RAF Fairford

EGVA / FFD

Fairford, Gloucestershire, GB

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF EGVA 101400Z 1014/1120 04010G15KT 9999 SCT250 QNH3013INS BECMG 1101/1102 09006KT 9999 FEW020 SCT250 QNH3020INS BECMG 1105/1106 12006KT 9999 SCT030 SCT250 QNH3023INS BECMG 1113/1114 12010G15KT 9999 SKC QNH3018INS TX27/1016Z TN14/1006Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Mon
20:00Z
+-1h
Mon
21:00Z
+0h
Mon
22:00Z
+1h
Mon
23:00Z
+2h
Tue
00:00Z
+3h
Tue
01:00Z
+4h
Tue
02:00Z
+5h
Tue
03:00Z
+6h
Tue
04:00Z
+7h
Tue
05:00Z
+8h
Tue
06:00Z
+9h
Tue
07:00Z
+10h
Tue
08:00Z
+11h
Tue
09:00Z
+12h
Tue
10:00Z
+13h
Tue
11:00Z
+14h
Tue
12:00Z
+15h
Tue
13:00Z
+16h
Tue
14:00Z
+17h
Tue
15:00Z
+18h
Tue
16:00Z
+19h
Tue
17:00Z
+20h
Tue
18:00Z
+21h
Wind Dir
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
40°
NE
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
Wind Speed
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 kt
G15 kt
6 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
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
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
SCT250
FEW020
SCT250
FEW020
SCT250
FEW020
SCT250
FEW020
SCT250
SCT030
SCT250
SCT030
SCT250
SCT030
SCT250
SCT030
SCT250
SCT030
SCT250
SCT030
SCT250
SCT030
SCT250
SCT030
SCT250
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
CLR
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌇 19:03Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:03Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:58Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:58Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:58Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:58Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:58Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:01Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:01Z
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
40° at 10 kt
Gusts: 15 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Northeast (40°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 15 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 01:00Z - 02:00Z
VFR
Wind
90° at 6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW020 SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the East (90°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 2000 feet, Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 05:00Z - 06:00Z
VFR
Wind
120° at 6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT030 SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the East-Southeast (120°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 3000 feet, Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 13:00Z - 14:00Z
VFR
Wind
120° at 10 kt
Gusts: 15 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
CLR
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the East-Southeast (120°) 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.

📚 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.