Williams Lake Airport

CYWL / YWL

Williams Lake, CA

Last Updated
Mar 4, 10:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 38 min ago
10:00Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
4°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: -2°C
10 kt
130°
15 SM
Visibility
16,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1006 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR CYWL 041000Z 13010KT 15SM BKN160 04/M02 A2970 RMK AC7 SLP078

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 3,085 ft
BKN 16,000 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
16,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
19,085 ft AMSL
QNH
1006 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
903 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (3,085 ft)
Pressure Alt
3,303 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 2,723 ft
ISA Deviation: -4.8°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF CYWL 040640Z 0407/0419 13006KT P6SM SCT080 BKN120 TEMPO 0407/0412 BKN080 RMK NXT FCST BY 041300Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
10:38Z BASE
+0h
VFR 130° 6 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 12,000 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: 12
7,000 ft 150 ft ASP 135°
9.8 kt 1.7 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 - CYWL

4,405 observations | Sep 2025 - Mar 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
79%
MVFR
10.6%
IFR
6.8%
LIFR
3.7%

Williams Lake Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 79% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 10.5% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SE averaging 7.6 knots. Temperature extremes range from -25°C to 27°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are March, October, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SE (135°)
Average Speed: 7.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 28 kt
Calm Winds: 6%
Direction Distribution:
N
3.3%
NE
1.9%
E
19%
SE
41.3%
S
5.2%
SW
3.3%
W
7%
NW
13%

Temperature Range

Average: 0°C
Range: -25°C to 27°C
-25°C 27°C

Visibility

Average: 12.8 SM
Below 3 SM: 3.7%
Fog Frequency: 6.3%

Best Months for VFR

March October September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 12/30
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 1.7 kt

Statistics computed from 4,405 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Mar 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

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.