Williams Lake Airport

CYWL / YWL

Williams Lake, CA

Last Updated
May 14, 22:28Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 34 min ago
22:28Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
8°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 2°C
5 kt
360°
15 SM
Visibility
4,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1010 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

SPECI CYWL 142228Z 36005KT 340V050 15SM VCSH BKN040TCU BKN100 BKN200 08/02 A2984 RMK TCU5AC1CI1 CI TR CIG RAGGED SLP125

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 3,085 ft
BKN 4,000 ft AGL (TCU)
BKN 10,000 ft AGL
BKN 20,000 ft AGL
☁️
BKN (TCU)
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
4,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
7,085 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
10,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
13,085 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
20,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
23,085 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Williams Lake Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 4,000 feet and 15 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the north (360°) at 5 knots. Runway 30 is favored with a 3-knot headwind and 4-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 15 SM. The ceiling is 4000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums. Caution: towering cumulus clouds reported at 4,000 ft AGL, indicating convective activity in the area.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 8°C (46°F) with a dewpoint of 2°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 12 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Thunderstorm Rain, Light Showers Rain, FCST. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Thunderstorm Rain between 19:00Z and 23:00Z. Temporary VFR conditions are forecast with Light Showers Rain, FCST between 23:00Z and 04:00Z.

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
1010 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
907 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (3,085 ft)
Pressure Alt
3,183 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 3,083 ft
ISA Deviation: -0.8°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF AMD CYWL 141914Z 1419/1507 28006KT P6SM SCT040 BKN080 TEMPO 1419/1423 VRB15G25KT P6SM TSRA BKN040CB FM142300 28010KT P6SM FEW040 BKN080 TEMPO 1423/1504 P6SM -SHRA BKN040 RMK NXT FCST BY 150100Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
23:02Z BASE
+0h
VFR 280° 6 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 8,000 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
YWL
12
30 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 12/30
Active: 30
7,000 ft 150 ft ASP 135°
2.5 kt 4.3 kt
60° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - CYWL

6,211 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
82.9%
MVFR
8.6%
IFR
5.8%
LIFR
2.7%

Williams Lake Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 82.9% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the SE averaging 7.5 knots. Temperature extremes range from -25°C to 27°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are May, April, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SE (135°)
Average Speed: 7.5 kt
Maximum Recorded: 28 kt
Calm Winds: 5.6%
Direction Distribution:
N
3.8%
NE
2.1%
E
16.9%
SE
35.2%
S
5.8%
SW
4.7%
W
9.6%
NW
16.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 1.5°C
Range: -25°C to 27°C
-25°C 27°C

Visibility

Average: 13.2 SM
Below 3 SM: 3.1%
Fog Frequency: 5%

Best Months for VFR

May April October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 12/30
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2 kt

Statistics computed from 6,211 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 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.