Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport

CYOW / YOW

Ottawa, CA

Last Updated
Mar 5, 10:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 20 min ago
10:00Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
-1°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: -5°C
11 kt
30°
15 SM
Visibility
3,400 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1025 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR CYOW 051000Z 03011KT 15SM BKN034 M01/M05 A3026 RMK SC7 SLP256

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 374 ft
BKN 3,400 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
3,400 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,774 ft AMSL
QNH
1025 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1013 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (374 ft)
Pressure Alt
22 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -1,808 ft
ISA Deviation: -15.3°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF CYOW 050840Z 0509/0612 36010KT P6SM FEW020 SCT200 TEMPO 0509/0510 BKN020 OVC200 FM051000 05005KT P6SM BKN025 TEMPO 0510/0515 P6SM -SN SCT006 OVC020 FM051500 07015KT P6SM BKN030 FM060400 06010KT P6SM SCT008 OVC020 FM060800 06010KT P6SM BKN008 OVC015 PROB30 0608/0612 3SM -FZDZ BR OVC006 RMK NXT FCST BY 051200Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
10:19Z BASE
+0h
VFR 360° 10 kt
Visibility: >6SM
15:00Z FM051500
+5h
VFR 70° 15 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 3,000 ft

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
  • • Hover for exact values and timestamps
  • • Click legend items to toggle data series
  • • Zoom and pan for detailed analysis
  • • Units automatically converted to preferences
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
YOW
04 ✈️
22
07
25
14
32

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 04/22
Active: 04
3,300 ft 75 ft ASP 26°
10.8 kt 1.9 kt
10° angle
07/25 8,000 ft 200 ft ASP 57°
9.8 kt 5.0 kt
27° angle
14/32 10,000 ft 200 ft ASP 126°
1.1 kt 10.9 kt
96° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - CYOW

4,971 observations | Sep 2025 - Mar 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
64.6%
MVFR
20.7%
IFR
11.1%
LIFR
3.7%

Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 64.6% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 14.8% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 8.5 knots, with gusts recorded up to 31 knots. Temperature extremes range from -27°C to 29°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. Low visibility conditions (below 3 SM) occur in 7.1% of weather observations. The best months for VFR flying are March, September, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 8.5 kt
Maximum Recorded: 31 kt
Calm Winds: 1.7%
Direction Distribution:
N
7.1%
NE
14.1%
E
13.2%
SE
4.5%
S
12.3%
SW
12.3%
W
23.5%
NW
11.3%

Temperature Range

Average: -1.9°C
Range: -27°C to 29°C
-27°C 29°C

Visibility

Average: 12.1 SM
Below 3 SM: 7.1%
Fog Frequency: 4.5%

Best Months for VFR

March September October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 04/22
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.4 kt
Runway 07/25
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.6 kt
Runway 14/32
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.8 kt

Statistics computed from 4,971 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Mar 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: CYOW
IATA Code: YOW
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 374 ft MSL

Location

City: Ottawa
Country: CA
Latitude: 45.322498°
Longitude: -75.669197°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 04/22
Length: 3,300 ft
Width: 75 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 07/25
Length: 8,000 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 14/32
Length: 10,000 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport

Overview

Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport serves as the primary airport for Canada's capital city, located in eastern Ontario. Situated at an elevation of 374 feet above mean sea level, the airport provides critical transportation infrastructure for government, commercial, and regional aviation operations in the National Capital Region.

Flying Conditions

The airport's three runways offer comprehensive wind coverage, with lengths ranging from 3,300 to 10,000 feet. The multiple runway configurations (04/22, 07/25, and 14/32) all feature asphalt surfaces, providing pilots with flexible operational capabilities across different wind conditions and aircraft types.

Notable Features

Located at coordinates 45.322498, -75.669197, the airport is positioned in a relatively flat urban terrain typical of the Ottawa region. The substantial 10,000-foot runway (14/32) provides excellent operational capacity for larger commercial and cargo aircraft, while the shorter runways offer additional flexibility for smaller aircraft.

Approach Considerations

Pilots should note the significant variation in runway lengths, with the longest runway (14/32) offering 10,000 feet of asphalt surface. The multiple runway orientations provide options for handling various wind directions, with the 07/25 and 14/32 runways offering particularly robust length for most commercial and business aviation requirements.

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.