg
Density altitude estimates how the aircraft performs versus standard atmosphere. Higher density altitude reduces climb performance and increases takeoff distance.
DAYLIGHT & NIGHT
Sun & logging windows
Sunset
2236Z 6:36 PM
Sunrise
1132Z 7:32 AM
Loggable night
2301Z (7:01 PM local) → 1107Z (7:07 AM local)
end of evening to start of morning civil twilight
Position lights required
2236Z (6:36 PM local) → 1132Z (7:32 AM local)
sunset to sunrise (91.209)
Night passenger currency
2336Z (7:36 PM local) → 1032Z (6:32 AM local)
1 hr after sunset to 1 hr before sunrise (61.57(b))
FAA definitions, shown in Zulu with airport-local time. Verify for your operation.
AIRPORT INFORMATION
Facility & services
Charleston International Airport is in Charleston, South Carolina. Field elevation 46 ft MSL. Airport facts are drawn from OurAirports and the FAA NASR dataset.
OPERATIONS & CONTACT
OwnershipAir Force owned
UseOpen to the public
TypeLarge airport
Airline serviceYes
ManagerELLIOTT SUMMEY
Manager phone843-761-7000
AttendedContinuous (24 hours)
CHARTS & AIRSPACE
ICAO / IATAKCHS / CHS
SectionalCHARLOTTE
Center (ARTCC)JACKSONVILLE
Flight service (AFSS)ANDERSON
RegionSouth Carolina
CountryUnited States
Coordinates32.8962, -80.0382
Distance from city9 NM NW
SERVICES & LIGHTING
Fuel100 · Jet A-1+
Control towerTowered
BeaconSunset to sunrise · White-green (lighted land airport)
UNICOM122.950
FREQUENCIES
Communications
30.692
APP
APP
119.3
APP
APP
124.75
ATIS
ATIS
118
CLNC DEL
CLD
120.7
DEP
DEP
121.9
GND
GND
34.46
PMSV METRO
PMSV
134.1
CONSOLIDATED COMD
POST
37.22
PTD
PTD
122.2
ANDERSON RDO
RDO
126
TWR
TWR
122.95
UNICOM
UNIC
122.950
UNICOM
UNICOM
Not all tower/ground/approach frequencies are in our datasets. Verify with the FAA Chart Supplement.
AIRCRAFT ACTIVITY
KCHS traffic patterns
TRAFFIC VOLUME (30-DAY)
AVG LANDINGS/DAY
57.6
AVG OPS/DAY
87.2
Operations trend (18 days)
Busiest day: Mon · Busiest month: Sep
FLEET MIX
Airliner 45%Jet 22%Unknown 15%Piston single 13%Turboprop 2%Helicopter 1%Twin 1%
Mostly airliner-class aircraft.
TOP AIRCRAFT TYPES
›BCS3 (Airliner) · ~73 landings/mo
›CRJ9 (Airliner) · ~38 landings/mo
›C172 (Piston single) · ~37 landings/mo
›B738 (Airliner) · ~36 landings/mo
›UNKN (Unknown) · ~34 landings/mo
LIKELY BASED AIRCRAFT
Aircraft likely based near this airport (estimate), mostly aircraft of unknown type.
›UNKN (Unknown)
›C172 (Piston single)
›C17 (Unknown)
›P28A (Piston single)
›DA40 (Piston single)
This is an estimate based on repeated flight patterns, not registration data. Do not rely on it to identify specific aircraft or owners.
Data limitations (4)
›ADS-B coverage is incomplete; counts are an observed lower bound, not official totals.
›Some aircraft do not transmit usable ADS-B and are not counted.
›Aircraft types and based estimates are inferred and may be wrong.
›This is not official ATC, FAA, or airport data.
NEARBY AIRPORTS
Weather reference stations
AIRPORT REMARKS
Operational remarks
›FLUID: SOAP - ROUTINE SOAP SAMPLES NOT AVBL; SP PRESAIR LHOX LOX
›OIL: NON-DETERGENT OIL NOT AVBL FOR PISTON ACFT. O-128-133-148(MIL)
›THIS AIRPORT HAS BEEN SURVEYED BY THE NATIONAL GEODETIC SURVEY.
›PARKING ON TERMINAL APRON RESTRICTED TO COMMERCIAL AIR CARRIER AND ACFT FOR CUSTOMS CLEARANCE BY PRIOR ARRANGEMENT ONLY.
›LIQUID OXYGEN SERVING AVBL TO MILITARY.
›RSTD: RVR AVAIL VIA FAA ATCT.
›CAUTION: MIL RAMP ACFT CONTACT CHS GND CONTROL FOR ENG START & TAXI.
›CAUTION: RY 15-33 1000 FT OVERRUNS HAS FRANGIBLE RAISED APCH LIGHTS.
›RSTD: RWY 03-21 CLSD 2ND TUE EA MONTH 1330-2200Z++. RWY 15-33 CLSD LAST TUE OF EA MONTH 1330-2200Z++.
›SERVICE: KCHS MIL PROVIDES NO SECURITY AND NO ACFT SERVICES AT FBO'S AND COMMERCIAL TERMINAL.
›MISC: TMPRY STOR OF CLASSIFIED MATERIALS: LTD CLASSIFIED STOR AVBL. 24 HR PN RQR WITH AFLD MGMT. PRIOR COORD RQR. CTC BASE OPS 24 PRIOR TO ARR. NO CLASSIFIED STOR AT COMD POST. FOR TOP SECRET STOR CTC 437 SOS 24 HR PRIOR TO ARR DSN 673-0955, C843-963-0955.
›SERVICE-LGT: AIRFIELD BEACON NOT VISIBLE FROM NW.
›JASU: 8(MD-3M) 2(MA-1A) (M32A-60) (M32A-60A)
›MISC: PMSV RDO UNAVBL. PMSV/PHONE PATCH AVBL THRU 628 CP DSN 673-8400 C843-963-8400. WX FLT CLOSED WKENDS, HOL AND DOWN DAYS. MIL WX FLD AFLD SUPPORT AVBL 24/7 FOR SVR WX, C843-754-1956. MSN WX SUPPORT HRS 1100-2300Z++ MON-THU AND 1100-2100Z++ FRI, DSN 673-3016/3644, C843-963-3016, CLSD WKEND, HOL, AND DOWN DAYS. MSN WX SUPPORT BRFGS FOR AIRCREW AVBL VIA THE 260WS/BARKSDALE AFB DSN 331-2651/C318-529-2651 DUR MIL WX FLT CLOSURE HRS.
›MISC: AFLD MGMT DSN 673-3024/6, C843-963-3024/6. AFLD MGMT OUT OF OFFICE CTC NR C854-274-8453. IF CIV SIDE OF ARPT IS FINAL DESTN, ACFT COMDR WILL SO INDICATE ON DD 175. DANGEROUS CARGO ACFT CTC PTD PRIM, PALMETTO OPS SECD. ALL AMC MSN ACFT CTC PALMETTO OPS WHEN WITHIN RDO RNG.
›TFC PAT: RECTANGULAR 1200 FT, OVERHEAD 1700 FT, LGT ACFT 700 FT, C5A 2000 FT.
›CAUTION: MIGRATORY BIRD SEASON PHASE II 1-15 APR AND 1 AUG-30 NOV. RWY 15-33 RAISED APCH LGT IN OVRN, RY 03-21 OVRN 800FT.
›RSTD: NON-AMC AIRCREWS REQ RON SVC CTC COMD POST (PALMETTO OPS) DSN 673-8400, C843-963-8400 PRIOR ARR. TRML APN RSTD TO COML AIR CARRIER AND ACFT FOR CSTMS CLNC BY PPR.
›RSTD: ALL ACFT MUST CTC PALMETTO OPS PRIOR TO ENTERING MIL RAMP FOR PRK ASGN.
›NO STUDENT SOLO TOUCH AND GO LANDING ALLOWED.
›RSTD: AMC ACFT OPR RSTD DUR BIRD WATCH COND MODERATE (TKOF OR LDG PERMS ONLY WHEN DEP/ARR RTE AVOID IDENT BIRD ACT, NO LCL IFR/VFR TFC PAT ACFT) AND SEVERE (TKOF AND LDG PROH WO OG/CC APVL), CTC PALMETTO OPS FOR CURRENT BIRD WATCH COND.
›RSTD: ALL INBD VIP CODE 7 OR HI, PAX, CARGO ACFT MUST CTC PALMETTO OPS NO LATER THAN 30 MIN PRIOR TO LDG.
›SEE FLIP AP/1 SUPPLEMENTARY ARPT RMK.
›TYPE-H BAK-12A(B) (1460')
›TYPE-H BAK-12A(B) (1260')
›TPA: RECTANGULAR 1154 FT AGL/1200 FT MSL, OVHD 1654 FT AGL/1700 FT MSL, LGT ACFT 654 FT AGL/700 FT MSL, C5A 1954 FT AGL/ 2000 FT MSL.
›LGTS FOR BOTH RWYS ARE AF SPEC TYPE.
›ELLIOTT SUMMEY IS THE DIR OF ARPTS FOR THE CHARLESTON REGIONAL AVN AUTH. THE AIR FORCE AIRFIELD MGR CAN BE CTCD AT 843-963-3024.
›INTENSIVE HEAVY MIL JETS & OTHER MISC ACFT EXECUTING NUMEROUS CARGO & PERSONNEL DROPS, HIGH SPEED LOW-LEVEL FORMATION FLTS & MISC AIR-TO-GROUND OPNS.
›MISC: RWY 15/33 AND 3/21 GROOVED.
›RSTD: EXP RWY 15/33 OPS SUSPD 1230-1300Z++DLY FOR A-G INSPECTION.
›MISC: COMBAT OFF-LOAD OPS ON N END OF TWY D MUST ENSURE THAT PALLETS LAND PRIOR TO LEAD-IN LINE TO RWY 15 APCH END; CTC GND IF PALLET LANDS BYD LEAD-IN LINE.
›PPR FOR PARKING OF GENERAL AVIATION ACFT ON TERMINAL RAMP CTC 843-767-1100.
›AFLD GRASS CUTTING OPS CONDUCTED IN CTL MOVEMENT AREA YR ROUND; CTC AFLD MGMT FOR DLY LCTN.
›RWY COND CODE (RWYCC) NOT RPTD.
›ALL AIRCRAFT USE UPPER ANTENNA UNTIL AIRBORNE.
›SERVICE-LGT: RWY 15 ALSF-2 ALSO OPR AS SSALR DUR VMC.
›MISC: PAX TRML OPR 0930-0330Z++ DLY. AFTER HRS CTC DSN 673-7005/7006 OR C843-963-7005/7006. C-17 ENG RUNNING ONLOADS/OFFLOADS AVBL 24 HR PN. CTC 437 APS DSN 673-3193/4 C843-963-3193/4 FOR COORD/APVL. PASS PAX/CARGO INFO TO PALMETTO OPS 3 HRS PRIOR TO ARR.
›CAUTION: RY 15-33 1 FT RAISED THLD LGT.
›CAUTION: FUEL PIT/SWITCH OBST 36 IN HIGH LCTD 75 FT LEFT OF TWY D CNTLN N OF TWY E.
›FUEL: A++(MIL), A+(ATLANTIC AVN, C843-746-7600) (NC-100, A1+).
›RSTD: C5, B747, AND AN-124 ACFT TAXI WITH OUTBOARD ENG AT IDLE.
›CAUTION: MIL SIDE WG TIP CLNC LINES: TWY D 161 FT FR TWY CNTRLN AND RAMP INTER-TXY 115 FT FR CNTRLN.
›CAUTION: REDUCED FIRE SUPPORT FOR C-5 AND AN-124 ACFT, DEGRADATION OF FIRE FIGHTING CAPABILITY. C-5/AN-124 WITH EMERGENCY MUST CLOSELY COORDINATE RQR WITH PALMETTO OPS.
›RSTD: PPR, EXC AIREVAC, SAM AND AMC GDSSII MSN, FOR NUMBER AND LCL TRNG FLT TRAN ALERT SUPPORT CTC AFLD MGMT DSN 673-3024/6, C843-963-3024/6.
›CAUTION: RY 21 - FREQ PRK TRAIN CARS (25 FT AGL), CONSTRUCTION/UTILITY STORAGE YARD (20 FT AGL) 1000 FT FR THLD AND GRAVEL PILES (50 FT AGL) 1500 FT FR THLD.
›TRANS ACFT FOR MIL RAMP FOLLOW-ME RQR. MIL ACFT FOR FBO PRK/SVC RQR PPR (843-746-7600).
›SERVICE FUEL: ALL ACFT RQR FUEL, PLEASE HAVE IN YOUR POSSESSION THE WHITE DD FORM 1896 FUEL CARD, US GOVT AIR CARD OR YOUR BASE BILLING INFO.
›MISC: AFLD SFC WX OBS TAKEN IAW FAA CRITERIA, NOT AF CRITERIA.
›THIS IS A SHARED-USE AIRPORT. THE USAF OWNS AND OPERATES ALL RUNWAYS AND THE MAJORITY OF THE TAXIWAYS. THE CHARLESTON COUNTY AVIATION AUTHORITY OPERATES THE CIVILIAN TERMINAL AND ASSOCIATED TAXIWAYS.
OFFICIAL LINKS & SOURCES
FREQUENTLY ASKED
Does KCHS have a METAR?
Yes. KCHS has a current METAR observation, decoded into plain English on this page.
Does KCHS have a TAF?
Yes, a TAF is issued for KCHS; the decoded forecast timeline is shown above.
What is the field elevation at KCHS?
KCHS sits at 46 ft MSL, which factors into the density-altitude estimate on this page.
Is this an official preflight weather briefing for KCHS?
No. wxdecoder.com is for education and situational awareness only. It is not an official weather briefing or a substitute for official sources, NOTAM review, and pilot judgment.
This app is for aviation weather education, training, and situational awareness only. It is not a substitute for an official weather briefing, approved flight-planning software, flight service, dispatch procedures, current FAA regulations, or pilot judgment. Always verify weather with official sources before flight.