Cartwright Airport

CYCA / YRF

Cartwright, CA

Last Updated
May 1, 02:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 57 min ago
02:00Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
7°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: -5°C
5 kt
230°
9 SM
Visibility
23,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1020 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR CYCA 010200Z AUTO 23005KT 9SM BKN230 BKN250 07/M05 A3013 RMK SLP206

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 40 ft
BKN 23,000 ft AGL
BKN 25,000 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
23,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
23,040 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
25,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
25,040 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Cartwright Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 23,000 feet and 9 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the southwest (230°) at 5 knots. Runway 26 is favored with a 4-knot headwind and 3-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 9 SM. The ceiling is 23000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 7°C (45°F) with a dewpoint of -5°C, indicating relatively dry conditions.

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.

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
1019 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (40 ft)
Pressure Alt
-163 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -1,113 ft
ISA Deviation: -7.9°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF CYCA 010140Z 0102/0114 20010G20KT P6SM SCT120 SCT220 RMK FCST BASED ON AUTO OBS. NXT FCST BY 010800Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
02:57Z BASE
+0h
VFR 200° 10 kt
Visibility: >6SM
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
YCA
08
26 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 08/26
Active: 26
2,500 ft 75 ft GRAVEL
4.3 kt 2.5 kt
30° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - CYCA

10,682 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
45.8%
MVFR
33.1%
IFR
17.4%
LIFR
3.7%

Cartwright Airport is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 45.8% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 21.1% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the N averaging 11.1 knots, with gusts recorded up to 36 knots. Temperature extremes range from -27°C to 21°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. Low visibility conditions (below 3 SM) occur in 7.4% of weather observations. The best months for VFR flying are March, October, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: N (0°)
Average Speed: 11.1 kt
Maximum Recorded: 36 kt
Calm Winds: 1.7%
Direction Distribution:
E
4.3%
N
25.1%
S
12.3%
W
12.1%
NE
10.6%
NW
15.1%
SE
3.4%
SW
15.4%

Temperature Range

Average: -3.3°C
Range: -27°C to 21°C
-27°C 21°C

Visibility

Average: 7.3 SM
Below 3 SM: 7.4%
Fog Frequency: 0.7%

Best Months for VFR

March October September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 08/26
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 8.1 kt

Statistics computed from 10,682 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Cartwright Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: CYCA
IATA Code: YRF
Type: small airport
Status: active
Elevation: 40 ft MSL

Location

City: Cartwright
Country: CA
Latitude: 53.682501°
Longitude: -57.042303°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+4

Runway Information

Runway 08/26
Length: 2,500 ft
Width: 75 ft
Surface: GRAVEL
ILS: No

About Cartwright Airport

Cartwright Airport (CYCA/YRF) is located in Cartwright, CA at an elevation of 40 feet MSL. The airport has 1 runway (08/26), with the longest at 2,500 feet.

Weather Profile

CYCA is weather-challenged, with VFR conditions just 45.8% of the time across 10,682 observations. IFR/LIFR conditions are present 21.1% of the time, making an instrument rating essential for reliable access.

Wind Patterns & Runway Selection

Prevailing winds at CYCA come from the N (0°) with an average speed of 11.1 knots and recorded gusts up to 36 knots. Calm winds are rare (1.7%), so crosswind considerations are a regular factor. Runway 08/26 offers the lowest average crosswind component at 8.1 knots, making it the preferred choice in typical wind conditions.

Seasonal Considerations

The best months for VFR operations are March, October, September, when clear skies are most prevalent. Temperatures at the field range from -27°C (-17°F) to 21°C (70°F), averaging -3.3°C (26°F). Cold weather operations require attention to aircraft preheating, de-icing, and cold-soaked fuel management. Altimeter settings typically range from 28.58 to 30.54 inHg (968-1034 hPa).

Data Sources: Airport data from OurAirports.com. Weather statistics derived from 10,682 official METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Pilots should always verify current conditions through official channels before flight.

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.