Sunshine Coast Airport

YBSU / MCY

Maroochydore, AU

Last Updated
Jun 10, 01:33Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 9 min ago
01:33Z

🌙 Night
MVFR
Flight Rules
20°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 18°C
5 kt
110°
5 km
Visibility
3,100 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

SPECI YBSU 100133Z AUTO 11005KT 5000 -SHRA SCT009 SCT022 BKN031 20/18 Q1028

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 15 ft
SCT 900 ft AGL
SCT 2,200 ft AGL
BKN 3,100 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
900 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
915 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
2,200 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,215 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
3,100 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,115 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Sunshine Coast Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with broken clouds at 3,100 feet and 5 km visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east-southeast (110°) at 5 knots. Runway 13/31 is favored with a 5-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 5 km, below VFR minimums in some airspace classifications. Check local requirements before departing VFR. The ceiling is 3100 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 20°C (68°F) with a dewpoint of 18°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain, Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain, Showers Rain, Showers Rain.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours. 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.

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF AMD YBSU 092357Z 1000/1100 16007KT 9999 -SHRA SCT007 SCT020 FM100300 13006KT 9999 -SHRA SCT020 SCT030 FM100600 09006KT 9999 -SHRA SCT020 SCT030 FM101500 20006KT 9999 -SHRA BKN020 INTER 1000/1003 4000 SHRA SCT005 BKN010 INTER 1003/1008 4000 SHRA BKN010 INTER 1008/1100 5000 SHRA BKN015
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
01:42Z BASE
+0h
VFR 160° 7 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Light Showers Rain
03:00Z FM100300
+2h
VFR 130° 6 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Light Showers Rain
06:00Z FM100600
+5h
VFR 90° 6 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Light Showers Rain

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
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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
BSU
13 ✈️
31
18
36

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 13/31
Active: 13
9,186 ft 148 ft ASPH 142°
4.7 kt 1.7 kt
20° angle
18/36 5,896 ft 98 ft ASP 194°
0.5 kt 5.0 kt
84° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - YBSU

14,203 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
77.8%
MVFR
18.1%
IFR
3.7%
LIFR
0.4%

Sunshine Coast Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 77.8% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 4.1% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 9.7 knots, with gusts recorded up to 45 knots. Temperature extremes range from 7°C to 38°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are June, April, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 9.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 45 kt
Calm Winds: 1.3%
Direction Distribution:
E
12.3%
N
10.2%
S
19.5%
W
10.8%
NE
7.9%
NW
9.4%
SE
17.9%
SW
10.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 22.5°C
Range: 7°C to 38°C
7°C 38°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.1%

Best Months for VFR

June April September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 13/31
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.7 kt
Runway 18/36
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.5 kt

Statistics computed from 14,203 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Sunshine Coast Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: YBSU
IATA Code: MCY
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 15 ft MSL

Location

City: Maroochydore
Country: AU
Latitude: -26.593324°
Longitude: 153.083190°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-10

Runway Information

Runway 13/31
Length: 9,186 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASPH
ILS: No
Runway 18/36
Length: 5,896 ft
Width: 98 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Sunshine Coast Airport

Overview

Sunshine Coast Airport serves the coastal region of Queensland, Australia, located near Maroochydore. As a medium-sized airport at 15 feet mean sea level, it provides essential aviation services to the Sunshine Coast metropolitan area and supports regional and commercial air traffic.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly VFR conditions 78.8% of the time, with MVFR conditions occurring 18% of observations. Wind patterns are consistently from the north, averaging 9 knots with occasional gusts up to 45 knots. Temperature ranges from 8°C to 38°C, with an average of 22.8°C, creating generally stable flying conditions.

Notable Features

The airport features two paved runways: a longer 13/31 runway at 9,186 feet and a secondary 18/36 runway at 5,896 feet. Both runways demonstrate excellent wind alignment, with 100% favorable wind conditions and modest average crosswinds around 5.5 knots. The coastal location suggests potential for sea breezes and thermal variations.

Approach Considerations

September, November, and December represent the best VFR months for operations. Pilots can expect consistent visibility averaging 10 statute miles, with minimal instances of reduced visibility or fog. The dual runway configuration provides flexibility for approaches, with both runways offering favorable wind characteristics and minimal crosswind challenges.

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.