Castlegar/West Kootenay Regional Airport

CYCG / YCG

Castlegar, CA

Last Updated
Mar 16, 21:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 38 min ago
21:00Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
1°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 0°C
2 kt
140°
6 SM
Visibility
3,600 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1021 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR CYCG 162100Z 14002KT 6SM BR FEW006 FEW018 OVC036 01/00 A3015 RMK SF1SC1SC8 SF TR SLP230

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,624 ft
FEW 600 ft AGL
FEW 1,800 ft AGL
OVC 3,600 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,224 ft AMSL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
1,800 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,424 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
3,600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,224 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Castlegar/West Kootenay Regional Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with overcast skies at 3,600 feet and 6 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the southeast (140°) at 2 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 6 SM. The ceiling is 3600 feet AGL (overcast), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 1°C (34°F) with a dewpoint of 0°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 9 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Expected weather includes: Mist, Light Snow, Mist, Light Rain, Mist, FCST. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Light Snow, Mist between 19:00Z and 21:00Z. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Light Rain, Mist, FCST between 21:00Z and 04:00Z.

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. 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
1021 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
967 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,624 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,392 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 102 ft
ISA Deviation: -10.8°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF CYCG 161840Z 1619/1704 VRB03KT 6SM BR SCT010 OVC040 TEMPO 1619/1621 2SM -SN BR OVC015 FM162100 18005KT P6SM SCT030 OVC040 TEMPO 1621/1704 3SM -RA BR FEW008 SCT020 OVC030 RMK NXT FCST BY 170100Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
21:38Z BASE
+0h
VFR VRB 3 kt
Visibility: 6SM
Ceiling: 4,000 ft
Mist

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
YCG
15 ✈️
33

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 15/33
Active: 15
5,300 ft 150 ft ASP 169°
2.0 kt 0.3 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 - CYCG

2,775 observations | Sep 2025 - Mar 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
66.6%
MVFR
23.1%
IFR
6.4%
LIFR
3.9%

Castlegar/West Kootenay Regional Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 66.6% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 10.3% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 5.6 knots. Calm conditions occur 18.2% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -12°C to 32°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. Low visibility conditions (below 3 SM) occur in 5.1% of weather observations. The best months for VFR flying are September, March, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 5.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 23 kt
Calm Winds: 18.2%
Direction Distribution:
N
22.5%
NE
1.8%
E
2.6%
SE
19.6%
S
27.5%
SW
2%
W
0.7%
NW
5.2%

Temperature Range

Average: 5.6°C
Range: -12°C to 32°C
-12°C 32°C

Visibility

Average: 11.1 SM
Below 3 SM: 5.1%
Fog Frequency: 10%

Best Months for VFR

September March October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 15/33
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2.3 kt

Statistics computed from 2,775 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Mar 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Castlegar/West Kootenay Regional Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: CYCG
IATA Code: YCG
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,624 ft MSL

Location

City: Castlegar
Country: CA
Latitude: 49.296398°
Longitude: -117.632004°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+8

Runway Information

Runway 15/33
Length: 5,300 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Castlegar/West Kootenay Regional Airport

Overview

Castlegar/West Kootenay Regional Airport serves the West Kootenay region of British Columbia, providing critical transportation infrastructure for the local community. Located at 1624 ft MSL near Castlegar, the airport supports regional and general aviation operations with its 5300 ft asphalt runway oriented 15/33.

Flying Conditions

Weather observations indicate predominantly favorable Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions, with 66.4% of recorded periods supporting clear operations. Seasonal temperatures range from -9°C to 32°C, with an average of 6.8°C. Wind patterns are typically southerly at an average of 5.4 knots, with calm conditions occurring 17.9% of the time.

Notable Features

The airport is situated in a mountainous region, which can create complex local wind and visibility conditions. Pilots should anticipate potential terrain-influenced weather variations, with fog occurring in 8.6% of observations and visibility occasionally dropping below 3 statute miles. September through November represent the most consistent VFR months based on historical data.

Approach Considerations

Runway 15/33 demonstrates favorable wind alignment, with 100% compatibility to prevailing wind directions. The average crosswind is minimal at 2.2 knots, providing relatively straightforward landing and takeoff conditions. Pilots should review current METAR data, noting that 23.5% of observations indicate Marginal VFR conditions requiring additional planning and situational awareness.

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.