Sydney / J.A. Douglas McCurdy Airport

CYQY / YQY

Sydney, CA

Last Updated
Feb 7, 17:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 49 min ago
17:00Z

🌙 Night
MVFR
Flight Rules
-3°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: -7°C
9 kt
20°
15 SM
Visibility
2,200 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
998 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR CYQY 071700Z 02009KT 15SM OVC022 M03/M07 A2947 RMK SC8 SLP984

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 203 ft
OVC 2,200 ft AGL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
2,200 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,403 ft AMSL
QNH
998 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
991 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (203 ft)
Pressure Alt
661 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -1,450 ft
ISA Deviation: -17.6°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF CYQY 071140Z 0712/0724 01012G22KT P6SM -SN OVC020 TEMPO 0712/0724 P6SM NSW OVC025 RMK NXT FCST BY 071800Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
17:49Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 10° 12 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 2,000 ft
Light Snow

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
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
YQY
06 ✈️
24
18
36

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 06/24
Active: 06
7,070 ft 200 ft ASP 46°
6.9 kt 5.8 kt
40° angle
18/36 5,997 ft 150 ft ASP 164°
7.3 kt 5.3 kt
144° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - CYQY

4,243 observations | Sep 2025 - Feb 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
51.6%
MVFR
26.6%
IFR
12.9%
LIFR
8.8%

Sydney / J.A. Douglas McCurdy Airport is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 51.6% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 21.7% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 11.5 knots, with gusts recorded up to 37 knots. Temperature extremes range from -16°C to 27°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. Low visibility conditions (below 3 SM) occur in 6.4% of weather observations. The best months for VFR flying are September, October, November.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 11.5 kt
Maximum Recorded: 37 kt
Calm Winds: 1.4%
Direction Distribution:
N
11%
NE
6.9%
E
4.7%
SE
5.4%
S
12.5%
SW
19.9%
W
27.7%
NW
10.4%

Temperature Range

Average: 3.4°C
Range: -16°C to 27°C
-16°C 27°C

Visibility

Average: 12 SM
Below 3 SM: 6.4%
Fog Frequency: 1.8%

Best Months for VFR

September October November

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 06/24
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.8 kt
Runway 18/36
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 7.8 kt

Statistics computed from 4,243 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Feb 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Sydney / J.A. Douglas McCurdy Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: CYQY
IATA Code: YQY
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 203 ft MSL

Location

City: Sydney
Country: CA
Latitude: 46.161400°
Longitude: -60.047798°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+4

Runway Information

Runway 06/24
Length: 7,070 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 18/36
Length: 5,997 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

Nearby Airports

VFR MVFR IFR LIFR No Data

About Sydney / J.A. Douglas McCurdy Airport

Overview

Sydney / J.A. Douglas McCurdy Airport serves Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada, offering a medium-sized airport facility for regional and general aviation operations. Located at an elevation of 203 feet MSL, the airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for the Sydney metropolitan area and surrounding regions. Its two asphalt runways support diverse aircraft operations in a maritime environment.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at CYQY demonstrate significant variability, with visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailing 53.3% of the time. Pilots can expect westerly winds averaging 11.4 knots, with occasional strong gusts up to 37 knots. The temperature range spans from -13°C to 27°C, creating potential for significant seasonal weather transitions that require careful preflight planning and awareness.

Notable Features

The airport features two perpendicular runways: 06/24 at 7,070 feet and 18/36 at 5,997 feet, both constructed with asphalt surfaces. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with modest average crosswind components of 6.8 and 7.6 knots respectively. The coastal location suggests potential for maritime weather influences and rapid visibility changes.

Approach Considerations

September through November represent the most consistent VFR months for operations at CYQY. Visibility averages 12.2 statute miles, though pilots should be prepared for occasional reduced conditions, with 5.7% of observations showing visibility below 3 statute miles. Fog occurs in 1.9% of observations, requiring heightened situational awareness during approach and landing phases.

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.