Cartwright Airport

CYCA / YRF

Cartwright, CA

Last Updated
Jun 26, 20:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 27 min ago
20:00Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
14°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 7°C
13 kt
10° G25 kt
9 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1015 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR CYCA 262000Z AUTO 01013G25KT 9SM SCT110 SCT150 14/07 A2996 RMK LTNG DIST SE SLP149

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 40 ft
SCT 11,000 ft AGL
SCT 15,000 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
11,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
11,040 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
15,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
15,040 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Cartwright Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with scattered clouds at 11,000 feet and 9 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the north (10°) at 13 knots with gusts to 25 knots. Runway 08/26 is favored with a 4-knot headwind and 12-knot crosswind component (gusting to 23 knots crosswind). Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 9 SM. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: scattered at 11,000 ft, scattered at 15,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 14°C (57°F) with a dewpoint of 7°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

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: Light Showers Rain, Thunderstorm Rain, Mist, Light Showers Rain, Mist, Light Showers Rain, Mist, FCST, FCST. Winds are forecast to reach up to 20 knots during the period. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 5 to 20 knots. Temporary VFR conditions are forecast with Light Showers Rain between 20:00Z and 21:00Z. There is a 30% probability of IFR conditions with Thunderstorm Rain, Mist between 20:00Z and 21:00Z. Temporary VFR conditions are forecast with Light Showers Rain between 21:00Z and 01:00Z.

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
1015 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1014 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (40 ft)
Pressure Alt
-13 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -123 ft
ISA Deviation: -0.9°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF CYCA 261940Z 2620/2708 04008KT P6SM SCT080 TEMPO 2620/2621 VRB20G30KT P6SM -SHRA BKN080 PROB30 2620/2621 2 1/2SM TSRA BR OVC060CB FM262100 36008KT P6SM BKN080 TEMPO 2621/2701 P6SM -SHRA PROB30 2621/2701 VRB20G30KT 2 1/2SM TSRA BR OVC010CB FM270100 36005KT P6SM -SHRA SCT003 BKN050 TEMPO 2701/2708 5SM -SHRA BR PROB30 2701/2708 2SM -SHRA BR OVC003 RMK FCST BASED ON AUTO OBS. NXT FCST BY 270200Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
20:27Z BASE
+0h
VFR 40° 8 kt
Visibility: >6SM
21:00Z FM262100
+1h
VFR 360° 8 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 8,000 ft
21:00Z TEMPO
+1h
VFR
Visibility: >6SM
Light Showers Rain
21:00Z PROB30
+1h
IFR VRB 20 kt
Visibility: 1/2SM
Ceiling: 1,000 ft
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist

24-Hour Weather Evolution

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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: 08
2,500 ft 75 ft GRAVEL
4.4 kt 12.2 kt
70° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - CYCA

13,010 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
46.5%
MVFR
31.7%
IFR
16.9%
LIFR
4.9%

Cartwright Airport is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 46.5% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 21.8% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the N averaging 10.7 knots, with gusts recorded up to 36 knots. Temperature extremes range from -27°C to 22°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. Low visibility conditions (below 3 SM) occur in 6.6% of weather observations. The best months for VFR flying are March, May, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: N (0°)
Average Speed: 10.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 36 kt
Calm Winds: 1.9%
Direction Distribution:
E
5%
N
26.6%
S
12.1%
W
10.8%
NE
11.6%
NW
13.9%
SE
3.7%
SW
14.5%

Temperature Range

Average: -1.8°C
Range: -27°C to 22°C
-27°C 22°C

Visibility

Average: 7.5 SM
Below 3 SM: 6.6%
Fog Frequency: 1.1%

Best Months for VFR

March May October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 08/26
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 7.9 kt

Statistics computed from 13,010 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 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 46.5% of the time across 13,010 observations. IFR/LIFR conditions are present 21.8% 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 10.7 knots and recorded gusts up to 36 knots. Calm winds are rare (1.9%), so crosswind considerations are a regular factor. Runway 08/26 offers the lowest average crosswind component at 7.9 knots, making it the preferred choice in typical wind conditions.

Seasonal Considerations

The best months for VFR operations are March, May, October, when clear skies are most prevalent. Temperatures at the field range from -27°C (-17°F) to 22°C (72°F), averaging -1.8°C (29°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 13,010 official METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 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.