RAF Lakenheath

EGUL / LKZ

Brandon, Suffolk, GB

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF AMD EGUL 040340Z 0403/0504 08005KT 5000 BR SCT010 BKN050 QNH3029INS TEMPO 0404/0410 2000 BR OVC008 BECMG 0411/0412 13012KT 9999 NSW FEW080 FEW200 QNH3019INS BECMG 0418/0419 14010G15KT 9999 SKC QNH3008INS BECMG 0502/0503 15009KT 5000 BR FEW012 QNH3004INS TX15/0414Z TN03/0406Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
04:00Z
+-1h
Wed
05:00Z
+0h
Wed
06:00Z
+1h
Wed
07:00Z
+2h
Wed
08:00Z
+3h
Wed
09:00Z
+4h
Wed
10:00Z
+5h
Wed
11:00Z
+6h
Wed
12:00Z
+7h
Wed
13:00Z
+8h
Wed
14:00Z
+9h
Wed
15:00Z
+10h
Wed
16:00Z
+11h
Wed
17:00Z
+12h
Wed
18:00Z
+13h
Wed
19:00Z
+14h
Wed
20:00Z
+15h
Wed
21:00Z
+16h
Wed
22:00Z
+17h
Wed
23:00Z
+18h
Thu
00:00Z
+19h
Thu
01:00Z
+20h
Thu
02:00Z
+21h
Wind Dir
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
130°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
150°
SE
Wind Speed
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
9 kt
G15 kt
Visibility
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 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
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
5 km
Weather
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
Clouds
SCT010
BKN050
SCT010
BKN050
SCT010
BKN050
SCT010
BKN050
SCT010
BKN050
SCT010
BKN050
SCT010
BKN050
FEW080
FEW200
FEW080
FEW200
FEW080
FEW200
FEW080
FEW200
FEW080
FEW200
FEW080
FEW200
FEW080
FEW200
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
FEW012
Ceiling
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:30Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:30Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:30Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:30Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:30Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:29Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:29Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:29Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:29Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:29Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
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
MVFR
Wind
80° at 5 kt
Visibility
5 km
Weather
Mist
Clouds
SCT010 BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East (80°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be good at 5 km. Weather conditions: Mist. Scattered clouds at 1000 feet, Broken clouds at 5000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 04:00Z - 10:00Z
IFR
Visibility
2 km
Weather
Mist
Clouds
OVC008
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be moderate at 2 km. Weather conditions: Mist. Overcast skies at 800 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 11:00Z - 12:00Z
VFR
Wind
130° at 12 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW080 FEW200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Southeast (130°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 8000 feet, Few clouds at 20000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 18:00Z - 19:00Z
VFR
Wind
140° at 10 kt
Gusts: 15 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Southeast (140°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 15 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Skies will be clear. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 02:00Z - 03:00Z
MVFR
Wind
150° at 9 kt
Visibility
5 km
Weather
Mist
Clouds
FEW012
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South-Southeast (150°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be good at 5 km. Weather conditions: Mist. Few clouds at 1200 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

📚 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.