RAF Fairford

EGVA / FFD

Fairford, Gloucestershire, GB

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF EGVA 092200Z 0922/1104 26015G25KT 9999 BKN030 520006 QNH2993INS BECMG 1001/1002 25010G18KT 9999 BKN030 QNH2994INS BECMG 1013/1014 26015G25KT 8000 -SHRA SCT020 BKN030 520006 QNH3002INS TX17/1015Z TN09/1004Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
05:00Z
+-1h
Wed
06:00Z
+0h
Wed
07:00Z
+1h
Wed
08:00Z
+2h
Wed
09:00Z
+3h
Wed
10:00Z
+4h
Wed
11:00Z
+5h
Wed
12:00Z
+6h
Wed
13:00Z
+7h
Wed
14:00Z
+8h
Wed
15:00Z
+9h
Wed
16:00Z
+10h
Wed
17:00Z
+11h
Wed
18:00Z
+12h
Wed
19:00Z
+13h
Wed
20:00Z
+14h
Wed
21:00Z
+15h
Wed
22:00Z
+16h
Wed
23:00Z
+17h
Thu
00:00Z
+18h
Thu
01:00Z
+19h
Thu
02:00Z
+20h
Wind Dir
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
Wind Speed
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
Clouds
BKN030
BKN030
BKN030
BKN030
BKN030
BKN030
BKN030
BKN030
SCT020
BKN030
SCT020
BKN030
SCT020
BKN030
SCT020
BKN030
SCT020
BKN030
SCT020
BKN030
SCT020
BKN030
SCT020
BKN030
SCT020
BKN030
SCT020
BKN030
SCT020
BKN030
SCT020
BKN030
SCT020
BKN030
SCT020
BKN030
Ceiling
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
3,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌅 04:27Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:27Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:32Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:32Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:32Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 19:32Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:32Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:27Z
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 occurrence • AGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
260° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West (260°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 3000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 01:00Z - 02:00Z
VFR
Wind
250° at 10 kt
Gusts: 18 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 18 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 3000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 13:00Z - 14:00Z
MVFR
Wind
260° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
8 km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT020 BKN030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West (260°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 8 km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet, Broken clouds at 3000 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.