Williams Lake Airport

CYWL / YWL

Williams Lake, CA

Last Updated
Jul 4, 21:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 52 min ago
21:00Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
15°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 7°C
2 kt
Variable
15 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1015 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR CYWL 042100Z VRB02KT 15SM FEW015TCU FEW035CB SCT095 15/07 A2998 RMK TCU1CB1AC1 SLP162 DENSITY ALT 3700FT

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 3,085 ft
FEW 1,500 ft AGL (TCU)
FEW 3,500 ft AGL (CB)
SCT 9,500 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW (TCU)
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
1,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,585 ft AMSL
🌤️
FEW (CB)
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
3,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
6,585 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
9,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
12,585 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Williams Lake Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with scattered clouds at 9,500 feet and 15 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are calm, presenting no crosswind concerns for any runway.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 15 SM. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 1,500 ft (TCU), few at 3,500 ft (CB), scattered at 9,500 ft. Caution: towering cumulus clouds reported at 1,500 ft AGL, indicating convective activity in the area.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 15°C (59°F) with a dewpoint of 7°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 11 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain, Mist, FCST. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Light Showers Rain, Mist between 20:00Z and 07:00Z.

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
1015 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
912 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (3,085 ft)
Pressure Alt
3,033 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 3,773 ft
ISA Deviation: +6.2°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF AMD CYWL 042028Z 0420/0507 30010KT P6SM FEW020 BKN050 TEMPO 0420/0507 4SM -SHRA VCTS BR BKN020 OVC050CB BECMG 0502/0504 VRB03KT RMK NXT FCST BY 050100Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
21:52Z BASE
+0h
VFR 300° 10 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 5,000 ft
02:00Z BECMG
+5h
VFR VRB 3 kt
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
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
YWL
12
30

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
12/30 7,000 ft 150 ft ASP 135° No wind data
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - CYWL

7,527 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
84.3%
MVFR
8.2%
IFR
5.3%
LIFR
2.2%

Williams Lake Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 84.3% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the SE averaging 7.4 knots. Temperature extremes range from -25°C to 29°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are April, October, July.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SE (135°)
Average Speed: 7.4 kt
Maximum Recorded: 28 kt
Calm Winds: 5.6%
Direction Distribution:
E
15.8%
N
4.8%
S
6.1%
W
10.8%
NE
2.5%
NW
18.1%
SE
31.2%
SW
5.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 3.5°C
Range: -25°C to 29°C
-25°C 29°C

Visibility

Average: 13.4 SM
Below 3 SM: 2.5%
Fog Frequency: 4.3%

Best Months for VFR

April October July

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 12/30
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2.1 kt

Statistics computed from 7,527 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Williams Lake Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: CYWL
IATA Code: YWL
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 3,085 ft MSL

Location

City: Williams Lake
Country: CA
Latitude: 52.183102°
Longitude: -122.054001°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+8

Runway Information

Runway 12/30
Length: 7,000 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

Nearby Airports

VFR MVFR IFR LIFR No Data

About Williams Lake Airport

Overview

Williams Lake Airport serves the central British Columbia region, situated at an elevation of 3085 ft MSL in the interior plateau. Located at coordinates 52.183102, -122.054001, this medium-sized airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for the Williams Lake area, supporting regional transportation and local aviation activities.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect predominantly VFR conditions, with 77.8% of observations reporting visual flight rules. Temperature ranges dramatically from -23°C to 27°C, creating diverse seasonal flying environments. Wind patterns are consistently from the southeast at an average of 7.5 knots, with maximum gusts reaching 28 knots and calm periods occurring 6.9% of the time.

Notable Features

The airport features a single runway 12/30 measuring 7000 feet with an asphalt surface. Its elevated position at 3085 ft MSL suggests potential terrain interaction and potential orographic effects on local weather patterns. Visibility averages 12.7 statute miles, with occasional reduced conditions including fog occurring in 7.6% of observations.

Approach Considerations

Runway 12/30 demonstrates 100% favorable wind alignment, with an average crosswind of just 1.7 knots. September through November represent the most consistent VFR months, offering optimal flying conditions. Pilots should anticipate potential instrument meteorological conditions, with MVFR and IFR conditions present in 17.9% 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.