Powell River Airport

CYPW / YPW

Powell River, CA

Last Updated
Jul 27, 16:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 23 min ago
16:00Z

☀️ Day
IFR
Flight Rules
16°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 16°C
10 kt
130° G17 kt
20 SM
Visibility
900 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1017 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR CYPW 271600Z 13010G17KT 090V160 20SM BKN009 OVC017 16/16 A3003 RMK SF5SC3 VIS N-NE 3 LO CLD BR SLP171

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 425 ft
BKN 900 ft AGL
OVC 1,700 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
900 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,325 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
1,700 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,125 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

IFR

Powell River Airport is currently reporting instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions with overcast skies at 1,700 feet and 20 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the southeast (130°) at 10 knots with gusts to 17 knots. Runway 09/27 is favored with a 8-knot headwind and 6-knot crosswind component (gusting to 11 knots crosswind).

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 20 SM. The ceiling is 900 feet AGL (broken). Only precision approaches may be usable depending on minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 16°C (61°F) with a dewpoint of 16°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

Pilot Recommendations

An instrument rating and IFR flight plan are required. Verify that destination and alternate approach minimums are above current and forecast conditions. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

QNH
1017 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1003 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (425 ft)
Pressure Alt
313 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 535 ft
ISA Deviation: +1.9°C

24-Hour Weather Evolution

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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
YPW
09 ✈️
27

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 09/27
Active: 09
3,627 ft 150 ft ASP 119°
7.7 kt 6.4 kt
40° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - CYPW

5,195 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
72.7%
MVFR
14.2%
IFR
8.5%
LIFR
4.6%

Powell River Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 72.7% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 13.1% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the E averaging 7.4 knots. Temperature extremes range from -3°C to 31°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are May, June, April.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: E (90°)
Average Speed: 7.4 kt
Maximum Recorded: 26 kt
Calm Winds: 8.9%
Direction Distribution:
E
34.4%
N
0.7%
S
1.9%
W
32.3%
NE
3.6%
NW
2.7%
SE
13.6%
SW
2%

Temperature Range

Average: 9.9°C
Range: -3°C to 31°C
-3°C 31°C

Visibility

Average: 21.2 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.1%
Fog Frequency: 5.3%

Best Months for VFR

May June April

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 09/27
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2.3 kt

Statistics computed from 5,195 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Powell River Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: CYPW
IATA Code: YPW
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 425 ft MSL

Location

City: Powell River
Country: CA
Latitude: 49.834202°
Longitude: -124.500000°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+8

Runway Information

Runway 09/27
Length: 3,627 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Powell River Airport

Overview

Powell River Airport serves the coastal community of Powell River, British Columbia, located on the Sunshine Coast. As a medium-sized airport at 425 ft elevation, it provides critical aviation access to this remote region, supporting local transportation and regional connectivity needs.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Powell River Airport demonstrate significant variability, with Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions predominating at 60.5% of observations. Pilots can expect moderate maritime influences, with temperatures ranging from -3°C to 26°C and an average of 8.1°C. Visibility typically remains excellent, averaging 18.6 statute miles, though fog can occur in 9.4% of observations.

Notable Features

The airport's single runway 09/27 is 3,627 feet long with an asphalt surface, aligned to take advantage of the prevailing easterly winds. Geographically situated near the Strait of Georgia, the airport experiences consistent wind patterns with an average speed of 7.4 knots and maximum gusts up to 26 knots. Calm wind conditions occur in 12.2% of observations.

Approach Considerations

Runway 09/27 demonstrates favorable wind alignment, with winds matching runway heading 100% of the time. Crosswind conditions are typically mild, averaging just 2.3 knots. September through November represent the most consistent VFR months, offering optimal flying conditions for pilots approaching or departing the airport.

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.