Sofia Airport

LBSF / SOF

Sofia, BG

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF AMD LBSF 180652Z 1806/1906 29010KT 9999 SCT025 BKN050 PROB40 TEMPO 1807/1808 VRB15G25KT 5000 TSRA FEW025CB BKN040 BECMG 1808/1809 04010KT TEMPO 1809/1815 VRB15G30KT 4000 TSRA FEW025CB BKN040 BECMG 1815/1817 VRB04KT CAVOK BECMG 1903/1905 28010KT

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
07:00Z
+-1h
Sat
08:00Z
+0h
Sat
09:00Z
+1h
Sat
10:00Z
+2h
Sat
11:00Z
+3h
Sat
12:00Z
+4h
Sat
13:00Z
+5h
Sat
14:00Z
+6h
Sat
15:00Z
+7h
Sat
16:00Z
+8h
Sat
17:00Z
+9h
Sat
18:00Z
+10h
Sat
19:00Z
+11h
Sat
20:00Z
+12h
Sat
21:00Z
+13h
Sat
22:00Z
+14h
Sat
23:00Z
+15h
Sun
00:00Z
+16h
Sun
01:00Z
+17h
Sun
02:00Z
+18h
Sun
03:00Z
+19h
Sun
04:00Z
+20h
Wind Dir
290°
W
40°
NE
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
280°
W
280°
W
Wind Speed
10 kt
10 kt
15 kt
G30 kt
15 kt
G30 kt
15 kt
G30 kt
15 kt
G30 kt
15 kt
G30 kt
15 kt
G30 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
10 kt
10 kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
4 km
4 km
4 km
4 km
4 km
4 km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT025
BKN050
☀️ CLR
FEW025CB
BKN040
FEW025CB
BKN040
FEW025CB
BKN040
FEW025CB
BKN040
FEW025CB
BKN040
FEW025CB
BKN040
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
Ceiling
5,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌅 05:24Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:35Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:35Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:35Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:35Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:35Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:23Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:23Z
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
290° at 10 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT025 BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West-Northwest (290°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 2500 feet, Broken clouds at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB40 TEMPO 07:00Z - 08:00Z
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
5 km
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
FEW025CB BKN040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 40% probability of: Winds will be variable in direction at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 5 km. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Few clouds at 2500 feet, Broken clouds at 4000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 08:00Z - 09:00Z
VFR
Wind
40° at 10 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Northeast (40°) at 10 kt. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 09:00Z - 15:00Z
IFR
Wind
VRB° at 15 kt
Gusts: 30 kt
Visibility
4 km
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
FEW025CB BKN040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds will be variable in direction at 15 kt. Gusts up to 30 kt are expected. Visibility will be moderate at 4 km. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Few clouds at 2500 feet, Broken clouds at 4000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 15:00Z - 17:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 4 kt
Visibility
>10km
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds will be variable in direction at 4 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 10km. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 03:00Z - 05:00Z
VFR
Wind
280° at 10 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West (280°) at 10 kt. 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.