Nanaimo Airport

CYCD / YCD

Nanaimo, CA

Last Updated
Jun 8, 21:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Aging 1 hour ago
21:00Z

🌙 Night
MVFR
Flight Rules
13°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 10°C
5 kt
170°
12 SM
Visibility
2,800 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1005 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR CYCD 082100Z 17005KT 12SM FEW020 BKN028 OVC060 13/10 A2968 RMK SF2SC3SC3 SLP054

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 92 ft
FEW 2,000 ft AGL
BKN 2,800 ft AGL
OVC 6,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
2,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,092 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
2,800 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,892 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
6,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
6,092 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Nanaimo Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with overcast skies at 6,000 feet and 12 SM visibility. Note: This observation is 1.1 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (170°) at 5 knots. Runway 16/34 is favored with a 5-knot headwind and 1-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 12 SM. The ceiling is 2800 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 13°C (55°F) with a dewpoint of 10°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 10 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, Light Rain, Light Rain, Mist, Light Rain, Mist, FCST. Temporary VFR conditions are forecast with Light Showers Rain between 18:00Z and 20:00Z. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Light Rain, Mist between 20:00Z and 02:00Z. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Light Rain, Mist, FCST between 02:00Z and 04:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further. 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
1005 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1002 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (92 ft)
Pressure Alt
340 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 122 ft
ISA Deviation: -1.8°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF CYCD 081740Z 0818/0904 VRB03KT P6SM BKN060 OVC120 TEMPO 0818/0820 P6SM -SHRA OVC040 FM082000 10008KT P6SM -RA OVC030 TEMPO 0820/0902 4SM -RA BR OVC012 FM090200 VRB03KT 6SM -RA BR OVC025 TEMPO 0902/0904 3SM -RA BR SCT006 OVC012 RMK NXT FCST BY 090000Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
22:07Z BASE
+0h
VFR VRB 3 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 6,000 ft
02:00Z FM090200
+4h
MVFR VRB 3 kt
Visibility: 6SM
Ceiling: 2,500 ft
Light Rain, Mist
02:00Z TEMPO
+4h
IFR
Visibility: 3SM
Ceiling: 1,200 ft
Light Rain, 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
YCD
16 ✈️
34

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 16/34
Active: 16
6,602 ft 150 ft ASP 181°
4.9 kt 0.9 kt
10° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - CYCD

4,860 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
73%
MVFR
11.4%
IFR
11.7%
LIFR
3.9%

Nanaimo Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 73% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 15.6% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SE averaging 5.6 knots. Calm conditions occur 18.7% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -6°C to 29°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are June, May, April.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SE (135°)
Average Speed: 5.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 21 kt
Calm Winds: 18.7%
Direction Distribution:
N
13.3%
NE
6.8%
E
11.3%
SE
14.7%
S
11.7%
SW
6.4%
W
12.8%
NW
4.4%

Temperature Range

Average: 9.5°C
Range: -6°C to 29°C
-6°C 29°C

Visibility

Average: 16.9 SM
Below 3 SM: 4.2%
Fog Frequency: 3.2%

Best Months for VFR

June May April

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 16/34
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.2 kt

Statistics computed from 4,860 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Nanaimo Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: CYCD
IATA Code: YCD
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 92 ft MSL

Location

City: Nanaimo
Country: CA
Latitude: 49.054970°
Longitude: -123.869863°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+8

Runway Information

Runway 16/34
Length: 6,602 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Nanaimo Airport

Overview

Nanaimo Airport serves Vancouver Island's central region, located near the city of Nanaimo in British Columbia, Canada. As a medium-sized airport with a single runway (16/34) measuring 6,602 feet, it supports regional aviation operations and serves as an important transportation hub for the surrounding communities.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Nanaimo Airport exhibit significant variability, with Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions predominating at 63.9% of observations. Pilots can expect moderate wind conditions, with a prevailing southeast wind at 5.3 knots and occasional calm periods (23.5% of the time). Temperature ranges from -4°C to 28°C, with an average of 8.6°C, creating diverse flying environments throughout the year.

Notable Features

Situated at 92 feet above mean sea level, Nanaimo Airport is characterized by relatively low elevation and coastal terrain. The airport's geographical position near the Strait of Georgia influences local weather patterns, with potential marine layer impacts. Crosswind conditions are generally mild, averaging 2.8 knots on the primary runway 16/34.

Approach Considerations

Runway 16/34 demonstrates favorable wind alignment, with 100% wind compatibility. September through November represent the most consistent VFR months, offering optimal flying conditions. Pilots should anticipate potential reduced visibility scenarios, with observations showing 5.8% of reports featuring visibility below 3 statute miles and 5% experiencing fog conditions.

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.