Lethbridge County Airport

CYQL / YQL

Lethbridge, CA

Last Updated
Apr 23, 03:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 49 min ago
03:00Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
6°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 4°C
5 kt
300°
15 SM
Visibility
3,600 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1006 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR CYQL 230300Z 30005KT 15SM BKN036 OVC200 06/04 A2970 RMK SC7CI1 SLP069

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 3,048 ft
BKN 3,600 ft AGL
OVC 20,000 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
3,600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
6,648 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
20,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
23,048 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Lethbridge County Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with overcast skies at 20,000 feet and 15 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 knots. Runway 31 is favored with a 5-knot headwind and 1-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 15 SM. The ceiling is 3600 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 6°C (43°F) with a dewpoint of 4°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 10 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain, Light Showers Rain, Mist, FCST. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Light Showers Rain, Mist between 02:00Z and 04:00Z.

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
1006 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
904 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (3,048 ft)
Pressure Alt
3,266 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 2,918 ft
ISA Deviation: -2.9°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF AMD CYQL 230212Z 2302/2312 34015G25KT P6SM -SHRA OVC040 TEMPO 2302/2304 5SM -SHRA BR FEW008 OVC020 FM230400 34015G30KT P6SM BKN030 OVC080 RMK NXT FCST BY 230600Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
03:49Z BASE
+0h
VFR 340° 15 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 4,000 ft
Light Showers Rain
04:00Z FM230400
+1h
VFR 340° 15 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 3,000 ft
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
YQL
06
24
13
31 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
06/24 6,500 ft 200 ft ASP 70°
3.2 kt 3.8 kt
130° angle
✈️ 13/31
Active: 31
5,500 ft 150 ft ASP 140°
4.9 kt 0.9 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 - CYQL

6,618 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
78.3%
MVFR
12.6%
IFR
5.3%
LIFR
3.8%

Lethbridge County Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 78.3% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 9.1% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 11.4 knots, with gusts recorded up to 45 knots. Temperature extremes range from -31°C to 31°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are September, October, February.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 11.4 kt
Maximum Recorded: 45 kt
Calm Winds: 2.1%
Direction Distribution:
N
11.6%
NE
10.1%
E
6.5%
SE
4%
S
10.2%
SW
19.6%
W
27.2%
NW
8.8%

Temperature Range

Average: 0.2°C
Range: -31°C to 31°C
-31°C 31°C

Visibility

Average: 24.9 SM
Below 3 SM: 2.4%
Fog Frequency: 2.7%

Best Months for VFR

September October February

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 06/24
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.2 kt
Runway 13/31
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 8.5 kt

Statistics computed from 6,618 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Lethbridge County Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: CYQL
IATA Code: YQL
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 3,048 ft MSL

Location

City: Lethbridge
Country: CA
Latitude: 49.630299°
Longitude: -112.800003°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+8

Runway Information

Runway 06/24
Length: 6,500 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 13/31
Length: 5,500 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Lethbridge County Airport

Overview

Lethbridge County Airport (CYQL) is a medium-sized airport serving the Lethbridge region in southern Alberta, Canada. Situated at an elevation of 3,048 feet MSL, the airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for the local area, with two asphalt runways capable of handling various aircraft operations.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions 80% of the time, with moderate variability in weather patterns. Temperature ranges from -28°C to 31°C create significant seasonal challenges, while prevailing westerly winds at an average of 10.9 knots characterize the local meteorological environment. Pilots should note that September, October, and January historically offer the most stable VFR conditions.

Notable Features

Located at coordinates 49.630299, -112.800003, Lethbridge County Airport features two parallel runways: Runway 06/24 at 6,500 feet and Runway 13/31 at 5,500 feet. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with Runway 06/24 experiencing an average crosswind of 4.8 knots and Runway 13/31 experiencing an average crosswind of 8.3 knots. Visibility typically averages 24 statute miles, with occasional reduced conditions.

Approach Considerations

Wind patterns strongly favor both runways, providing consistent approach options for pilots. The airport experiences wind speeds up to 45 knots, with calm conditions occurring 2.3% of the time. Pilots should be prepared for potential reduced visibility, as fog occurs 3.6% of the time and conditions below 3 statute miles happen in 2.1% 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.