Fort Simpson Airport

CYFS / YFS

Fort Simpson, CA

Last Updated
Mar 15, 12:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Stale 9 hours ago
12:00Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
-31°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: -35°C
0 kt
15 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1028 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR CYFS 151200Z 00000KT 15SM SCT250 M31/M35 A3037 RMK CI3 STARS DIMLY VISBL SLP312

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 555 ft
SCT 25,000 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
25,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
25,555 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Fort Simpson Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with scattered clouds at 25,000 feet and 15 SM visibility. Note: This observation is 9 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are calm, presenting no crosswind concerns for any runway.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 15 SM. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: scattered at 25,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is -31°C (-24°F) with a dewpoint of -35°C. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread suggests high humidity and potential for visibility restrictions, especially during cooling periods. Temperatures are at or below freezing. Check for icing conditions and ensure aircraft anti-ice/de-ice systems are operational if required.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 12 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period. Expected weather includes: FCST.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

QNH
1028 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1010 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (555 ft)
Pressure Alt
113 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -5,274 ft
ISA Deviation: -44.9°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF CYFS 151140Z 1512/1524 VRB03KT P6SM FEW240 BECMG 1518/1520 12005KT RMK NXT FCST BY 151800Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
20:57Z BASE
+0h
VFR VRB 3 kt
Visibility: >6SM

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
YFS
14
32

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
14/32 6,000 ft 150 ft ASP 156°
0.0 kt 0.0 kt
156° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - CYFS

5,107 observations | Sep 2025 - Mar 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
70.8%
MVFR
16%
IFR
9.3%
LIFR
4%

Fort Simpson Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 70.8% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 13.3% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NW averaging 5.9 knots, with gusts recorded up to 31 knots. Calm conditions occur 13.1% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -42°C to 25°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are March, December, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NW (315°)
Average Speed: 5.9 kt
Maximum Recorded: 31 kt
Calm Winds: 13.1%
Direction Distribution:
N
16.5%
NE
0.5%
E
7.3%
SE
19.3%
S
4.9%
SW
3.7%
W
4.5%
NW
30.3%

Temperature Range

Average: -13.8°C
Range: -42°C to 25°C
-42°C 25°C

Visibility

Average: 12.8 SM
Below 3 SM: 4.7%
Fog Frequency: 3.3%

Best Months for VFR

March December September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 14/32
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 1.9 kt

Statistics computed from 5,107 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Mar 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Fort Simpson Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: CYFS
IATA Code: YFS
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 555 ft MSL

Location

City: Fort Simpson
Country: CA
Latitude: 61.760201°
Longitude: -121.237000°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+8

Runway Information

Runway 14/32
Length: 6,000 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Fort Simpson Airport

Overview

Fort Simpson Airport serves the remote community of Fort Simpson in Northwest Territories, Canada. Located at 61.760201, -121.237000 with an elevation of 555 ft MSL, this medium-sized airport provides critical transportation infrastructure in a challenging northern environment. The airport supports regional and resource-sector aviation operations in the Northwest Territories.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions demonstrate significant variability, with VFR conditions prevalent 70.9% of the time. Temperatures range dramatically from -42°C to 25°C, with an average of -10.6°C, requiring careful aircraft and pilot preparation. Wind patterns are predominantly northwestern (315°), averaging 5.8 knots with occasional gusts up to 31 knots, and calm conditions occurring 13.9% of the time.

Notable Features

The single runway (14/32) is 6000 feet long with an asphalt surface, offering substantial landing capability for regional aircraft. The airport experiences periodic reduced visibility, with conditions below 3 miles occurring 4.7% of the time and fog present 4.6% of observations. December, January, and September historically offer the most stable VFR flying conditions.

Approach Considerations

Runway 14/32 demonstrates excellent wind alignment, with favorable wind conditions 100% of the time and an average crosswind of only 1.9 knots. Pilots should anticipate potential rapid weather shifts typical of northern latitudes, with careful preflight planning focusing on current METAR and forecast conditions. The wide temperature range suggests thorough aircraft performance calculations are critical for safe 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.