Sunshine Coast Airport

YBSU / MCY

Maroochydore, AU

Last Updated
Jul 26, 11:30Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 22 min ago
11:30Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
11°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 8°C
3 kt
250°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR YBSU 261130Z AUTO 25003KT 9999 // FEW066 11/08 Q1023

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 15 ft
FEW 6,600 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
6,600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
6,615 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Sunshine Coast Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with few clouds at 6,600 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 6,600 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 11°C (52°F) with a dewpoint of 8°C. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread suggests high humidity and potential for visibility restrictions, especially during cooling periods.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. 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.

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF YBSU 260529Z 2606/2706 15008KT CAVOK FM261000 26005KT 9999 SCT035 FM270000 15008KT 9999 -SHRA SCT035
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
11:52Z BASE
+0h
VFR 150° 8 kt
Visibility: >10km

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
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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
BSU
13
31
18 ✈️
36

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
13/31 9,186 ft 148 ft ASPH 142°
0.9 kt 2.9 kt
108° angle
✈️ 18/36
Active: 18
5,896 ft 98 ft ASP 194°
1.0 kt 2.8 kt
70° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - YBSU

16,655 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
79%
MVFR
17%
IFR
3.6%
LIFR
0.4%

Sunshine Coast Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 79% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 4% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 9.7 knots, with gusts recorded up to 45 knots. Temperature extremes range from 7°C to 38°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are April, July, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 9.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 45 kt
Calm Winds: 1.3%
Direction Distribution:
E
11%
N
9.2%
S
23.5%
W
10.7%
NE
7.1%
NW
8.9%
SE
16.6%
SW
11.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 21.7°C
Range: 7°C to 38°C
7°C 38°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.1%

Best Months for VFR

April July September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 13/31
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.9 kt
Runway 18/36
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.3 kt

Statistics computed from 16,655 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Sunshine Coast Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: YBSU
IATA Code: MCY
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 15 ft MSL

Location

City: Maroochydore
Country: AU
Latitude: -26.593324°
Longitude: 153.083190°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-10

Runway Information

Runway 13/31
Length: 9,186 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASPH
ILS: No
Runway 18/36
Length: 5,896 ft
Width: 98 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Sunshine Coast Airport

Overview

Sunshine Coast Airport serves the coastal region of Queensland, Australia, located near Maroochydore. As a medium-sized airport at 15 feet mean sea level, it provides essential aviation services to the Sunshine Coast metropolitan area and supports regional and commercial air traffic.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly VFR conditions 78.8% of the time, with MVFR conditions occurring 18% of observations. Wind patterns are consistently from the north, averaging 9 knots with occasional gusts up to 45 knots. Temperature ranges from 8°C to 38°C, with an average of 22.8°C, creating generally stable flying conditions.

Notable Features

The airport features two paved runways: a longer 13/31 runway at 9,186 feet and a secondary 18/36 runway at 5,896 feet. Both runways demonstrate excellent wind alignment, with 100% favorable wind conditions and modest average crosswinds around 5.5 knots. The coastal location suggests potential for sea breezes and thermal variations.

Approach Considerations

September, November, and December represent the best VFR months for operations. Pilots can expect consistent visibility averaging 10 statute miles, with minimal instances of reduced visibility or fog. The dual runway configuration provides flexibility for approaches, with both runways offering favorable wind characteristics and minimal crosswind challenges.

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.