Sandspit Airport

CYZP / YZP

Sandspit, CA

Last Updated
May 15, 06:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Aging 1 hour ago
06:00Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
7°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 3°C
6 kt
250°
9 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1013 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR CYZP 150600Z AUTO 25006KT 9SM FEW230 07/03 A2992 RMK SLP134

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 21 ft
FEW 23,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
23,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
23,021 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Sandspit Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with few clouds at 23,000 feet and 9 SM visibility. Note: This observation is 1 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west-southwest (250°) at 6 knots. Runway 31 is favored with a 3-knot headwind and 5-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 9 SM. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 23,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 7°C (45°F) with a dewpoint of 3°C. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread suggests high humidity and potential for visibility restrictions, especially during cooling periods.

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: Light Showers Rain, Mist, FCST, FCST. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Light Showers Rain, Mist between 07:00Z and 16:00Z. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Light Showers Rain, Mist between 16:00Z and 19:00Z.

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
1013 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1012 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (21 ft)
Pressure Alt
29 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -926 ft
ISA Deviation: -8.0°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF CYZP 150640Z 1507/1519 23006KT P6SM SCT030 TEMPO 1507/1516 5SM -SHRA BR BKN020 FM151600 21006KT P6SM SCT020 BKN060 TEMPO 1516/1519 3SM -SHRA BR SCT005 BKN015 BECMG 1516/1518 12006KT RMK FCST BASED ON AUTO OBS. NXT FCST BY 151300Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
07:02Z BASE
+0h
VFR 230° 6 kt
Visibility: >6SM
16:00Z FM151600
+9h
VFR 210° 6 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 6,000 ft
16:00Z TEMPO
+9h
MVFR
Visibility: 3SM
Ceiling: 1,500 ft
Light Showers Rain, Mist
16:00Z BECMG
+9h
VFR 120° 6 kt
FCST, FCST

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
YZP
13
31 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 13/31
Active: 31
5,120 ft 150 ft ASP 144°
3.0 kt 5.2 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 - CYZP

11,160 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
62.3%
MVFR
27.1%
IFR
8.4%
LIFR
2.2%

Sandspit Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 62.3% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 10.6% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SE averaging 11.7 knots, with gusts recorded up to 51 knots. Temperatures typically range between -3°C and 18°C with an average of 6.1°C. The best months for VFR flying are May, October, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SE (135°)
Average Speed: 11.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 51 kt
Calm Winds: 1%
Direction Distribution:
E
4.9%
N
8.2%
S
22.2%
W
17.3%
NE
2.2%
NW
7%
SE
26.6%
SW
10.5%

Temperature Range

Average: 6.1°C
Range: -3°C to 18°C
-3°C 18°C

Visibility

Average: 7.8 SM
Below 3 SM: 3%
Fog Frequency: 0.4%

Best Months for VFR

May October September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 13/31
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.6 kt

Statistics computed from 11,160 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Sandspit Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: CYZP
IATA Code: YZP
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 21 ft MSL

Location

City: Sandspit
Country: CA
Latitude: 53.254299°
Longitude: -131.813995°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+9

Runway Information

Runway 13/31
Length: 5,120 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Sandspit Airport

Overview

Sandspit Airport serves the community of Sandspit, located on Haida Gwaii (formerly Queen Charlotte Islands) in British Columbia, Canada. Situated at a low elevation of 21 ft MSL, this medium-sized airport provides essential air transportation services to the remote coastal region. The airport supports regional connectivity with its single 5,120-foot asphalted runway.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Sandspit Airport demonstrate significant variability, with Visual Flight Rules (VFR) prevailing 64% of the time. Pilots can expect predominantly southeastern winds averaging 12.3 knots, with occasional strong gusts up to 46 knots. Temperature ranges from -2°C to 18°C, with an average of 7°C, suggesting potential for moderate icing and temperature-related considerations during flight planning.

Notable Features

The airport's coastal location at coordinates 53.254299, -131.813995 presents unique geographical challenges for pilots. Proximity to marine environments typically introduces complex local weather patterns, including potential marine layer formations and rapid visibility changes. The runway orientation (13/31) appears well-aligned with prevailing wind directions, with favorable wind conditions 100% of the time.

Approach Considerations

Runway 13/31 experiences an average crosswind of 5.6 knots, which is generally manageable for most aircraft. Statistically, September, October, and January offer the best Visual Flight Rules conditions. Pilots should anticipate potential reduced visibility, with observations showing 2.7% of recorded times having visibility below 3 statute miles and minimal fog occurrence (0.5%).

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.