Red Deer Regional Airport

CYQF / YQF

Springbrook, CA

Last Updated
Jun 10, 15:55Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 6 min ago
15:55Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
10°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 9°C
9 kt
310° G16 kt
9 SM
Visibility
1,800 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1005 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

SPECI CYQF 101555Z AUTO 31009G16KT 9SM -RA SCT013 BKN018 BKN048 OVC060 10/09 A2968 RMK PCPN 0.5MM PAST HR SLP067 DENSITY ALT 3400FT

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 2,968 ft
SCT 1,300 ft AGL
BKN 1,800 ft AGL
BKN 4,800 ft AGL
OVC 6,000 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
1,300 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,268 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
1,800 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,768 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
4,800 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
7,768 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
6,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
8,968 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Red Deer Regional Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with overcast skies at 6,000 feet and 9 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the northwest (310°) at 9 knots with gusts to 16 knots. Runway 30 is favored with a 9-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component (gusting to 3 knots crosswind).

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 9 SM. The ceiling is 1800 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 10°C (50°F) with a dewpoint of 9°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

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: Rain, Mist, Light Rain, Light Showers Rain, Mist, Thunderstorm Rain, FCST, FCST. Winds are forecast to reach up to 20 knots during the period. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 8 to 20 knots. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Rain, Mist between 12:00Z and 16:00Z. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Light Showers Rain, Mist between 16:00Z and 00:00Z. There is a 40% probability of MVFR conditions with Thunderstorm Rain, FCST, FCST between 20:00Z and 00:00Z.

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.

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
906 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (2,968 ft)
Pressure Alt
3,216 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 3,328 ft
ISA Deviation: +0.9°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF CYQF 101140Z 1012/1024 30008KT P6SM OVC060 TEMPO 1012/1016 5SM RA BR OVC040 FM101600 33010G20KT P6SM -RA BKN030 OVC060 TEMPO 1016/1024 5SM -SHRA BR OVC020 PROB40 1020/1024 VRB20G30KT 3SM TSRA BKN025CB RMK FCST BASED ON AUTO OBS. NXT FCST BY 101800Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
16:00Z BASE
+0h
VFR 300° 8 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 6,000 ft
20:00Z PROB40
+4h
MVFR VRB 20 kt
Visibility: 3SM
Ceiling: 2,500 ft
Thunderstorm Rain, FCST, 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
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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
YQF
12
30 ✈️
17
35

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 12/30
Active: 30
3,449 ft 100 ft ASP 130°
8.9 kt 1.6 kt
10° angle
17/35 7,500 ft 98 ft ASP 180°
5.8 kt 6.9 kt
130° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - CYQF

9,932 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
66.4%
MVFR
20.3%
IFR
10%
LIFR
3.3%

Red Deer Regional Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 66.4% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 13.3% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 8.2 knots, with gusts recorded up to 35 knots. Temperature extremes range from -34°C to 30°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are May, October, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 8.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 35 kt
Calm Winds: 3.8%
Direction Distribution:
N
18.3%
NE
7.7%
E
6.9%
SE
10.1%
S
22.1%
SW
9.2%
W
6.1%
NW
15.9%

Temperature Range

Average: -2.2°C
Range: -34°C to 30°C
-34°C 30°C

Visibility

Average: 7.8 SM
Below 3 SM: 4.8%
Fog Frequency: 1.9%

Best Months for VFR

May October September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 12/30
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.1 kt
Runway 17/35
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.9 kt

Statistics computed from 9,932 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Red Deer Regional Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: CYQF
IATA Code: YQF
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 2,968 ft MSL

Location

City: Springbrook
Country: CA
Latitude: 52.182201°
Longitude: -113.893997°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+8

Runway Information

Runway 12/30
Length: 3,449 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 17/35
Length: 7,500 ft
Width: 98 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Red Deer Regional Airport

Overview

Red Deer Regional Airport serves central Alberta as a medium-sized airport located near Springbrook, strategically positioned between Calgary and Edmonton. The airport supports regional aviation with two paved runways capable of handling a variety of aircraft operations. Its elevation of 2,968 feet MSL places it in a terrain that requires careful altitude management during approach and departure.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Red Deer demonstrate significant variability, with Visual Flight Rules (VFR) predominating at 69.6% of observations. Pilots can expect challenging conditions during winter months, with temperatures ranging from -31°C to 28°C and an average of -3.7°C. The prevailing southerly winds at an average of 7.5 knots create generally stable approach conditions, with maximum wind speeds reaching 35 knots.

Notable Features

The airport features two asphalt runways: 12/30 measuring 3,449 feet and 17/35 extending 7,500 feet. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with minimal average crosswind components of 4.7 and 3.4 knots respectively. Visibility averages 7.8 statute miles, though pilots should be prepared for reduced visibility, with 4.3% of observations showing less than 3 statute miles.

Approach Considerations

September through November represent the most consistent VFR flying months, offering optimal approach conditions. Both runways provide reliable wind alignment, making runway selection straightforward based on current wind conditions. Pilots should be prepared for potential low visibility scenarios, with fog present in 2% of observations and occasional Marginal VFR (18.8%) or Instrument Flight Rules (8%) 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.