Glasgow Prestwick Airport

EGPK / PIK

Prestwick, South Ayrshire, GB

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF EGPK 041054Z 0412/0512 16012KT 9999 SCT025 PROB30 TEMPO 0412/0508 16015G25KT TEMPO 0500/0512 6000 RA BKN010 PROB30 TEMPO 0500/0512 BKN008 PROB30 TEMPO 0506/0512 4000 +RA

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
17:00Z
+-1h
Wed
18:00Z
+0h
Wed
19:00Z
+1h
Wed
20:00Z
+2h
Wed
21:00Z
+3h
Wed
22:00Z
+4h
Wed
23:00Z
+5h
Thu
00:00Z
+6h
Thu
01:00Z
+7h
Thu
02:00Z
+8h
Thu
03:00Z
+9h
Thu
04:00Z
+10h
Thu
05:00Z
+11h
Thu
06:00Z
+12h
Thu
07:00Z
+13h
Thu
08:00Z
+14h
Thu
09:00Z
+15h
Thu
10:00Z
+16h
Wind Dir
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
Wind Speed
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
4 km
4 km
4 km
4 km
4 km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Heavy Rain
+RA
30%
Heavy Rain
+RA
30%
Heavy Rain
+RA
30%
Heavy Rain
+RA
30%
Heavy Rain
+RA
30%
Clouds
SCT025
SCT025
SCT025
SCT025
SCT025
SCT025
SCT025
BKN008
BKN008
BKN008
BKN008
BKN008
BKN008
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌇 17:28Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:28Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:28Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:30Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:30Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:30Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:30Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:30Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
Flight Rules
VFR: Visual Flight Rules
MVFR: Marginal VFR
IFR: Instrument Flight Rules
LIFR: Low IFR
Ceiling Colors
Red: < 500ft
Amber: 500-1000ft
Blue: 1000-3000ft
Green: > 3000ft
⛈️ TCU: Towering Cumulus
🌩️ CB: Cumulonimbus
+Nh: Hours from now%: Probability of occurrenceAGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
160° at 12 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southeast (160°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 2500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 TEMPO 12:00Z - 08:00Z
VFR
Wind
160° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Winds from the South-Southeast (160°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 00:00Z - 12:00Z
IFR
Visibility
6 km
Weather
Rain
Clouds
BKN010
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be good at 6 km. Weather conditions: Rain. Broken clouds at 1000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

PROB30 TEMPO 00:00Z - 12:00Z
IFR
Clouds
BKN008
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Broken clouds at 800 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

PROB30 TEMPO 06:00Z - 12:00Z
IFR
Visibility
4 km
Weather
Heavy Rain
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be moderate at 4 km. Weather conditions: Heavy Rain. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

📚 Understanding TAF Forecasts

Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) provides detailed weather forecasts specifically for aviation operations. Our system translates complex meteorological codes into plain English to help pilots of all experience levels understand forecasted conditions.

What TAF Includes:

  • • Wind direction, speed, and gusts
  • • Visibility in statute miles or kilometers
  • • Weather phenomena (rain, snow, fog, thunderstorms)
  • • Cloud coverage types and altitudes
  • • Forecast changes with timing
  • • Flight rules categories (VFR/IFR)

Change Indicators Explained:

  • BASE - Main forecast conditions
  • FM - Permanent change from specific time
  • BECMG - Gradual change over 2-4 hours
  • TEMPO - Temporary changes (less than 1 hour)
  • PROB30/40 - 30% or 40% probability

🛩️ Flight Rules Categories

VFR

Visual Flight Rules

  • • Ceiling ≥ 3000 ft
  • • Visibility ≥ 5 miles
  • • Good for visual flying

MVFR

Marginal VFR

  • • Ceiling 1000-3000 ft
  • • Visibility 3-5 miles
  • • Caution for VFR

IFR

Instrument Flight Rules

  • • Ceiling 500-1000 ft
  • • Visibility 1-3 miles
  • • Instruments required

LIFR

Low IFR

  • • Ceiling < 500 ft
  • • Visibility < 1 mile
  • • Challenging conditions

💡 TAF Reading Tips

For Student Pilots:

  • • Focus on the plain English explanations above
  • • Pay attention to flight rules categories
  • • Look for wind direction relative to runway headings
  • • Check for temporary conditions (TEMPO)

For Experienced Pilots:

  • • Cross-reference with raw TAF for precise timing
  • • Consider probability forecasts for alternate planning
  • • Monitor BECMG periods for gradual changes
  • • Always check current METAR vs TAF forecast

Important: TAF forecasts should always be supplemented with current METAR observations, PIREPs, and other weather information for complete situational awareness. Weather can change rapidly, and forecasts have inherent limitations.