Nanaimo Airport

CYCD / YCD

Nanaimo, CA

Last Updated
Jun 9, 22:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 27 min ago
22:00Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
18°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 7°C
16 kt
200° G24 kt
25 SM
Visibility
5,600 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1011 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR CYCD 092200Z 20016G24KT 180V250 25SM BKN056 18/07 A2986 RMK SC6 SLP114 DENSITY ALT 600FT

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 92 ft
BKN 5,600 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
5,600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,692 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Nanaimo Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 5,600 feet and 25 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south-southwest (200°) at 16 knots with gusts to 24 knots. Runway 16/34 is favored with a 12-knot headwind and 10-knot crosswind component (gusting to 15 knots crosswind). Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 25 SM. The ceiling is 5600 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 18°C (64°F) with a dewpoint of 7°C, indicating relatively dry conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 10 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period. Expected weather includes: FCST. Temporary VFR conditions are forecast between 18:00Z and 00:00Z.

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
1011 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1008 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (92 ft)
Pressure Alt
160 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 542 ft
ISA Deviation: +3.2°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF CYCD 091740Z 0918/1004 VRB03KT P6SM BKN060 TEMPO 0918/0924 P6SM VCSH BECMG 0918/0920 24010KT FM100000 24010G20KT P6SM SCT050 RMK NXT FCST BY 100000Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
22:27Z BASE
+0h
VFR VRB 3 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 6,000 ft
00:00Z FM100000
+2h
VFR 240° 10 kt
Visibility: >6SM
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
YCD
16 ✈️
34

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 16/34
Active: 16
6,602 ft 150 ft ASP 181°
12.3 kt 10.3 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 - CYCD

4,860 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
73%
MVFR
11.4%
IFR
11.7%
LIFR
3.9%

Nanaimo Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 73% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 15.6% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SE averaging 5.6 knots. Calm conditions occur 18.7% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -6°C to 29°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are June, May, April.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SE (135°)
Average Speed: 5.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 21 kt
Calm Winds: 18.7%
Direction Distribution:
E
11.3%
N
13.3%
S
11.7%
W
12.8%
NE
6.8%
NW
4.4%
SE
14.7%
SW
6.4%

Temperature Range

Average: 9.5°C
Range: -6°C to 29°C
-6°C 29°C

Visibility

Average: 16.9 SM
Below 3 SM: 4.2%
Fog Frequency: 3.2%

Best Months for VFR

June May April

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 16/34
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.2 kt

Statistics computed from 4,860 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Nanaimo Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: CYCD
IATA Code: YCD
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 92 ft MSL

Location

City: Nanaimo
Country: CA
Latitude: 49.054970°
Longitude: -123.869863°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+8

Runway Information

Runway 16/34
Length: 6,602 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Nanaimo Airport

Overview

Nanaimo Airport serves Vancouver Island's central region, located near the city of Nanaimo in British Columbia, Canada. As a medium-sized airport with a single runway (16/34) measuring 6,602 feet, it supports regional aviation operations and serves as an important transportation hub for the surrounding communities.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Nanaimo Airport exhibit significant variability, with Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions predominating at 63.9% of observations. Pilots can expect moderate wind conditions, with a prevailing southeast wind at 5.3 knots and occasional calm periods (23.5% of the time). Temperature ranges from -4°C to 28°C, with an average of 8.6°C, creating diverse flying environments throughout the year.

Notable Features

Situated at 92 feet above mean sea level, Nanaimo Airport is characterized by relatively low elevation and coastal terrain. The airport's geographical position near the Strait of Georgia influences local weather patterns, with potential marine layer impacts. Crosswind conditions are generally mild, averaging 2.8 knots on the primary runway 16/34.

Approach Considerations

Runway 16/34 demonstrates favorable wind alignment, with 100% wind compatibility. September through November represent the most consistent VFR months, offering optimal flying conditions. Pilots should anticipate potential reduced visibility scenarios, with observations showing 5.8% of reports featuring visibility below 3 statute miles and 5% experiencing fog conditions.

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.