Kirkwall Airport

EGPA / KOI

Orkney Islands, GB

Last Updated
Apr 22, 21:50Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 6 min ago
21:50Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
3°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 1°C
3 kt
120°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR EGPA 222150Z AUTO 12003KT 9999 NCD 03/01 Q1034

Weather Briefing

VFR

Kirkwall Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with clear skies and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east-southeast (120°) at 3 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. Skies are clear with unlimited ceiling.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 3°C (37°F) with a dewpoint of 1°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 9 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF EGPA 221957Z 2221/2306 10002KT CAVOK
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
21:56Z BASE
+0h
VFR 100° 2 kt
Visibility: >10km

24-Hour Weather Evolution

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Data Sources
  • • Current conditions from METAR observations
  • • Historical data from past 24 hours
  • • No forecast or predicted data included
  • • Data updated with each new METAR report
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Note: Future values beyond current TAF validity are estimates based on climatological data and trends. Always verify with current forecasts before flight operations.

Airport Runway Layout

N
GPA
06
24
09
27
14 ✈️
32

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
06/24 3,881 ft 151 ft ASP 58°
1.4 kt 2.6 kt
62° angle
09/27 4,690 ft 148 ft ASP 87°
2.5 kt 1.6 kt
33° angle
✈️ 14/32
Active: 14
2,222 ft 61 ft ASP 140°
2.8 kt 1.0 kt
20° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - EGPA

10,012 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
67.9%
MVFR
23%
IFR
5.5%
LIFR
3.5%

Kirkwall Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 67.9% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 9% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 13.8 knots, with gusts recorded up to 42 knots. Temperatures typically range between -3°C and 17°C with an average of 7.2°C. The best months for VFR flying are March, September, April.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 13.8 kt
Maximum Recorded: 42 kt
Calm Winds: 0.7%
Direction Distribution:
N
8.6%
NE
2.6%
E
6.4%
SE
19.6%
S
33.3%
SW
10.3%
W
12.9%
NW
5.6%

Temperature Range

Average: 7.2°C
Range: -3°C to 17°C
-3°C 17°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.7%

Best Months for VFR

March September April

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 06/24
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 10.4 kt
Runway 09/27
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 9.8 kt
Runway 14/32
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 7.5 kt

Statistics computed from 10,012 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Kirkwall Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: EGPA
IATA Code: KOI
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 50 ft MSL

Location

City: Orkney Islands
Country: GB
Latitude: 58.957802°
Longitude: -2.905000°
Time Zone: Europe/Brussels

Runway Information

Runway 06/24
Length: 3,881 ft
Width: 151 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 09/27
Length: 4,690 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 14/32
Length: 2,222 ft
Width: 61 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Kirkwall Airport

Overview

Kirkwall Airport serves the Orkney Islands in northern Scotland, positioned at 58.957802, -2.905000 with an elevation of 50 ft MSL. As a medium-sized airport, it provides critical transportation infrastructure for this remote archipelago, supporting regional and commercial aviation operations.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect predominantly VFR conditions, with 66.1% of observations showing favorable visibility and weather. The airport experiences significant wind activity, with prevailing southerly winds averaging 13.4 knots and occasional gusts up to 42 knots. Temperature ranges from -3°C to 17°C, with an average of 8.1°C, suggesting potential winter operational considerations.

Notable Features

The airport features three asphalt runways with lengths ranging from 2,222 ft to 4,690 ft, providing multiple landing options. Its coastal location in the Orkney Islands introduces potential maritime weather influences, including rapid visibility changes and consistent wind patterns. All three runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, offering flexible operational capabilities.

Approach Considerations

Runway selection should consider the prevailing southerly winds, with minimal crosswind components. Runway 06/24 and 09/27 offer similar crosswind characteristics around 10.4 and 10.1 knots respectively, while runway 14/32 provides a slightly more benign crosswind environment at 7.2 knots. Pilots should anticipate excellent VFR conditions, particularly during September, November, and December.

Data Sources & Accuracy: Airport information sourced from OurAirports.com, a collaborative database of worldwide airport data. Weather data from official aviation weather services including NOAA Aviation Weather Center and international METAR/TAF providers. Information is updated regularly but pilots should always verify current conditions and NOTAMs through official channels before flight operations.

Official Data Sources

Weather NOAA Aviation Weather Center • International METAR/TAF Network
Airports OurAirports.com • Public domain airport database
NOTAMs FAA NOTAM System • ICAO NOTAM Distribution
Last updated: Jan 1, 1970 12:00 AM UTC

Disclaimer: Data is provided for informational purposes only. Pilots must verify all information through official sources before flight operations. Weather conditions change rapidly; always obtain a current briefing from approved weather services.