Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport

CYOW / YOW

Ottawa, CA

Last Updated
Jul 5, 07:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 15 min ago
07:00Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
14°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 13°C
4 kt
320°
15 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1015 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR CYOW 050700Z 32004KT 15SM SKC 14/13 A2996 RMK SLP148

Weather Briefing

VFR

Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with clear skies and 15 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the northwest (320°) at 4 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 15 SM. Skies are clear with unlimited ceiling.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 14°C (57°F) with a dewpoint of 13°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 30 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period. Expected weather includes: FCST.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. 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
1015 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1003 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (374 ft)
Pressure Alt
322 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 292 ft
ISA Deviation: -0.3°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF CYOW 050540Z 0506/0612 32005KT P6SM SKC BECMG 0512/0514 36005KT FM051800 36005KT P6SM FEW040 BECMG 0522/0524 04005KT BECMG 0606/0608 06008KT RMK NXT FCST BY 050900Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
07:15Z BASE
+0h
VFR 320° 5 kt
Visibility: >6SM
12:00Z BECMG
+5h
VFR 360° 5 kt
18:00Z FM051800
+11h
VFR 360° 5 kt
Visibility: >6SM

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
YOW
04
22
07
25
14
32 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
04/22 3,300 ft 75 ft ASP 26°
1.6 kt 3.7 kt
66° angle
07/25 8,000 ft 200 ft ASP 57°
0.5 kt 4.0 kt
97° angle
✈️ 14/32
Active: 32
10,000 ft 200 ft ASP 126°
4.0 kt 0.0 kt
0° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - CYOW

8,489 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
67.3%
MVFR
18.5%
IFR
10.2%
LIFR
4%

Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 67.3% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 14.2% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 8.7 knots, with gusts recorded up to 31 knots. Temperature extremes range from -27°C to 32°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. Low visibility conditions (below 3 SM) occur in 5.5% of weather observations. The best months for VFR flying are May, September, June.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 8.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 31 kt
Calm Winds: 1.5%
Direction Distribution:
E
13.8%
N
8%
S
14.1%
W
22.2%
NE
11%
NW
11.4%
SE
4.7%
SW
13.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 2.9°C
Range: -27°C to 32°C
-27°C 32°C

Visibility

Average: 12.5 SM
Below 3 SM: 5.5%
Fog Frequency: 4.2%

Best Months for VFR

May September June

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 04/22
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.4 kt
Runway 07/25
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.8 kt
Runway 14/32
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.9 kt

Statistics computed from 8,489 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: CYOW
IATA Code: YOW
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 374 ft MSL

Location

City: Ottawa
Country: CA
Latitude: 45.322498°
Longitude: -75.669197°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 04/22
Length: 3,300 ft
Width: 75 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 07/25
Length: 8,000 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 14/32
Length: 10,000 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport

Overview

Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport serves as the primary airport for Canada's capital city, located in eastern Ontario. Situated at an elevation of 374 feet above mean sea level, the airport provides critical transportation infrastructure for government, commercial, and regional aviation operations in the National Capital Region.

Flying Conditions

The airport's three runways offer comprehensive wind coverage, with lengths ranging from 3,300 to 10,000 feet. The multiple runway configurations (04/22, 07/25, and 14/32) all feature asphalt surfaces, providing pilots with flexible operational capabilities across different wind conditions and aircraft types.

Notable Features

Located at coordinates 45.322498, -75.669197, the airport is positioned in a relatively flat urban terrain typical of the Ottawa region. The substantial 10,000-foot runway (14/32) provides excellent operational capacity for larger commercial and cargo aircraft, while the shorter runways offer additional flexibility for smaller aircraft.

Approach Considerations

Pilots should note the significant variation in runway lengths, with the longest runway (14/32) offering 10,000 feet of asphalt surface. The multiple runway orientations provide options for handling various wind directions, with the 07/25 and 14/32 runways offering particularly robust length for most commercial and business aviation requirements.

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.