Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport

YSSY / SYD

Sydney (Mascot), AU

Last Updated
May 15, 07:30Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 15 min ago
07:30Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
18°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 15°C
7 kt
110°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR YSSY 150730Z AUTO 11007KT 9999 // FEW086 18/15 Q1026

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 21 ft
FEW 8,600 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
8,600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
8,621 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with few clouds at 8,600 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east-southeast (110°) at 7 knots. Runway 07/25 is favored with a 5-knot headwind and 4-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 8,600 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 18°C (64°F) with a dewpoint of 15°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 30 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, Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain, Showers Rain, Showers Rain.

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. 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 150507Z 1506/1612 13010KT 9999 -SHRA SCT015 BKN030 FM150900 24005KT 9999 -SHRA SCT015 BKN030 FM151200 32008KT 9999 -SHRA SCT015 BKN030 FM160100 14008KT 9999 -SHRA SCT015 SCT030 FM160500 05010KT 9999 -SHRA FEW015 SCT030 INTER 1506/1513 3000 SHRA BKN008 FEW020TCU INTER 1513/1602 5000 SHRA SCT008 BKN013 INTER 1602/1612 3000 SHRA BKN008 SCT020TCU
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
07:44Z BASE
+0h
VFR 130° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 3,000 ft
Light Showers Rain
09:00Z FM150900
+2h
VFR 240° 5 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 3,000 ft
Light Showers Rain
12:00Z FM151200
+5h
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
Active: 07
8,300 ft 148 ft ASP 74°
5.4 kt 4.5 kt
40° angle
16L/34R 7,999 ft 148 ft ASP 168°
3.7 kt 5.9 kt
58° angle
16R/34L 12,999 ft 148 ft ASP 168°
3.7 kt 5.9 kt
58° 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.