Sofia Airport

LBSF / SOF

Sofia, BG

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF LBSF 091100Z 0912/1012 04010KT 9999 SCT050 PROB30 TEMPO 0912/0915 4000 TSRA FEW030CB BKN050 BECMG 0917/0919 11008KT TEMPO 1010/1012 4000 TSRA SCT030CB BKN050

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Tue
15:00Z
+-1h
Tue
16:00Z
+0h
Tue
17:00Z
+1h
Tue
18:00Z
+2h
Tue
19:00Z
+3h
Tue
20:00Z
+4h
Tue
21:00Z
+5h
Tue
22:00Z
+6h
Tue
23:00Z
+7h
Wed
00:00Z
+8h
Wed
01:00Z
+9h
Wed
02:00Z
+10h
Wed
03:00Z
+11h
Wed
04:00Z
+12h
Wed
05:00Z
+13h
Wed
06:00Z
+14h
Wed
07:00Z
+15h
Wed
08:00Z
+16h
Wed
09:00Z
+17h
Wed
10:00Z
+18h
Wind Dir
40°
NE
40°
NE
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
Wind Speed
10 kt
10 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 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
4 km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Clouds
SCT050
SCT050
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
SCT030CB
BKN050
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
5,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:19Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:19Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:19Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:19Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:19Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:40Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:40Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:40Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:40Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:40Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
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
40° at 10 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Northeast (40°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 TEMPO 12:00Z - 15:00Z
IFR
Visibility
4 km
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
FEW030CB BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be moderate at 4 km. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Few clouds at 3000 feet, Broken clouds at 5000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 17:00Z - 19:00Z
VFR
Wind
110° at 8 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the East-Southeast (110°) at 8 kt. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 10:00Z - 12:00Z
IFR
Visibility
4 km
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
SCT030CB BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be moderate at 4 km. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Scattered clouds at 3000 feet, Broken clouds at 5000 feet. 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.