WxDecoder

VCBI/CMB METAR & TAF Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport

Colombo, Western ProvinceElevation 30 ftLarge airport
CURRENT STATUS
MVFR34 min old
Ceiling 1,600 ft, visibility 4.97 SM.
FLIGHT CATEGORY
MVFR
ceiling & visibility
WIND
270@6
steady
VISIBILITY
4.97 SM
8 km
CEILING
1,600 ft
lowest BKN/OVC
DENSITY ALT
1,533 ft
+1,503 ft vs field
CURRENT METAR

Decoded observation

Observed 0310Z (8:40 AM local) · 34 min old

VCBI is currently MVFR. Winds are from the west at 6 knots. Visibility is 4.97 statute miles. The ceiling is 1,600 feet AGL. The main issue is ceiling 1600 ft agl (mvfr).

WIND
270° at 6 kt
Steady.
VISIBILITY
4.97 statute miles
8 km, reduced (MVFR).
CEILING & SKY
Ceiling 1,600 ft
Lowest broken or overcast layer.
TEMP / DEWPOINT
27°C / 26°C
81°F / 79°F. 1°C spread.
ALTIMETER
29.85 inHg
1010.8 hPa, near standard.
WEATHER & HAZARDS
LOW CIG, LOW VIS
Ceiling 1600 ft AGL (MVFR).

Codes in this report: FEW BKN OVC

Hover or tap any group for a plain-English explanation.

TERMINAL AERODROME FORECAST

TAF timeline

Issued 2300Z (4:30 AM local) · valid to 0600Z (11:30 AM local)

VCBI forecast starts MVFR at 00Z. Worst period is 03Z to 05Z with MVFR possible (GUST). Best period is 00Z to 03Z (MVFR). Conditions are roughly steady over the period.

  • Maximum temperature 30°C expected at 0700Z on day 26.
  • Minimum temperature 24°C expected at 0000Z on day 27.
BKN0161,600 ft · 5.6 SM
BKN0161,600 ft · 5.6 SM
BKN0161,600 ft · 5.6 SM
0000Z5:30 AM0600Z11:30 AM1200Z5:30 PM1800Z11:30 PM0000Z5:30 AM0600Z11:30 AM

Codes in this report: FEW BKN BECMG

Tap any group to decode it.

SUGGESTED RISK · TRAINING USE

Suggested risk level: Moderate

›Conditions are MVFR.

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

Pilot weather notes

Current aviation conditions show flight category MVFR, wind from 270° at 6 kt, visibility 4.97 SM, ceiling 1,600 ft. No extended National Weather Service forecast is available for this location. Key risks: no significant hazards are highlighted right now, but always confirm against an official briefing.

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RUNWAYS & WIND
1 runway · crosswind ranking
ON-FIELD METAR
NESW0422 270°270°6 kt270°270° 6270°
READING THE BARB · SWIPE FOR MORE →
Calm
5 kt
10 kt
15 kt
20 kt
25 kt
30 kt
35 kt
40 kt
45 kt
50 kt
65 kt
75 kt
100 kt
105 kt
Half feather = 5 kt, full = 10 kt, filled pennant = 50 kt; add them up. The staff points the direction the wind blows from.
WIND USED
270° at 6 kt
Components computed from the current on-field METAR wind.
RECOMMENDED
RWY 224 kt headwind · 5 kt crosswind
RUNWAYS BY WIND · best end
22
HEAD
4 kt
CROSS
5 kt R
BEST
04
HEAD
4 kt tail
CROSS
5 kt L
OK
Components are estimates from the current METAR wind and runway heading. Verify with the Chart Supplement and NOTAMs.
RUNWAYS

Runway detail

04/22
Dimensions
10,991 x 148 ft
Surface
ASP
Lighting
Lighted
FIELD CONDITIONS

Performance & density altitude

Density altitude
1,533 ft
Pressure altitude
100 ft
Field elevation
30 ft MSL
Temperature
27°C (81°F)
Dewpoint
26°C (79°F)
Altimeter
29.85 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
1221Z 5:51 PM
Sunrise
0027Z 5:57 AM
Loggable night
1242Z (6:12 PM local) → 0006Z (5:36 AM local)
end of evening to start of morning civil twilight
Position lights required
1221Z (5:51 PM local) → 0027Z (5:57 AM local)
sunset to sunrise (91.209)
Night passenger currency
1321Z (6:51 PM local) → 2327Z (4:57 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

Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport is in Colombo, Western Province. Field elevation 30 ft MSL. Airport facts are drawn from OurAirports and the FAA NASR dataset.

OPERATIONS & CONTACT
UseScheduled service
TypeLarge airport
Airline serviceYes
CHARTS & AIRSPACE
ICAO / IATAVCBI / CMB
RegionWestern Province
CountrySri Lanka
Coordinates7.1808, 79.8841
SERVICES & LIGHTING
Control towerTowered
FREQUENCIES

Communications

120.9
COLOMBO APP
APP
127.2
ATIS
ATIS
121.9
COLOMBO GND
GND
118.7
COLOMBO TWR
TWR

Not all tower/ground/approach frequencies are in our datasets. Verify with the FAA Chart Supplement.

AIRCRAFT ACTIVITY

Traffic patterns

Aircraft activity data is not available for this airport yet.

NEARBY AIRPORTS

Weather reference stations

Current flight category at nearby reporting stations.

VCCC Colombo Ratmalana International Airport
22 NM S
MVFR
VCRI Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport
91 NM SE
MVFR
OFFICIAL LINKS & SOURCES
↗Official METAR on AviationWeather.gov
↗Official airport website
↗Wikipedia
↗VCBI on OurAirports
FREQUENTLY ASKED
Does VCBI have a METAR?
Yes. VCBI has a current METAR observation, decoded into plain English on this page.
Does VCBI have a TAF?
Yes, a TAF is issued for VCBI; the decoded forecast timeline is shown above.
What is the field elevation at VCBI?
VCBI sits at 30 ft MSL, which factors into the density-altitude estimate on this page.
Is this an official preflight weather briefing for VCBI?
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.