Norman Wells Airport

CYVQ / YVQ

Norman Wells, CA

Last Updated
Mar 12, 20:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 51 min ago
20:00Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
-18°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: -23°C
11 kt
290° G19 kt
10 SM
Visibility
5,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1024 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR CYVQ 122000Z 29011G19KT 10SM DRSN BKN050 BKN110 BKN250 M18/M23 A3025 RMK SC5AC1CI1 SLP257

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 238 ft
BKN 5,000 ft AGL
BKN 11,000 ft AGL
BKN 25,000 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
5,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,238 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
11,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
11,238 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
25,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
25,238 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Norman Wells Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 5,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west-northwest (290°) at 11 knots with gusts to 19 knots. Runway 28 is favored with a 11-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component (gusting to 3 knots crosswind).

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 5000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is -18°C (-0°F) with a dewpoint of -23°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions. 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 fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Light Snow, Light Snow, FCST. Temporary VFR conditions are forecast with Light Snow between 18:00Z and 20:00Z. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Light Snow, FCST between 20:00Z and 06:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. The forecast indicates conditions may deteriorate. Ensure you have fuel reserves and a viable alternate airport.

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

QNH
1024 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1016 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (238 ft)
Pressure Alt
-85 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -3,988 ft
ISA Deviation: -32.5°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF CYVQ 121740Z 1218/1306 28010KT P6SM FEW020 SCT060 TEMPO 1218/1220 6SM -SN BKN060 FM122000 28012G22KT P6SM SCT030 BKN060 TEMPO 1220/1306 4SM -SN BKN030 RMK NXT FCST BY 130000Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
20:51Z BASE
+0h
VFR 280° 10 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
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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
YVQ
10
28 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 10/28
Active: 28
5,998 ft 150 ft ASP 117°
10.8 kt 1.9 kt
10° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - CYVQ

4,855 observations | Sep 2025 - Mar 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
68.3%
MVFR
22%
IFR
7.2%
LIFR
2.5%

Norman Wells Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 68.3% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 9.7% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 6.7 knots. Calm conditions occur 13% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -47°C to 21°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are March, January, December.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 6.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 25 kt
Calm Winds: 13%
Direction Distribution:
N
2.1%
NE
2.9%
E
25.3%
SE
10.7%
S
1.6%
SW
1.7%
W
33.4%
NW
9.3%

Temperature Range

Average: -16.5°C
Range: -47°C to 21°C
-47°C 21°C

Visibility

Average: 19.9 SM
Below 3 SM: 2.2%
Fog Frequency: 2.8%

Best Months for VFR

March January December

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 10/28
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 1.4 kt

Statistics computed from 4,855 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Mar 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Norman Wells Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: CYVQ
IATA Code: YVQ
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 238 ft MSL

Location

City: Norman Wells
Country: CA
Latitude: 65.281601°
Longitude: -126.797997°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+8

Runway Information

Runway 10/28
Length: 5,998 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Norman Wells Airport

Overview

Norman Wells Airport serves the remote community of Norman Wells in Canada's Northwest Territories, located above the Arctic Circle. As a medium-sized airport situated at 238 ft MSL, it provides critical transportation infrastructure for a region characterized by challenging northern conditions and limited ground access.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences significant seasonal temperature variations, ranging from -47°C to 21°C, with an average temperature of -13°C. Flight rules are predominantly VFR (65.6%), with MVFR conditions occurring 22.1% of the time, indicating generally stable but sometimes challenging flying environments that require careful pre-flight planning.

Notable Features

Located at coordinates 65.281601, -126.797997, Norman Wells Airport is positioned in a subarctic landscape with a single 5,998 ft asphalt runway (10/28). The prevailing westerly winds at an average of 6.6 knots, with occasional gusts up to 25 knots, characterize the local wind patterns, and calm conditions occur 12.9% of the time.

Approach Considerations

Runway 10/28 demonstrates highly favorable wind conditions, with a 100% wind alignment and minimal average crosswind of 1.4 knots. Pilots should anticipate good visibility averaging 19.8 statute miles, though occasional reduced visibility and fog can occur, with below 3 SM conditions present in 2.2% of observations.

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.