Sault Ste Marie Airport

CYAM / YAM

Sault Ste Marie, CA

Last Updated
Jul 26, 02:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 28 min ago
02:00Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
20°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 17°C
4 kt
180°
15 SM
Visibility
7,900 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1012 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR CYAM 260200Z 18004KT 15SM FEW039 SCT070 BKN079 BKN094 20/17 A2988 RMK SC2AC1AC4AC1 AC TR SLP121 DENSITY ALT 1400FT

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 630 ft
FEW 3,900 ft AGL
SCT 7,000 ft AGL
BKN 7,900 ft AGL
BKN 9,400 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
3,900 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,530 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
7,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
7,630 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
7,900 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
8,530 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
9,400 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
10,030 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Sault Ste Marie Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 7,900 feet and 15 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (180°) at 4 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 15 SM. The ceiling is 7900 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 20°C (68°F) with a dewpoint of 17°C. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread suggests high humidity and potential for visibility restrictions, especially during cooling periods.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 12 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: Mist, Mist, FCST. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast between 02:00Z and 05:00Z. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Mist between 05:00Z and 14:00Z. There is a 30% probability of LIFR conditions with Mist, FCST between 06:00Z and 13:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. 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
1012 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
991 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (630 ft)
Pressure Alt
668 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,419 ft
ISA Deviation: +6.3°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF CYAM 260140Z 2602/2614 21005KT P6SM BKN030 BKN060 TEMPO 2602/2605 BKN020 BKN060 FM260500 VRB03KT P6SM OVC015 TEMPO 2605/2614 5SM BR BKN008 PROB30 2606/2613 1SM BR BKN004 RMK NXT FCST BY 260800Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
02:28Z BASE
+0h
VFR 210° 5 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 3,000 ft
05:00Z FM260500
+3h
MVFR VRB 3 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 1,500 ft
05:00Z TEMPO
+3h
IFR
Visibility: 5SM
Ceiling: 800 ft
Mist
06:00Z PROB30
+4h
LIFR
Visibility: 1SM
Ceiling: 400 ft
Mist, FCST

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
YAM
04
22 ✈️
12
30

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 04/22
Active: 22
6,000 ft 200 ft ASP 33°
3.1 kt 2.6 kt
40° angle
12/30 6,000 ft 200 ft ASP 107°
1.2 kt 3.8 kt
73° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - CYAM

10,520 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
52.2%
MVFR
25.6%
IFR
15.1%
LIFR
7.1%

Sault Ste Marie Airport is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 52.2% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 22.2% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the E averaging 9.1 knots, with gusts recorded up to 34 knots. Temperature extremes range from -31°C to 32°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. Fog is a notable factor, occurring in approximately 13.2% of observations, with visibility below 3 SM in 8.7% of reports. The best months for VFR flying are May, October, July.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: E (90°)
Average Speed: 9.1 kt
Maximum Recorded: 34 kt
Calm Winds: 4.9%
Direction Distribution:
E
27.1%
N
5.7%
S
5.4%
W
19.1%
NE
5.5%
NW
19%
SE
6.3%
SW
7.1%

Temperature Range

Average: 2.3°C
Range: -31°C to 32°C
-31°C 32°C

Visibility

Average: 12.1 SM
Below 3 SM: 8.7%
Fog Frequency: 13.2%

Best Months for VFR

May October July

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 04/22
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 7 kt
Runway 12/30
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.1 kt

Statistics computed from 10,520 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Sault Ste Marie Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: CYAM
IATA Code: YAM
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 630 ft MSL

Location

City: Sault Ste Marie
Country: CA
Latitude: 46.483216°
Longitude: -84.508467°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 04/22
Length: 6,000 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 12/30
Length: 6,000 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Sault Ste Marie Airport

Overview

Sault Ste Marie Airport (CYAM) serves the Ontario region as a medium-sized airport located at 46.483216, -84.508467, with an elevation of 630 feet MSL. Situated in northern Ontario, the airport provides critical transportation infrastructure for the Sault Ste Marie urban area and surrounding regions.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect variable weather conditions, with Visual Flight Rules (VFR) prevailing 44.4% of the time, but Marginal VFR and Instrument Flight Rules conditions occurring frequently. Temperature ranges dramatically from -27°C to 28°C, with an average of 0.4°C, indicating significant seasonal temperature variations that can impact flight operations.

Notable Features

The airport features two parallel asphalt runways (04/22 and 12/30), each 6000 feet long, providing robust operational flexibility. Winds predominantly come from the east at an average of 9.7 knots, with occasional gusts up to 34 knots, and calm conditions present 3.6% of the time.

Approach Considerations

Both runways demonstrate excellent wind alignment, with 100% favorable wind coverage. Runway 04/22 experiences an average crosswind of 7.2 knots, while runway 12/30 has a lower average crosswind of 4.9 knots. September through November offer the most consistently favorable VFR conditions for flight operations.

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.