Pincher Creek Airport

CZPC / WPC

Pincher Creek, CA

Last Updated
May 14, 23:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 37 min ago
23:00Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
14°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 0°C
29 kt
240° G37 kt
9 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1008 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR CZPC 142300Z AUTO 24029G37KT 9SM SCT076 14/M00 A2976 RMK SLP080 DENSITY ALT 4900FT

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 3,903 ft
SCT 7,600 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
7,600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
11,503 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Pincher Creek Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with scattered clouds at 7,600 feet and 9 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west-southwest (240°) at 29 knots with gusts to 37 knots. Runway 26 is favored with a 27-knot headwind and 10-knot crosswind component (gusting to 13 knots crosswind). These are strong winds that may exceed crosswind limits for light aircraft.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 9 SM. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: scattered at 7,600 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 14°C (57°F) with a dewpoint of 0°C, indicating relatively dry conditions.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. Gusty conditions may exceed demonstrated crosswind components for many general aviation aircraft. Check your aircraft's limitations.

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

QNH
1008 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
878 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (3,903 ft)
Pressure Alt
4,061 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 4,878 ft
ISA Deviation: +6.8°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
ZPC
08
26 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 08/26
Active: 26
6,600 ft 100 ft ASP 90°
27.3 kt 9.9 kt
20° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - CZPC

9,126 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
73.4%
MVFR
16.2%
IFR
6.8%
LIFR
3.6%

Pincher Creek Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 73.4% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 10.4% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 12.7 knots, with gusts recorded up to 54 knots. Temperature extremes range from -31°C to 28°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are September, May, January.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 12.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 54 kt
Calm Winds: 1.7%
Direction Distribution:
N
2.4%
NE
2.4%
E
18%
SE
9.2%
S
2.7%
SW
7.6%
W
49.2%
NW
6.8%

Temperature Range

Average: -0.1°C
Range: -31°C to 28°C
-31°C 28°C

Visibility

Average: 8.1 SM
Below 3 SM: 3.1%
Fog Frequency: 1.6%

Best Months for VFR

September May January

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 08/26
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.3 kt

Statistics computed from 9,126 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Pincher Creek Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: CZPC
IATA Code: WPC
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 3,903 ft MSL

Location

City: Pincher Creek
Country: CA
Latitude: 49.520429°
Longitude: -113.997002°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+8

Runway Information

Runway 08/26
Length: 6,600 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Pincher Creek Airport

Overview

Pincher Creek Airport serves the southern Alberta region, located in a strategic position near the Rocky Mountain foothills. Situated at an elevation of 3903 feet MSL, this medium airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for the Pincher Creek municipal area and surrounding agricultural and rural communities.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly VFR conditions, with 78.1% of observations reporting visual flight rules. Wind patterns are consistently westerly at 270 degrees, averaging 13.6 knots with occasional gusts up to 52 knots. Seasonal temperatures vary significantly, ranging from -30°C to 28°C, with an average of 0.4°C, presenting potential challenges for winter and summer operations.

Notable Features

The airport's single runway 08/26 is 6600 feet long with an asphalt surface, capable of accommodating a variety of aircraft. Its high elevation and proximity to mountainous terrain require pilots to be attentive to potential wind shear, terrain interactions, and rapid weather changes typical of the Alberta foothills region.

Approach Considerations

Runway 08/26 demonstrates favorable wind alignment, with 100% wind compatibility and a low average crosswind of 3.2 knots. Pilots should note the best VFR months are September, October, and January, which offer the most consistent weather conditions for arrivals and departures.

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.