Sandy Lake Airport

CZSJ / ZSJ

Sandy Lake, CA

Last Updated
Apr 30, 10:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 21 min ago
10:00Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
-9°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: -10°C
4 kt
300°
9 SM
Visibility
21,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1020 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR CZSJ 301000Z AUTO 30004KT 9SM BKN210 M09/M10 A3013 RMK SLP227

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 951 ft
BKN 21,000 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
21,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
21,951 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Sandy Lake Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 21,000 feet and 9 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west-northwest (300°) at 4 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 9 SM. The ceiling is 21000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is -9°C (16°F) with a dewpoint of -10°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely. Temperatures are at or below freezing. Check for icing conditions and ensure aircraft anti-ice/de-ice systems are operational if required.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 12 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period. Expected weather includes: FCST, FCST.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

QNH
1020 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
988 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (951 ft)
Pressure Alt
749 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -1,903 ft
ISA Deviation: -22.1°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF CZSJ 300940Z 3010/3022 30005KT P6SM FEW020 BECMG 3016/3018 FEW060 RMK FCST BASED ON AUTO OBS. NXT FCST BY 301600Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
10:20Z BASE
+0h
VFR 300° 5 kt
Visibility: >6SM
16:00Z BECMG
+6h
VFR
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
ZSJ
11 ✈️
29

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 11/29
Active: 11
3,500 ft 100 ft GRVL
3.9 kt 0.7 kt
170° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - CZSJ

10,992 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
46.5%
MVFR
39.7%
IFR
11.7%
LIFR
2.2%

Sandy Lake Airport is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 46.5% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 13.9% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 6.8 knots. Temperature extremes range from -38°C to 31°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are April, March, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 6.8 kt
Maximum Recorded: 23 kt
Calm Winds: 5.5%
Direction Distribution:
N
9.5%
NE
4.3%
E
13.5%
SE
6.6%
S
10.4%
SW
5.7%
W
23.4%
NW
21%

Temperature Range

Average: -8.4°C
Range: -38°C to 31°C
-38°C 31°C

Visibility

Average: 7.5 SM
Below 3 SM: 3.2%
Fog Frequency: 0.5%

Best Months for VFR

April March September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 11/29
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.3 kt

Statistics computed from 10,992 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Sandy Lake Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: CZSJ
IATA Code: ZSJ
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 951 ft MSL

Location

City: Sandy Lake
Country: CA
Latitude: 53.064201°
Longitude: -93.344398°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 11/29
Length: 3,500 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: GRVL
ILS: No

Nearby Airports

VFR MVFR IFR LIFR No Data

About Sandy Lake Airport

Overview

Sandy Lake Airport serves the remote community of Sandy Lake in northern Canada, located at 53.064201, -93.344398. As a medium-sized airport situated at 951 feet above mean sea level, it provides critical aviation infrastructure for transportation and regional connectivity in this northern Ontario area.

Flying Conditions

Weather at Sandy Lake Airport demonstrates significant variability, with visual flight rules (VFR) conditions present 41.5% of the time and marginal VFR conditions occurring 41.8% of observations. Temperature ranges dramatically from -38°C to 31°C, with an average of -6.5°C, requiring pilots to prepare for extreme cold weather operations. Prevailing westerly winds at an average of 6.5 knots and maximum gusts of 20 knots characterize the airport's wind profile.

Notable Features

The single runway 11/29 is a 3,500-foot gravel surface, typical of northern Canadian airports serving remote communities. Visibility averages 7.5 statute miles, with rare instances of reduced visibility (below 3SM occurring in 3.3% of observations) and minimal fog presence (0.8% of records). The runway experiences favorable wind conditions 100% of the time, with an average crosswind of just 3.1 knots.

Approach Considerations

September, December, and October represent the most consistently favorable VFR months for operations. Pilots should anticipate westerly winds and be prepared for potential temperature extremes. The low occurrence of instrument meteorological conditions (IFR at 13.7%, LIFR at 2.9%) suggests generally reliable visual flight opportunities throughout the year.

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.