Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport

YSSY / SYD

Sydney (Mascot), AU

Last Updated
May 15, 04:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 17 min ago
04:00Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
20°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 16°C
6 kt
170°
10+ km
Visibility
5,500 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR YSSY 150400Z 17006KT 9999 SCT020 BKN055 20/16 Q1027

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 21 ft
SCT 2,000 ft AGL
BKN 5,500 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
2,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,021 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
5,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,521 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 5,500 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (170°) at 6 knots. Runway 16L/34R is favored with a 6-knot headwind and 1-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

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

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 20°C (68°F) with a dewpoint of 16°C. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread suggests high humidity and potential for visibility restrictions, especially during cooling periods.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 27 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain, Showers Rain, Showers Rain, Showers Rain. Temporary LIFR conditions are forecast with Showers Rain, Showers Rain, Showers Rain, Showers Rain between 03:00Z and 05:00Z.

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.

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF YSSY 150206Z 1503/1606 14010KT 9999 -SHRA SCT015 BKN030 FM150900 24005KT 9999 -SHRA SCT015 BKN030 FM151200 32008KT 9999 -SHRA SCT015 BKN030 FM160100 14008KT 9999 -SHRA SCT015 SCT030 TEMPO 1503/1505 3000 SHRA BKN008 SCT020TCU INTER 1505/1513 3000 SHRA BKN008 FEW020TCU INTER 1513/1602 5000 SHRA SCT008 BKN013 INTER 1602/1606 3000 SHRA BKN008 SCT020TCU
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
04:16Z BASE
+0h
VFR 140° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 3,000 ft
Light Showers Rain
09:00Z FM150900
+5h
VFR 240° 5 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 3,000 ft
Light Showers Rain
12:00Z FM151200
+8h
VFR 320° 8 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 3,000 ft
Light Showers 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
SSY
07
25
16L ✈️
34R
16R ✈️
34L

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
07/25 8,300 ft 148 ft ASP 74°
0.6 kt 6.0 kt
96° angle
✈️ 16L/34R
Active: 16L
7,999 ft 148 ft ASP 168°
5.9 kt 1.0 kt
10° angle
✈️ 16R/34L
Active: 16R
12,999 ft 148 ft ASP 168°
5.9 kt 1.0 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 - YSSY

12,397 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
84.3%
MVFR
12.9%
IFR
2.3%
LIFR
0.5%

Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 84.3% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 11.2 knots, with gusts recorded up to 36 knots. Temperature extremes range from 8°C to 42°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are May, April, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 11.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 36 kt
Calm Winds: 1%
Direction Distribution:
E
8%
N
10.3%
S
21%
W
14%
NE
14.1%
NW
12.2%
SE
12.1%
SW
7.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 21.3°C
Range: 8°C to 42°C
8°C 42°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.1%

Best Months for VFR

May April October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 07/25
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 7.7 kt
Runway 16L/34R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.7 kt
Runway 16R/34L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.7 kt

Statistics computed from 12,397 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: YSSY
IATA Code: SYD
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 21 ft MSL

Location

City: Sydney (Mascot)
Country: AU
Latitude: -33.946098°
Longitude: 151.177002°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-10

Runway Information

Runway 07/25
Length: 8,300 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 16L/34R
Length: 7,999 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 16R/34L
Length: 12,999 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport

Overview

Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport serves as the primary international airport for Sydney and the largest airport in Australia. Located at -33.946098, 151.177002 in Mascot, the airport operates at an elevation of 21 feet mean sea level. It features three substantial runways, with the longest runway measuring 12,999 feet, capable of handling wide-body international and domestic aircraft.

Flying Conditions

The airport's coastal location at 21 ft MSL provides generally stable atmospheric conditions, though maritime influences can create variable wind patterns. Pilots should anticipate potential wind shear and turbulence, particularly during seasonal transition periods. The multiple runway configuration allows for flexible operations in changing wind conditions.

Notable Features

Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport is situated in a densely populated urban environment, requiring precise navigation and adherence to established approach procedures. The airport's three runways (07/25, 16L/34R, and 16R/34L) are all constructed with asphalt surfaces, providing consistent runway characteristics across different approach vectors. The significant runway length, particularly the 12,999 ft runway, accommodates large international aircraft with ample stopping distance.

Approach Considerations

Runway selection typically depends on prevailing wind direction, with the parallel 16L/34R and 16R/34L runways offering complementary approach options. The 07/25 runway provides an additional operational configuration for crosswind scenarios. Pilots should be prepared for potential congestion and precise sequencing due to the airport's high-traffic international and domestic operations.

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.