Thunder Bay Airport

CYQT / YQT

Thunder Bay, CA

Last Updated
Jun 10, 22:32Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 30 min ago
22:32Z

🌙 Night
LIFR
Flight Rules
15°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 14°C
12 kt
80° G17 kt
2 SM
Visibility
300 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1000 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

SPECI CYQT 102232Z 08012G17KT 2SM BR OVC003 15/14 A2954 RMK FG4SF4 PRESFR SLP009 DENSITY ALT 1300FT

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 653 ft
OVC 300 ft AGL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
300 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
953 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

LIFR

Thunder Bay Airport is currently reporting low IFR (LIFR) conditions with overcast skies at 300 feet and 2 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east (80°) at 12 knots with gusts to 17 knots. Runway 07/25 is favored with a 12-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component (gusting to 3 knots crosswind).

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is reduced to 2 SM. IFR conditions prevail and an instrument clearance is required for operations in controlled airspace. The ceiling is very low at 300 feet AGL (overcast), well below circling minimums at most airports.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 15°C (59°F) with a dewpoint of 14°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. IFR conditions are expected to persist or develop. An instrument rating and IFR flight plan are recommended. Expected weather includes: Mist, Light Showers Rain, Fog, Thunderstorm Rain, Mist, Light Drizzle, Mist, FCST. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 3 to 15 knots. Temporary LIFR conditions are forecast with Mist between 20:00Z and 01:00Z. There is a 30% probability of LIFR conditions with Thunderstorm Rain, Mist between 01:00Z and 03:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Current conditions require an instrument rating, IFR-equipped aircraft, and an IFR clearance. Check approach minimums carefully as conditions may be below CAT I ILS minimums. 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
1000 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
978 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (653 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,051 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,208 ft
ISA Deviation: +1.3°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF CYQT 101941Z 1020/1108 09010KT P6SM BKN006 TEMPO 1020/1101 2SM BR OVC004 FM110100 09008KT 1/4SM -SHRA FG VV001 PROB30 1101/1103 VRB15G25KT 2SM TSRA BR BKN004 OVC025CB FM110600 VRB03KT 3/4SM -DZ BR BKN002 OVC008 RMK NXT FCST BY 110200Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
23:02Z BASE
+0h
IFR 90° 10 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 600 ft
01:00Z FM110100
+2h
LIFR 90° 8 kt
Visibility: 1/4SM
Ceiling: 100 ft
Light Showers Rain, Fog
01:00Z PROB30
+2h
LIFR VRB 15 kt
Visibility: 2SM
Ceiling: 400 ft
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
06:00Z FM110600
+7h
LIFR VRB 3 kt
Visibility: 3/4SM
Ceiling: 200 ft
Light Drizzle, 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
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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
YQT
07 ✈️
25
12
30

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 07/25
Active: 07
7,318 ft 200 ft ASP 70°
11.8 kt 2.1 kt
10° angle
12/30 5,297 ft 150 ft ASP 120°
9.2 kt 7.7 kt
40° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - CYQT

7,407 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
69.2%
MVFR
19.7%
IFR
6.7%
LIFR
4.4%

Thunder Bay Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 69.2% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 11.1% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 7.4 knots. Temperature extremes range from -32°C to 30°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are June, May, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 7.4 kt
Maximum Recorded: 30 kt
Calm Winds: 5.9%
Direction Distribution:
N
7%
NE
7.9%
E
18.8%
SE
2.2%
S
4.5%
SW
10.5%
W
26.1%
NW
17.2%

Temperature Range

Average: -0.8°C
Range: -32°C to 30°C
-32°C 30°C

Visibility

Average: 15 SM
Below 3 SM: 3.6%
Fog Frequency: 5.6%

Best Months for VFR

June May October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 07/25
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.9 kt
Runway 12/30
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4 kt

Statistics computed from 7,407 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Thunder Bay Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: CYQT
IATA Code: YQT
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 653 ft MSL

Location

City: Thunder Bay
Country: CA
Latitude: 48.371899°
Longitude: -89.323898°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 07/25
Length: 7,318 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 12/30
Length: 5,297 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

Nearby Airports

VFR MVFR IFR LIFR No Data

About Thunder Bay Airport

Overview

Thunder Bay Airport serves northwestern Ontario as a medium-sized airport located at 48.371899, -89.323898, with an elevation of 653 feet MSL. The airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for the Thunder Bay region, supporting both commercial and general aviation operations. Its two asphalted runways offer substantial landing capacity for various aircraft types.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly VFR conditions, with 66.6% of observations reporting visual flight rules. Pilots can expect significant weather variability, with temperature ranges from -32°C to 28°C and an average temperature of -0.8°C. Wind conditions are generally westerly at an average of 7 knots, with maximum gusts up to 25 knots and calm periods occurring 6.9% of the time.

Notable Features

Thunder Bay Airport's geographical location in northwestern Ontario presents unique meteorological characteristics. Both runways 07/25 and 12/30 demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with minimal average crosswind conditions of 3.9 and 3.5 knots respectively. Visibility averages 14.7 statute miles, with occasional reduced visibility periods including fog events occurring 7.3% of the time.

Approach Considerations

The most favorable VFR months are September, October, and November, offering optimal flying conditions. Pilots should anticipate potential visibility restrictions, with 3.4% of observations reporting visibility below 3 statute miles. The two runways provide flexible approach options, with consistent wind patterns supporting predictable landing and takeoff scenarios.

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.