Fort Simpson Airport

CYFS / YFS

Fort Simpson, CA

Last Updated
Feb 17, 05:48Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 10 min ago
05:48Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
-27°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: -31°C
4 kt
340°
15 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1037 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

SPECI CYFS 170548Z 34004KT 15SM -SN SCT013 M27/M31 A3061 RMK SC4 SLP396

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 555 ft
SCT 1,300 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
1,300 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,855 ft AMSL
QNH
1037 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1019 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (555 ft)
Pressure Alt
-158 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -5,065 ft
ISA Deviation: -40.9°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF AMD CYFS 170111Z 1701/1712 36010KT P6SM SCT030 TEMPO 1701/1702 3SM -SHSN BKN030 FM170200 35010KT P6SM SCT030 BKN100 TEMPO 1702/1712 P6SM -SN BKN030 RMK NXT FCST BY 170600Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
05:57Z BASE
+0h
VFR 360° 10 kt
Visibility: >6SM

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
YFS
14
32 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 14/32
Active: 32
6,000 ft 150 ft ASP 156°
3.8 kt 1.4 kt
20° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - CYFS

4,408 observations | Sep 2025 - Feb 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
68.2%
MVFR
17%
IFR
10.2%
LIFR
4.6%

Fort Simpson Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 68.2% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 14.8% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NW averaging 5.8 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 December, September, January.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NW (315°)
Average Speed: 5.8 kt
Maximum Recorded: 31 kt
Calm Winds: 13.1%
Direction Distribution:
N
14.8%
NE
0.5%
E
7.2%
SE
19.2%
S
4.8%
SW
4.3%
W
5%
NW
31.1%

Temperature Range

Average: -12.1°C
Range: -42°C to 25°C
-42°C 25°C

Visibility

Average: 12.8 SM
Below 3 SM: 4.9%
Fog Frequency: 3.8%

Best Months for VFR

December September January

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 14/32
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 1.8 kt

Statistics computed from 4,408 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Feb 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.