RAF Fairford

EGVA / FFD

Fairford, Gloucestershire, GB

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF EGVA 040630Z 0406/0512 09009KT 0800 FG BKN003 QNH3030INS TEMPO 0406/0409 0600 FG BKN002 BECMG 0410/0411 09009KT 9999 NSW BKN020 QNH3029INS BECMG 0413/0414 16012G18KT 9999 BKN050 QNH3029INS BECMG 0500/0501 10009KT 5000 BR BKN025 QNH3030INS TX15/0413Z TN03/0407Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
14:00Z
+-1h
Wed
15:00Z
+0h
Wed
16:00Z
+1h
Wed
17:00Z
+2h
Wed
18:00Z
+3h
Wed
19:00Z
+4h
Wed
20:00Z
+5h
Wed
21:00Z
+6h
Wed
22:00Z
+7h
Wed
23:00Z
+8h
Thu
00:00Z
+9h
Thu
01:00Z
+10h
Thu
02:00Z
+11h
Thu
03:00Z
+12h
Thu
04:00Z
+13h
Thu
05:00Z
+14h
Thu
06:00Z
+15h
Thu
07:00Z
+16h
Thu
08:00Z
+17h
Thu
09:00Z
+18h
Thu
10:00Z
+19h
Wind Dir
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
Wind Speed
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
Visibility
0.8 km
0.8 km
0.8 km
0.8 km
0.8 km
0.8 km
0.8 km
0.8 km
0.8 km
0.8 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
Weather
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Clouds
BKN003
BKN003
BKN003
BKN003
BKN003
BKN003
BKN003
BKN003
BKN003
BKN003
BKN025
BKN025
BKN025
BKN025
BKN025
BKN025
BKN025
BKN025
BKN025
BKN025
BKN025
Ceiling
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
300 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
Flight Rules LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:29Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:29Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:29Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:29Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:29Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:28Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:28Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:28Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:28Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:28Z
☀️
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
LIFR
Wind
90° at 9 kt
Visibility
0.8 km
Weather
Fog
Clouds
BKN003
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East (90°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be poor at 0.8 km. Weather conditions: Fog. Broken clouds at 300 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

TEMPO 06:00Z - 09:00Z
LIFR
Visibility
0.6 km
Weather
Fog
Clouds
BKN002
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be poor at 0.6 km. Weather conditions: Fog. Broken clouds at 200 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

BECMG 10:00Z - 11:00Z
MVFR
Wind
90° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the East (90°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 2000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 13:00Z - 14:00Z
VFR
Wind
160° at 12 kt
Gusts: 18 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South-Southeast (160°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 18 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 00:00Z - 01:00Z
MVFR
Wind
100° at 9 kt
Visibility
5 km
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the East (100°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be good at 5 km. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 2500 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.