Sydney / J.A. Douglas McCurdy Airport

CYQY / YQY

Sydney, CA

Last Updated
Mar 7, 06:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 23 min ago
06:00Z

🌅 Dawn
VFR
Flight Rules
-14°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: -16°C
3 kt
260°
15 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1033 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR CYQY 070600Z 26003KT 15SM FEW240 M14/M16 A3051 RMK CI2 SLP340

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 203 ft
FEW 24,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
24,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
24,203 ft AMSL
QNH
1033 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1026 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (203 ft)
Pressure Alt
-390 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -3,821 ft
ISA Deviation: -28.6°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF CYQY 070540Z 0706/0718 23005KT P6SM FEW015 FEW250 FM071400 19010G20KT P6SM FEW012 BKN200 BECMG 0717/0718 19015G25KT RMK NXT FCST BY 071200Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
06:23Z BASE
+0h
VFR 230° 5 kt
Visibility: >6SM
14:00Z FM071400
+8h
VFR 190° 10 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 20,000 ft
17:00Z BECMG
+11h
VFR 190° 15 kt
FCST

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
YQY
06
24 ✈️
18
36

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 06/24
Active: 24
7,070 ft 200 ft ASP 46°
2.8 kt 1.0 kt
20° angle
18/36 5,997 ft 150 ft ASP 164°
0.3 kt 3.0 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 - CYQY

5,086 observations | Sep 2025 - Mar 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
49.7%
MVFR
27.2%
IFR
13.8%
LIFR
9.4%

Sydney / J.A. Douglas McCurdy Airport is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 49.7% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 23.2% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 11.6 knots, with gusts recorded up to 37 knots. Temperature extremes range from -16°C to 27°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. Low visibility conditions (below 3 SM) occur in 7% of weather observations. The best months for VFR flying are September, October, November.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 11.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 37 kt
Calm Winds: 1.3%
Direction Distribution:
N
14%
NE
7.1%
E
5.1%
SE
5.2%
S
11.6%
SW
18.4%
W
26.7%
NW
10.6%

Temperature Range

Average: 2.3°C
Range: -16°C to 27°C
-16°C 27°C

Visibility

Average: 11.9 SM
Below 3 SM: 7%
Fog Frequency: 1.9%

Best Months for VFR

September October November

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 06/24
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 7 kt
Runway 18/36
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 7.6 kt

Statistics computed from 5,086 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Mar 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Sydney / J.A. Douglas McCurdy Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: CYQY
IATA Code: YQY
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 203 ft MSL

Location

City: Sydney
Country: CA
Latitude: 46.161400°
Longitude: -60.047798°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+4

Runway Information

Runway 06/24
Length: 7,070 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 18/36
Length: 5,997 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Sydney / J.A. Douglas McCurdy Airport

Overview

Sydney / J.A. Douglas McCurdy Airport serves Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada, offering a medium-sized airport facility for regional and general aviation operations. Located at an elevation of 203 feet MSL, the airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for the Sydney metropolitan area and surrounding regions. Its two asphalt runways support diverse aircraft operations in a maritime environment.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at CYQY demonstrate significant variability, with visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailing 53.3% of the time. Pilots can expect westerly winds averaging 11.4 knots, with occasional strong gusts up to 37 knots. The temperature range spans from -13°C to 27°C, creating potential for significant seasonal weather transitions that require careful preflight planning and awareness.

Notable Features

The airport features two perpendicular runways: 06/24 at 7,070 feet and 18/36 at 5,997 feet, both constructed with asphalt surfaces. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with modest average crosswind components of 6.8 and 7.6 knots respectively. The coastal location suggests potential for maritime weather influences and rapid visibility changes.

Approach Considerations

September through November represent the most consistent VFR months for operations at CYQY. Visibility averages 12.2 statute miles, though pilots should be prepared for occasional reduced conditions, with 5.7% of observations showing visibility below 3 statute miles. Fog occurs in 1.9% of observations, requiring heightened situational awareness during approach and landing phases.

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.