Hay River / Merlyn Carter Airport

CYHY / YHY

Hay River, CA

Last Updated
Jul 28, 07:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Aging 1 hour ago
07:00Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
12°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 11°C
5 kt
120°
13 SM
Visibility
20,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1008 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR CYHY 280700Z 12005KT 13SM FEW100 SCT170 BKN200 12/11 A2977 RMK AC1AC2CI2 FU SLP089

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 541 ft
FEW 10,000 ft AGL
SCT 17,000 ft AGL
BKN 20,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
10,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
10,541 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
17,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
17,541 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
20,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
20,541 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Hay River / Merlyn Carter Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 20,000 feet and 13 SM visibility. Note: This observation is 1.1 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east-southeast (120°) at 5 knots. Runway 14/32 is favored with a 5-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 13 SM. The ceiling is 20000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 12°C (54°F) with a dewpoint of 11°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 12 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: Mist, FCST. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Mist between 09:00Z and 15:00Z. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Mist between 10:00Z and 14:00Z.

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. 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
1008 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
990 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (541 ft)
Pressure Alt
699 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 469 ft
ISA Deviation: -1.9°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF CYHY 280540Z 2806/2818 VRB03KT P6SM SCT080 FM280900 VRB03KT P6SM FEW008 SCT030 TEMPO 2809/2815 2SM BR BKN008 PROB30 2810/2814 3/4SM BR FM281500 VRB03KT P6SM SCT025 RMK NXT FCST BY 281200Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
08:07Z BASE
+0h
VFR VRB 3 kt
Visibility: >6SM
09:00Z FM280900
+1h
VFR VRB 3 kt
Visibility: >6SM
09:00Z TEMPO
+1h
IFR
Visibility: 2SM
Ceiling: 800 ft
Mist
10:00Z PROB30
+2h
MVFR
Visibility: 3/4SM
Mist

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
YHY
05
23
14 ✈️
32

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
05/23 4,001 ft 150 ft COM 66°
2.9 kt 4.0 kt
54° angle
✈️ 14/32
Active: 14
6,000 ft 150 ft ASP 154°
4.7 kt 1.7 kt
20° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - CYHY

8,039 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
74.9%
MVFR
15.6%
IFR
7.3%
LIFR
2.1%

Hay River / Merlyn Carter Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 74.9% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 9.4% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the E averaging 7.2 knots, with gusts recorded up to 36 knots. Temperature extremes range from -41°C to 32°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are March, May, April.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: E (90°)
Average Speed: 7.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 36 kt
Calm Winds: 4.4%
Direction Distribution:
E
22.8%
N
6.8%
S
11.6%
W
12.2%
NE
5.9%
NW
18.2%
SE
10%
SW
8%

Temperature Range

Average: -5.8°C
Range: -41°C to 32°C
-41°C 32°C

Visibility

Average: 12.8 SM
Below 3 SM: 4.3%
Fog Frequency: 1.4%

Best Months for VFR

March May April

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 05/23
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5 kt
Runway 14/32
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.1 kt

Statistics computed from 8,039 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Hay River / Merlyn Carter Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: CYHY
IATA Code: YHY
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 541 ft MSL

Location

City: Hay River
Country: CA
Latitude: 60.839699°
Longitude: -115.782997°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+8

Runway Information

Runway 05/23
Length: 4,001 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: COM
ILS: No
Runway 14/32
Length: 6,000 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Hay River / Merlyn Carter Airport

Overview

Hay River / Merlyn Carter Airport serves the Northwest Territories community of Hay River, located near the southern shore of Great Slave Lake. As a medium airport with two runways, it provides critical aviation infrastructure for regional transportation and supports diverse operational needs in a challenging northern environment.

Flying Conditions

Weather at CYHY demonstrates significant variability, with visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailing 65.2% of the time. Winter temperatures can drop to -39°C, while summers reach up to 28°C, creating substantial seasonal atmospheric changes. Prevailing westerly winds at an average of 7.8 knots and maximum gusts of 36 knots characterize the airport's wind profile.

Notable Features

Situated at 541 feet mean sea level, the airport features two distinct runways: a 4,001-foot commercial surface runway (05/23) and a 6,000-foot asphalt runway (14/32). Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind coverage, with relatively low average crosswind conditions of 5.7 and 4.1 knots respectively, enhancing operational flexibility.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect generally good visibility averaging 12.2 statute miles, with only 6% of observations showing reduced visibility below 3 miles. September, January, and December represent the most consistently favorable VFR months. Light fog occurs in approximately 1.7% of observations, suggesting minimal instrument meteorological conditions.

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.