Fort Smith Airport

CYSM / YSM

Fort Smith, CA

Last Updated
Jul 4, 23:33Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 21 min ago
23:33Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
22°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 10°C
10 kt
Variable G17 kt
15 SM
Visibility
8,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1006 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

SPECI CYSM 042333Z VRB10G17KT 15SM TS BKN080CB 22/10 A2970 RMK CB6 SLP063 DENSITY ALT 2000FT

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 671 ft
BKN 8,000 ft AGL (CB)
☁️
BKN (CB)
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
8,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
8,671 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Fort Smith Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 8,000 feet and 15 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the variable directions at 10 knots with gusts to 17 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 15 SM. The ceiling is 8000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums. Caution: cumulonimbus (thunderstorm) clouds reported at 8,000 ft AGL, indicating convective activity in the area.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 22°C (72°F) with a dewpoint of 10°C, indicating relatively dry conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 7 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Thunderstorm Rain, Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain, Mist, Thunderstorm Rain, FCST. Winds are forecast to reach up to 20 knots during the period. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 3 to 20 knots. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Thunderstorm Rain between 23:00Z and 01:00Z. Temporary VFR conditions are forecast with Light Showers Rain between 01:00Z and 04:00Z. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Thunderstorm Rain between 01:00Z and 04:00Z.

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
1006 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
984 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (671 ft)
Pressure Alt
889 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,890 ft
ISA Deviation: +8.3°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF AMD CYSM 042337Z 0423/0506 VRB03KT P6SM SCT080 TEMPO 0423/0501 VRB20G30KT 4SM TSRA OVC060CB FM050100 VRB03KT P6SM SCT060 TEMPO 0501/0504 P6SM -SHRA BKN060 PROB30 0501/0504 VRB15G25KT 4SM TSRA OVC050CB FM050400 VRB03KT P6SM -SHRA SCT015 OVC040 TEMPO 0504/0506 4SM SHRA BR BKN015 OVC040 PROB30 0504/0506 VRB15G25KT 3SM TSRA OVC015CB RMK NXT FCST BY 050000Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
23:54Z BASE
+0h
VFR VRB 3 kt
Visibility: >6SM
01:00Z FM050100
+2h
VFR VRB 3 kt
Visibility: >6SM
01:00Z TEMPO
+2h
VFR
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 6,000 ft
Light Showers Rain
01:00Z PROB30
+2h
MVFR VRB 15 kt
Visibility: 4SM
Ceiling: 5,000 ft
Thunderstorm Rain

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
YSM
03
21
12
30

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
03/21 1,800 ft 100 ft COM 41° No wind data
12/30 6,000 ft 100 ft ASP 131° No wind data
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - CYSM

7,951 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
68.5%
MVFR
19.5%
IFR
10%
LIFR
1.9%

Fort Smith Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 68.5% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 11.9% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SE averaging 6.2 knots. Temperature extremes range from -46°C to 58°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are May, March, April.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SE (135°)
Average Speed: 6.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 25 kt
Calm Winds: 8.2%
Direction Distribution:
E
6.7%
N
13.2%
S
11.1%
W
12.7%
NE
7.9%
NW
14.8%
SE
19.4%
SW
6%

Temperature Range

Average: -6.7°C
Range: -46°C to 58°C
-46°C 58°C

Visibility

Average: 12.9 SM
Below 3 SM: 3.5%
Fog Frequency: 0.8%

Best Months for VFR

May March April

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 03/21
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.5 kt
Runway 12/30
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.3 kt

Statistics computed from 7,951 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Fort Smith Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: CYSM
IATA Code: YSM
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 671 ft MSL

Location

City: Fort Smith
Country: CA
Latitude: 60.020302°
Longitude: -111.961998°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+7

Runway Information

Runway 03/21
Length: 1,800 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: COM
ILS: No
Runway 12/30
Length: 6,000 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

Nearby Airports

VFR MVFR IFR LIFR No Data

About Fort Smith Airport

Overview

Fort Smith Airport serves the community in northwestern Canada, located at 60.020302, -111.961998 with an elevation of 671 ft MSL. As a medium airport, it provides critical aviation infrastructure in a remote region, supporting regional transportation and potentially resource industry operations in the Northwest Territories.

Flying Conditions

Weather at Fort Smith demonstrates significant variability, with visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailing 57.8% of the time. Temperature extremes range dramatically from -46°C to 58°C, with an average of -8.9°C, presenting challenging environmental conditions for pilots. Winds predominantly come from the southeast at an average of 6.4 knots, with occasional gusts up to 25 knots.

Notable Features

The airport features two runways: a 1,800 ft COM runway (03/21) and a 6,000 ft ASP runway (12/30), providing operational flexibility. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with minimal average crosswind components of 4.9 kt and 3.1 kt respectively. Visibility averages 12.3 statute miles, with occasional reduced conditions including 4.5% of observations below 3 SM and 1.5% fog presence.

Approach Considerations

Seasonal considerations are critical, with September, January, and December offering the most consistently favorable VFR conditions. Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) occur 17% of the time, with MVFR and IFR conditions combining for 38.7% of observations. Pilots should prepare for potential weather transitions and maintain currency in instrument procedures given the variable climate.

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.