Columbia Metropolitan Airport (KCAE) Aviation Weather, METAR, TAF & ATIS Alerts
Live aviation weather for Columbia Metropolitan Airport in Columbia, SC, including METAR, TAF, flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling, altimeter, runway crosswinds, and Telegram airport alerts.
Columbia Metropolitan Airport (KCAE) is a regional airport serving Columbia, SC at 236 ft. KCAE reports its own METAR and publishes a TAF — decoded live on this page as flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling and altimeter. Its 4 runways (05, 11, 23, 29) — longest 8,601 ft — are checked against the current wind in the crosswind table below. The official FAA airport diagram is at the bottom of the page. Track KCAE in the ATIS Alerts Telegram bot to get a message when a new METAR changes the picture — flight category, wind, or ceiling past your selected minimums.
Wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 kt, visibility 10+ statute miles, a few clouds at 6,000 ft, broken clouds at 13,000 ft, temperature 33°C (91°F), altimeter 29.70 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR), ceiling 13,000 ft.
METAR KCAE 290056Z 20006KT 10SM FEW060 BKN130 33/22 A2970 RMK AO2 SLP051 T03280217 $
What changed at KCAE?
Since the 2356Z (7:56 PM EDT) report — compared automatically against the latest METAR.
- Wind direction moved from 240° to 200°.
This is exactly what ATIS Alerts watches for you — get a Telegram message when KCAE's weather changes, free →
Current pilot readout for KCAE
KCAE is currently VFR with winds from 200° at 6 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and a 13,000 ft ceiling. The strongest crosswind component is currently on runway 11, about 6 knots. Density altitude is approximately 2,700 ft (field elevation 236 ft). Review the latest TAF below for forecast changes before departure.
⚠️ Not for operational use. Always verify with official FAA-approved preflight weather sources before flight.
New to aviation weather? How to read a METAR → · What VFR/MVFR/IFR mean → · Decode any METAR/TAF → · Density altitude calculator →
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Stop refreshing aviation weather manually. Track KCAE in ATIS Alerts and get notified when a new METAR changes the picture — a category drop, or wind and ceiling moving toward your minimums.
Track KCAE free on TelegramRunway wind check
Estimated head/tailwind and crosswind for each runway end from the current reported wind.
Use this section to quickly compare current wind alignment across available runways at KCAE. This is intended as a planning aid only and should not replace official performance calculations or pilot judgment.
| Runway | Length | Surface | Head / Tail | Crosswind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23FAV | 8,001 ft | PEM | 5 kt head | 3 kt left |
| 29 | 8,601 ft | ASP | 1 kt head | 6 kt left |
| 11 | 8,601 ft | ASP | 1 kt tail | 6 kt right |
| 05 | 8,001 ft | PEM | 5 kt tail | 3 kt right |
Open the crosswind calculator — try your own wind and runway numbers →
24-hour trend
Wind, ceiling and flight category over the last 24 hours.
Over the last 23 h: wind 0→6 kt, ceiling unlimited → 13,000 ft.
KCAE weather radar
Live NEXRAD + lightning, with a 4-hour future-radar forecast — drag to pan, tap ⚡ to toggle lightning.
Live weather radar around Columbia Metropolitan Airport in Columbia, SC: the NOAA/NWS NEXRAD composite updates about every five minutes, with NOAA lightning strike density overlaid. The loop plays the past 50 minutes, then continues into a future-radar forecast (+1 to +4 hours, NOAA HRRR model) so you can see where precipitation around KCAE is headed.
Radar: NOAA/NWS via IEM · Forecast: NOAA HRRR · Lightning: NOAA · Map © OpenStreetMap © CARTO
Forecast frames (amber label) are HRRR model guidance, not observed radar. Lightning strike density appears as a blue-white glow when strikes are detected in view. Radar and lightning coverage are limited in parts of Alaska, Hawaii, and offshore areas. Not for navigation.
Pilot reports (PIREPs) within 100 NM of KCAE
Reported by pilots in flight over the past 6 hours — via aviationweather.gov.
Show raw report
SPA UA /OV SPA270010/TM 0104/FL230/TP A320/TB NEG/RM ZTLFD-31
SPA UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV SPA270010Location — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0104Reported at 01:04 UTC.FL230Altitude: 23,000 ft MSL.TP A320Aircraft type reporting.TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.RM ZTLFD-31Remarks.Show raw report
CHS UA /OV CHS360080/TM 0104/FL170/TP GLEX/SK IMC/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD/IC NEG
CHS UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV CHS360080Location — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0104Reported at 01:04 UTC.FL170Altitude: 17,000 ft MSL.TP GLEXAircraft type reporting.SK IMCSky condition — cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.TB CONS LGT OCNL MODTurbulence: continuous light occasional moderate.IC NEGIcing: none reported.Show raw report
AND UA /OV ELW140015/TM 0101/FL340/TP A320/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZTLFD-32
AND UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV ELW140015Location — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0101Reported at 01:01 UTC.FL340Altitude: 34,000 ft MSL.TP A320Aircraft type reporting.TB CONS LGT CHOPTurbulence: continuous light chop.RM ZTLFD-32Remarks.Show raw report
CAE UA /OV CAE/TM 0059/FL350/TP A35K/TB OCNL LGT
CAE UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV CAELocation — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0059Reported at 00:59 UTC.FL350Altitude: 35,000 ft MSL.TP A35KAircraft type reporting.TB OCNL LGTTurbulence: occasional light.Show raw report
SPA UA /OV SPA240010/TM 0058/FL370/TP A20N/TB NEG/RM ZTLFD-28
SPA UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV SPA240010Location — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0058Reported at 00:58 UTC.FL370Altitude: 37,000 ft MSL.TP A20NAircraft type reporting.TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.RM ZTLFD-28Remarks.Show raw report
CAE UA /OV CAE045030/TM 0044/FL130/TP PC12/TB OCNL LGT
CAE UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV CAE045030Location — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0044Reported at 00:44 UTC.FL130Altitude: 13,000 ft MSL.TP PC12Aircraft type reporting.TB OCNL LGTTurbulence: occasional light.Show raw report
SPA UUA /OV SPA/TM 0026/FL400/TP LJ60/TB SEV/RM NO DAMAGE NO INJURIES ZTLFD-28
SPA UUAHeader — reporting station and UUA: an URGENT pilot report (severe conditions, wind shear, or similar).OV SPALocation — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0026Reported at 00:26 UTC.FL400Altitude: 40,000 ft MSL.TP LJ60Aircraft type reporting.TB SEVTurbulence: severe.RM NO DAMAGE NO INJURIES ZTL…Remarks.Show raw report
CLT UA /OV CLT220015/TM 0010/FL090/TP A21N/TB MOD/RM ZTLFD-31
CLT UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV CLT220015Location — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0010Reported at 00:10 UTC.FL090Altitude: 9,000 ft MSL.TP A21NAircraft type reporting.TB MODTurbulence: moderate.RM ZTLFD-31Remarks.⚠️ PIREPs are unverified pilot reports. Not for operational use — conditions change between reports.
Recent aviation weather trends at KCAE
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, KCAE reported mostly VFR across 24 observations, with 2 flight-category changes. The strongest gust reached 20 kt, the lowest ceiling was 13,000 ft. Wind most often came from the SW.
Most recent change: MVFR → VFR
Most recent change: MVFR → VFR
- 23
- 62%
- 29
- 15%
- 11
- 14%
- 05
- 9%
TAF — Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
Issued 2320Z (7:20 PM EDT)
TAF KCAE 282320Z 2900/2924 23010KT P6SM VCSH SCT060 BKN250 TEMPO 2902/2905 34020G40KT 2SM -TSRA BR BKN035CB OVC050 FM290600 26006KT P6SM FEW035 BKN150 FM291400 31007KT P6SM SCT050 SCT250
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Nearby TFRs
Active FAA TFRs near KCAE
FAA TFR data shows an active temporary flight restriction near KCAE.
View all active US TFRs → · Official FAA TFR ↗
Verify with official FAA TFR sources before flight.
Airport facts
Reference data from the OurAirports dataset.
- Type
- Regional airport
- ICAO
- KCAE
- IATA
- CAE
- FAA LID
- CAE
- City
- Columbia
- State
- South Carolina
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 236 ft
- Coordinates
- 33.9382, -81.1230
- Runways
- 4
- Longest runway
- 8,601 ft
- Weather reporting
- Reports METAR
- TAF
- Published
- ATIS
- 120.15 MHz
- Time zone
- America/New_York
- Next sunset
- 23h 18m
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed KCAE's live status on your website — free →
Nearby airports
Compare nearby METAR/TAF stations within 25, 50 and 100 NM before departure or arrival.
Within 25 NM
8 airports+2 more within 25 NM
25–50 NM
9 airports+3 more within 50 NM
50–100 NM
7 airports+1 more within 100 NM
RC flying fields nearby
AMA model-aircraft club fields around this airport — live wind, crosswind & flyability on each page.
- Congaree Flyers - Sam Corley Model Airfield — Gaston, SC · 11 mi
- Deer Hill Rd — Pelion, SC · 13 mi
Historical Flying Weather
2006–2025 · ATIS Alerts Flying Weather Index
Based on historical observations from 2006–2025, KCAE reported VFR conditions during about 83.1% of valid daylight observations, with an estimated 286 VFR flying days a year. July had the most VFR weather; December had the most instrument conditions. Surface winds averaged 5.0 kt, calm 22.7% of the time.
Full historical breakdown
Flight category by month
| Month | VFR % | MVFR % | IFR % | LIFR % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 78.8 | 10.3 | 6.6 | 4.3 |
| Feb | 79.4 | 9.9 | 6.8 | 3.9 |
| Mar | 82.8 | 9.4 | 5.1 | 2.6 |
| Apr | 87.7 | 7.8 | 3.3 | 1.2 |
| May | 85.6 | 8.9 | 4.1 | 1.4 |
| Jun | 89.1 | 7.1 | 2.9 | 0.8 |
| Jul | 89.4 | 6.8 | 2.6 | 1.2 |
| Aug | 83.9 | 9.7 | 4.5 | 1.9 |
| Sep | 84.5 | 10.1 | 4.2 | 1.3 |
| Oct | 83.9 | 9.5 | 4.7 | 1.8 |
| Nov | 81.9 | 10.0 | 4.9 | 3.2 |
| Dec | 74.8 | 12.5 | 7.3 | 5.4 |
Average wind by month
| Month | Mean wind (kt) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 5.2 kt |
| Feb | 5.6 kt |
| Mar | 6.0 kt |
| Apr | 6.1 kt |
| May | 5.5 kt |
| Jun | 5.0 kt |
| Jul | 4.7 kt |
| Aug | 4.3 kt |
| Sep | 4.4 kt |
| Oct | 4.3 kt |
| Nov | 4.3 kt |
| Dec | 4.5 kt |
Historical summary of past observations — not a forecast or safety rating. Always check the current METAR, TAF, and a weather briefing before flight.
KCAE airport diagram
Official FAA taxiway and runway layout. Tap to zoom.
The FAA airport diagram for Columbia Metropolitan Airport in Columbia, SC shows the runway and taxiway layout across 4 runways, ramp areas, and hold-short positions — review it before taxiing at an unfamiliar field.
Official FAA airport diagram · d-TPP cycle 2608 · Not for navigation. Download the official FAA PDF ↗
KCAE weather — frequently asked
What runways are available at KCAE?+
KCAE has 4 runways — 05, 11, 23, 29; the longest is 8,601 ft. This page computes the live crosswind for each runway end from the current wind.
Does KCAE report its own weather?+
Yes — Columbia Metropolitan Airport has its own weather station and publishes METAR observations, which this page decodes live.
Does KCAE have a TAF?+
Yes — the TAF is shown on this page below the current conditions.
Does KCAE broadcast D-ATIS?+
No — KCAE does not broadcast D-ATIS. Alerts for KCAE from the ATIS Alerts bot (@atisalerts_bot) are based on its METAR instead.
Where can I find the KCAE airport diagram?+
The official FAA airport diagram for Columbia Metropolitan Airport (KCAE) is shown on this page — it maps the runway and taxiway layout, ramps, and hold-short lines. Tap it to zoom, or download the official FAA PDF free from the link under the diagram (updated every 28-day FAA charting cycle).
Pilot PIREPs for Columbia Metropolitan Airport (KCAE)
Community-submittedCommunity-submitted airport notes from pilots about runway conditions, wildlife, FBOs, fuel, turbulence, ramp access, and local tips.
Read recent community-submitted pilot notes for Columbia Metropolitan Airport, including runway conditions, wildlife activity, FBO/fuel notes, turbulence, ramp access, and local airport tips.
⚠️ Pilot PIREPs on ATIS Alerts are community-submitted airport notes for situational awareness only. They are not official FAA PIREPs, NOTAMs, weather briefings, airport advisories, or flight-planning guidance. Always verify with official FAA/NWS sources, airport management, ATC, and current publications.
No Pilot PIREPs have been submitted for KCAE yet. Recently flew here? Help the next pilot by leaving a quick airport note.
Pilot PIREPs are community pilot notes for situational awareness only — not official FAA PIREPs or advisories. Verify with official sources. Notes are moderated before they appear; helpful marks and reports help us keep them useful.
Why pilots use ATIS Alerts
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- Get pinged the moment KCAE drops below VFR or a new report moves your numbers.
- Live METAR, TAF, crosswinds, and FAA delays — one link, always current.
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⚠️ Not for operational use. Always verify with official FAA-approved preflight weather sources before flight.
No D-ATIS at this airport — showing METAR.
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