Quesnel Airport

CYQZ / YQZ

Quesnel, CA

Last Updated
May 14, 20:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 34 min ago
20:00Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
12°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 3°C
8 kt
210°
9 SM
Visibility
5,500 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1012 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR CYQZ 142000Z AUTO 21008KT 150V280 9SM FEW041 BKN055 BKN070 BKN081 12/03 A2987 RMK SLP127 DENSITY ALT 2000FT

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,789 ft
FEW 4,100 ft AGL
BKN 5,500 ft AGL
BKN 7,000 ft AGL
BKN 8,100 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
4,100 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,889 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
5,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
7,289 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
7,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
8,789 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
8,100 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
9,889 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Quesnel Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 5,500 feet and 9 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots. Runway 13/31 is favored with a 1-knot headwind and 8-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 9 SM. The ceiling is 5500 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 12°C (54°F) with a dewpoint of 3°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 11 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Light Thunderstorm Rain, Mist, Light Showers Rain, FCST, FCST. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Light Thunderstorm Rain, Mist between 19:00Z and 22:00Z. Temporary VFR conditions are forecast with Light Showers Rain, FCST, FCST between 22:00Z and 03:00Z.

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
1012 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
952 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,789 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,827 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,896 ft
ISA Deviation: +0.6°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF CYQZ 141840Z 1419/1506 30007KT P6SM BKN060 TEMPO 1419/1422 5SM -TSRA BR BKN030 FM142200 32007KT P6SM BKN060 TEMPO 1422/1503 P6SM -SHRA VCTS BKN030 RMK FCST BASED ON AUTO OBS. NXT FCST BY 150100Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
20:33Z BASE
+0h
VFR 300° 7 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 6,000 ft
22:00Z FM142200
+2h
VFR 320° 7 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 6,000 ft
22:00Z TEMPO
+2h
VFR
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 3,000 ft
Light Showers Rain, 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
YQZ
13 ✈️
31

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 13/31
Active: 13
5,500 ft 200 ft ASP 150°
1.4 kt 7.9 kt
80° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - CYQZ

10,315 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
59.6%
MVFR
20.2%
IFR
7.6%
LIFR
12.6%

Quesnel Airport is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 59.6% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 20.2% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SE averaging 6.3 knots. Calm conditions occur 26.3% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -27°C to 30°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are April, May, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SE (135°)
Average Speed: 6.3 kt
Maximum Recorded: 26 kt
Calm Winds: 26.3%
Direction Distribution:
N
13.1%
NE
2.7%
E
2.4%
SE
22.5%
S
15.9%
SW
2.5%
W
1.5%
NW
13%

Temperature Range

Average: 0.6°C
Range: -27°C to 30°C
-27°C 30°C

Visibility

Average: 7.8 SM
Below 3 SM: 2.5%
Fog Frequency: 7.1%

Best Months for VFR

April May October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 13/31
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2.6 kt

Statistics computed from 10,315 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Quesnel Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: CYQZ
IATA Code: YQZ
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,789 ft MSL

Location

City: Quesnel
Country: CA
Latitude: 53.026100°
Longitude: -122.510002°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+8

Runway Information

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

About Quesnel Airport

Overview

Quesnel Airport serves the central British Columbia region, located at an elevation of 1789 ft MSL near the city of Quesnel. Classified as a medium airport, it provides critical aviation infrastructure for transportation and regional connectivity in this part of western Canada. The airport supports various aviation activities with its primary runway 13/31, which measures 5500 feet and is constructed with asphalt surface.

Flying Conditions

Weather observations reveal significant variability in flight conditions, with Visual Flight Rules (VFR) predominating at 51.8% of recorded periods. Pilots can expect challenging conditions during winter and early spring, with IFR and LIFR conditions combining for approximately 26% of observations. Temperature ranges from -27°C to 30°C, creating potential challenges for aircraft performance and pilot planning.

Notable Features

The airport is characterized by a southeastern prevailing wind pattern at 135 degrees, with an average wind speed of 5.9 knots and occasional gusts up to 25 knots. Calm wind conditions occur in 26.8% of observations, providing relatively stable operational environments. Visibility averages 7.6 statute miles, with occasional reduced visibility periods affecting flight planning.

Approach Considerations

Runway 13/31 offers favorable wind alignment 100% of the time, with an average crosswind component of just 2.5 knots. September through November represent the most consistent VFR flying months, offering the most predictable approach conditions. Pilots should anticipate potential fog events, which occur in 8.6% of observations, and prepare accordingly for potential reduced visibility scenarios.

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.