Cartwright Airport

CYCA / YRF

Cartwright, CA

Last Updated
Apr 10, 23:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 34 min ago
23:00Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
5°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: -2°C
14 kt
260° G22 kt
9 SM
Visibility
6,600 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1012 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR CYCA 102300Z AUTO 26014G22KT 9SM OVC066 05/M02 A2988 RMK PRESRR SLP122

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 40 ft
OVC 6,600 ft AGL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
6,600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
6,640 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Cartwright Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with overcast skies at 6,600 feet and 9 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west (260°) at 14 knots with gusts to 22 knots. Runway 26 is favored with a 14-knot headwind and 0-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 9 SM. The ceiling is 6600 feet AGL (overcast), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 5°C (41°F) with a dewpoint of -2°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 12 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain, Mist, Light Showers SNRA, Mist, Light Showers Snow, Mist, FCST, FCST. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Light Showers Rain, Mist between 20:00Z and 00:00Z. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Light Showers SNRA, Mist between 00:00Z and 06:00Z. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Light Showers Snow, Mist, FCST, FCST between 06:00Z and 08:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. 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
1011 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (40 ft)
Pressure Alt
78 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -1,112 ft
ISA Deviation: -9.9°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF CYCA 101940Z 1020/1108 22015G25KT P6SM SCT020 OVC040 TEMPO 1020/1024 5SM -SHRA BR OVC020 FM110000 26008KT P6SM SCT020 OVC040 TEMPO 1100/1106 5SM -SHSNRA BR OVC020 FM110600 30008KT P6SM SCT020 OVC040 TEMPO 1106/1108 5SM -SHSN BR OVC020 RMK FCST BASED ON AUTO OBS. NXT FCST BY 110200Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
23:33Z BASE
+0h
VFR 220° 15 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 4,000 ft
00:00Z FM110000
+1h
VFR 260° 8 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 4,000 ft
00:00Z TEMPO
+1h
MVFR
Visibility: 5SM
Ceiling: 2,000 ft
Light Showers SNRA, Mist
06:00Z FM110600
+7h
VFR 300° 8 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 4,000 ft

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
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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
YCA
08
26 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 08/26
Active: 26
2,500 ft 75 ft GRAVEL
14.0 kt 0.0 kt
0° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - CYCA

9,796 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
46.3%
MVFR
33.6%
IFR
17%
LIFR
3.1%

Cartwright Airport is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 46.3% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 20.1% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the N averaging 10.9 knots, with gusts recorded up to 36 knots. Temperature extremes range from -27°C to 21°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. Low visibility conditions (below 3 SM) occur in 7.4% of weather observations. The best months for VFR flying are April, March, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: N (0°)
Average Speed: 10.9 kt
Maximum Recorded: 36 kt
Calm Winds: 1.8%
Direction Distribution:
N
22.7%
NE
10.6%
E
4.2%
SE
3.6%
S
12.6%
SW
15.9%
W
12.9%
NW
15.8%

Temperature Range

Average: -3.5°C
Range: -27°C to 21°C
-27°C 21°C

Visibility

Average: 7.3 SM
Below 3 SM: 7.4%
Fog Frequency: 0.7%

Best Months for VFR

April March October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 08/26
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 7.8 kt

Statistics computed from 9,796 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Cartwright Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: CYCA
IATA Code: YRF
Type: small airport
Status: active
Elevation: 40 ft MSL

Location

City: Cartwright
Country: CA
Latitude: 53.682501°
Longitude: -57.042303°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+4

Runway Information

Runway 08/26
Length: 2,500 ft
Width: 75 ft
Surface: GRAVEL
ILS: No

About Cartwright Airport

Cartwright Airport (CYCA/YRF) is located in Cartwright, CA at an elevation of 40 feet MSL. The airport has 1 runway (08/26), with the longest at 2,500 feet.

Weather Profile

CYCA is weather-challenged, with VFR conditions just 46.3% of the time across 9,796 observations. IFR/LIFR conditions are present 20.1% of the time, making an instrument rating essential for reliable access.

Wind Patterns & Runway Selection

Prevailing winds at CYCA come from the N (0°) with an average speed of 10.9 knots and recorded gusts up to 36 knots. Calm winds are rare (1.8%), so crosswind considerations are a regular factor. Runway 08/26 offers the lowest average crosswind component at 7.8 knots, making it the preferred choice in typical wind conditions.

Seasonal Considerations

The best months for VFR operations are April, March, October, when clear skies are most prevalent. Temperatures at the field range from -27°C (-17°F) to 21°C (70°F), averaging -3.5°C (26°F). Cold weather operations require attention to aircraft preheating, de-icing, and cold-soaked fuel management. Altimeter settings typically range from 28.58 to 30.54 inHg (968-1034 hPa).

Data Sources: Airport data from OurAirports.com. Weather statistics derived from 9,796 official METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Pilots should always verify current conditions through official channels before flight.

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.